Need help with making a website

[dan13]

First, I know the very BASICS of web programming, having only completed a couple programming courses. I am looking to make a website that I'm about to describe and if this is in the wrong place, I apologize.

I need a website that allows the user to sign in with an ID (which would have no password and be given to them through another source) and will take that ID and place it in a link. The completed link would then be added to a permanent list.

The order of the list should be arranged on a point system. The users with the most points should be at the top of the list. Points would be obtained by clicking on the other links of users on the list. So each time a link is clicked, you get one point. It should also not provide any points if the link is any additional times besides the first click. It would be nice if it went to a page in a new window that said "Link already clicked."

There would need to be also a statistic counter for the users so they can see how many points they have. The points would need to be reset everyday, either manually or automatically.

There is a lot more I would add to the site, but this is the basic "bones" of the site I would want. Every website I have seen that uses this structure uses PHP.


I'm not asking anyone to make me what I want, just if anyone could give me advice of what I need to do to build a site like this or point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance. -Dan

[dan13]

I forgot to mention that the list of links would need to be displayed on another page so that users will be able to click on them. The list would show the top 50 links first, then be able to be refreshed to show the next top 50 links that have not been clicked yet by the user.

I know this is confusing so let me know if I can clarify anything for you.

[Uncle Dog]

Every website I have seen that uses this structure uses PHP.
and most probably a MySQL database. Can you PM me an address of one of these sites? I'm intrigued.

[alhefner]

It sounds like you need a variation on social networking sites. There are tons of differing examples so I suggest that you browse the scripts at Hot Scripts :: The net's largest PHP, CGI, Perl, JavaScript and ASP script collection and resource web portal (http://www.hotscripts.com). Look in the php section and see if there is anything that comes close then modify that to suit your needs. There are commercial scripts and free scripts so use the freebies.

[compusolver]

Checkout Joomla! There are thousands of extensions - mostly FREE - that will do nearly everything you can imagine.

Joomla is a content management system (also FREE) that enables users to build and run powerful websites, with no programming know-how required.

It does help to have a hosting server setup for Joomla. There are a lot of them nowadays.


- Hank Castello
Database & Server-Side Programming / Consulting for Website Designers and Developers. (http://www.CompuSolver.com)
Joomla / Drupal Web Hosting With REAL SUPPORT! (http://www.SmBizHosting.com)

[B0B]

PHP and MySQL or .NET and any database will work. I like .NET.
My only concern is database size.

I envision two tables.
One with the list of clients including a client ID with all the information about the client, links etc.
The second for visited links. It should contain two columns. The client ID doing the visiting and the Client ID that was visited.
For each client table entry there is potentially a visited table entry for every client.
The number of entries in the visited table is potentially the square of the client table entries.

How many clients will you have and what is their usage?
If you have 1,000 clients and each averages 10 visits to other clients the visited table would only contain 10,000 entries.
However, if you have 1,000 clients and they all visit the other clients the visited table would contain 1,000,000 entries. The visited table grows exponentially.

This type of link visitation scheme is susceptible to visitation automation. It wouldn’t be hard to write a program that visits every client.
I suggest you put a link on the pages to be visited that isn’t easily recognizable by a bot and use that link as verification that the site was visited. You might even employ a timer to ensure people stay a minimum time.

If you have any questions email me using bob@ and my URL

Enjoy Bob

[MrGamm]

Write a mysql table with three fields...

The login
The id
and the link counter...

Make a form on a webpage... when someone logs in... put a new row of data in the database if one doesn't exist...

Make an page which shows all the rows of data in the database...

Whenever somebody clicks a link take them to a php page which updates the counter in the mysql database...

Of course... You could spend the next 30 days looking for an open source product that you could download install and then hack away at for the rest of your known life trying to make it work...

[incrediblehelp]

Here is a great book on SEO with a PHP website you might ant to check out:

Amazon.com: Professional Search Engine Optimization with PHP: A Developer's Guide to SEO: Jaimie Sirovich,Cristian Darie: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Search-Engine-Optimization-PHP/dp/0470100923)

[whipnet]

Just out of curiosity, what is enticing users to click these links?

*

[RichAtVNS]

Ok now I get to use my 15 years as an independant systems designer, and Masters in compiler construction and the fact that I have programmed here... vs all these SEOs LOL

...

This is about the easiest thing I have ever seen to program in ASP and using a central processor filter.

1) An ODBC complient database
2) Microsofts personal webserver
3) and the most rudimentary knowledge of ASP

are all you will need to implement them.

Simply make an orthogonal database.
1 table of the users (unique id is auto incremented on insertion)
1 table of the daily views (pairs of user id that was viewed and user who viewed it)
1 table of the details the user will be storing on thier own personal pages kept in a memo field.
1 table of when was the last time the daily views table was cleared.
1 session variable of your id after you login.

Here's the pseudo code logic.
one function called at the top of every user page (place in an include file).
Every time a view goes on use the session variable and the page id
you check the date time to see if the daily views table was last cleared over 24 hours ago.
If it was clear the table and update the date time to 12:00 midnight (start of the day).
After that check to see if the user already has viewed that page (has an entry pair in the daily views table., If not add it.

Now you need 2 sql queries (if you use the wizards in access this is a canned query) to get a count of the records in your daily view table by ID of visitor and a second one for count of records by viewee's page.

both can be called and displayed on separate asp pages from 3 lines of code.

Need any more help just ring me up....


THAT WAS FUN.... considering I used to charge $125 an hour when I consulted you just got a lot! LOL

PS: :D Don't know asp this is one of the best online FREEEEEEEE tutorial books out there
LearnAsp.com - ASP ASP.net Free Lessons (http://www.learnasp.com/freebook/asp/)

[dan13]

and most probably a MySQL database. Can you PM me an address of one of these sites? I'm intrigued.

www.hollowskullexpress.com

And no, I don't actually use that site. I was just wondering how it was done.




Write a mysql table with three fields...

The login
The id
and the link counter...

Make a form on a webpage... when someone logs in... put a new row of data in the database if one doesn't exist...

Make an page which shows all the rows of data in the database...

Whenever somebody clicks a link take them to a php page which updates the counter in the mysql database...


That makes a lot of sense. Now I just have to figure out how to do it.



Just out of curiosity, what is enticing users to click these links?


So their links move farther up on the list. Its for a friend networking site.



THAT WAS FUN.... considering I used to charge $125 an hour when I consulted you just got a lot! LOL


All of that seems to make sense too.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I have successfully fried my brain though. I'm having trouble just getting PHP set up. I guess thats what happens when you don't program anything for over two years.

If anyone has anymore tips or know how they did it, an example of what I'm looking for is: www.hollowskullexpress.com
And again, no, I don't actually use sites like that.

[Uncle Dog]

RichAtVNS

Well done! Pat on the head. As we used to say: 'Loadsa Money!' (1980's UK). Maybe you impressed the SEO's (I doubt it), but the programmers think you should have listened to the customer.

dan13 said I know the very BASICS of web programming so to guide him you spout all that. It looks like he's interested in learning so lets be helpful.

dan13
Strange site/concept to me but that's probably because I'm the wrong side of 30. It's hard to tell what level of expertise you've aquired so I'll assume starter for most areas. The best site for reference, tutorials and refreshing your memory is W3Schools Online Web Tutorials (http://www.w3schools.com)

I think you'll find it most straightforward if you look into PHP and its MySQL functions (they make a lovely couple).

You say you're having trouble setting up PHP (I'm guessing on your development PC, but tell me), I may be able to help. I think you'll have to PM me though as it could be a long conversation.

Good Luck

[astro]

Well I am possibly going to be shouted down here, but could a blog site not be adapted more easily?

I'm off, too much of a coward to wait for the screams of anguish/replies. Up to my Butt with my own Crocodiles!

Astro