Web Design Code HELP!!?

Question

1. I never made a website before
2. I know Java programing (I might need it for what I'm doing)
3. I need to make a website that has:
-forums
-is able to modify itself based on data that users put in (I think its called server side web design)
-Involes a lot of programming
-Users can make unsername and password, othersiders cannot come view the site
-I have full control of users/passwords, forums, and can modify it easily
-I have a week to make it (maybe 2)
-It must be efficent (requires less work for me to maintain it)

For example: In my web, users log in with username/password. Inside the website, they all answer a question. Another page of the website shows the everyone's answer in a table, the answers are in order. This table is updated (arranged in order) as more people answer the question. However, when someone makes a new username, he/she cannot enter the site right away, I must confirm the new user. Outsiders cannot come in either.

The question is: what should I use to make the website (sql, mysql, php, javascript??). Keep in mind that I only know java programming, and I must learn the other programs by myself. Also need in mind I have week (max 2) to do it.

ONE IMPORTANT THING: the website must not require viewers to download/install sepcial programs to view the site.

Also if you can, tell me what is best place to learn whatever u will tell me. Or what is best program to use (if I will need one). I prefer simple textpad if possible.

Simon, you may seem like the right person to help me. Let me give you more details:

-this site will serve as a meeting point for people around the world. It will have about 200-500 members max. It is more of a private site. I can make forums from www.freewebs.com (they provide them). But I am in charge of organizing online events to get together based on who is available when (I must choose the best time possible). I'll go crazy doing this for 200-500 people, so why not use my programming skills and let the computer do it. Better yet, why not integrate this to the website and let it all run automatically! This is just the start, I may even add polls, etc.
-It would also help if I can get auto emails updating me on the site. Also, is there a way to make certain users have more control of the site then others (about 5 people to manage the site). I mean not that they go edit the code itself, just they have the right to kick out users if they want. I'm really looking forward to this!

MORE INFO (sorry for making it long):
-People say php/sql is best for this, but i tried using php and it doesnt work for Internet Explorer (or does it and I'm doing something wrong)
-SQL looks great, I found all these tutorials online explaining how SQL manages a bunch of information (just what i need). BUT, none of them explain how I actually put SQL on a html page, I don't even know the command to put in the initial data.
-I just need help getting started ANY WAY POSSIBLE, I don't want to back out just because I didn't know where to start. HOPE YOU CAN REALLLYYYY HELP!

Answer 1

I suggest using a content management system using PHP, and MySQL. There are many open source (free) and very good CMS's.

Check out www.opensourcecms.com

Answer 2

If you know Java, you might look into java servlets
(and jsp) it's actually more reliable than PHP could ever hope to be. However... finding an ISP to host java servlet pages is not easy. (they are quite resource intensive)

Time-lines are 2 weeks, your best bet is to seek out ready-made utilities.

Be a little careful with the deadline here, you can hurry up and get something done, but then find yourself in a bad spot later on when it's time to upgrade or add new functionality.

Answer 3

I was in your boat recently. I had developed a site like you mention before using jsp, beans and java servlets. However the last few weeks I've been playing around with php and MySQL both of which are bot too difficult to pick up, and quite powerful. I got a reasonable attempt up pretty quick. Hope that helps....

Tutorial:
http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_intro.asp

Answer 4

Hi,
Good Day.
Let me put down your requirements my way.
1)User Management i.e Users and User Groups(and correspondingly the privileges they have), User Authentication and Authorization
2) Enter, Preview and Post Content Feature; Administrative control to approve/disapprove posted content
3) Email Notifications

Again,
Timeline=2 weeks
and
Skills=Java, no prior experience to web application development

Also,
Free and Customizable.Do read their licensing policies though, if any.

Keeping all these in mind,
I suppose Pebble is the right thing for you.
http://pebble.sourceforge.net/

You would need Apache Tomcat5.0 on your server to host this. Now Apache Tomcat is also free.

What I suggest you is for the first couple of days, try to deploy these and get it running.
The remaining days out of 14(2 weeks time), you can try and experiment on how the whole thing is working.

Answer 5

That's a lot to learn in two weeks! the php/mySQL route is probably the easiest, and many canned solutions exist. You might want to look at something like phpBB and either adapt it to your purposes or at least learn from it.

You pretty much have to do the security stuff server-side for it to be at all secure, so if you want to use Java it will have to be in jsp form.

Answer 6

You can start by downloading NetBeans IDE, at www.sun.com. This design environment can help you create Web Applications easily. It uses Java so that won't be a problem for you. With this tool you can use .jsp, or servlets. The only thing you need is a server that supports .jsp or servlets. You can google a tutorial for jsp's if it helps.

Answer 7

I think a mixture of php and java sounds good.

Answer 8

I think you should visit www.joomla.org and download Joomla - it's a content management system and it is easy to install and configure. Your site will be up and running in no time!

Answer 9

I'm afraid you're asking for a lot of things with little inputs on your side.

Lemme see how I can help you.

BRB

Answer 10

Straight horizontal line: