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Welcome to Silvergateway Young Web Developer!

We are sorry but this section is not complete as of yet, but it will be done soon.

This section is intended for people between the ages of 8 and 16. You will need to install software to do the activities that are listed out in this section. So please make sure you have permission to do so. The software that will be required is all free, and there will be no cost to use, a great benefit of using Open Source software.

What we will cover in this section is the basics of building your own website. We are not going to get into too much coding, but I am certainly not going to show you how to build some basic web page. What we will cover is using a standard CMS system to build a professional looking website and using some of the same utilities that professional web developers use to build websites for large companies.

Our goal is to show you how easy it is to put together a core website, and give you the tools needed to take up an active interest in graphics and web development. To show you the power that is the open development community. The world can always use more designers! Empowering the next generation to use the tools we currently have to help build the Open Source tools of tomorrow should be a job that all responsible developers want to take up.

What we are going to cover in this section:

  • The tools you need
  • Planing a new website
  • Setting up your personal website
    • For Windows
    • For Mac
  • Learn how to use your website
  • Changing the look and feel
  • Adding functionality and utilities
  • Copyright need to know
  • Tips and Tricks

Terms you should know :

Open source : Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in. (Quoted from Open Source Initiative)

GPL or GNU General Public License : “GPL” stands for “General Public License”. The most widespread such license is the GNU General Public License, or GNU/GPL for short. This can be further shortened to “GPL”, when it is understood that the GNU/GPL is the one intended. A crucial aspect of free software is that users are free to cooperate. It is absolutely essential to permit users who wish to help each other to share their bug fixes and improvements with other users.

Warning : The site we are going to show you how to setup is intended to be used on a personal computer. There are many things we will not cover in regards to security. Placing a website that has not been locked down on the live internet is a sure fire way of getting it hacked.

With that said lets start by getting you some of the tools you will need to build your own website.
Last Updated on Friday, 08 May 2009 07:19
 
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Quick tools links

These are personal web servers that you can use on your home computer.
PC - WAMP
Mac - MAMP

Graphics editor will be needed to edit images on your site.
PC - GIMP
Mac - GIMP

Good text editors make it easier to edit css and php files.
Mac - Smultron


CMS System

During this guide we will be using Joomla as our CMS system. The Joomla community has a huge number of extensions that you can add into your personal site. Below are a few of the top extensions.

Download Joomla
Extensions for Joomla

Top extensions


Free Templates

Our guide is only going to use one of the default Joomla templates. But we have a list of a few sites that offer free Templates.


Warning

This guide will not be covering the security issues related with putting a dynamic website online. It is strongly suggested that you use this site as a personal site.

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