Ubuntu

Creating a web page?

Asked by george_rutkay

When I was a Mac user, I love to use Netscape Composer. It let me make a simple web page which my ISP hosted. I didn't have to know any fancy programming, I could just insert pictures, type text and it would all work and generate the necessary files automatically (as it should!)!!

I don't know what web page creator program would work with Ubuntu.

I don't know a lot of fancy computer programming language (I learned machine language and some BASIC a long time ago). So a nice graphical approach works best for me (as well as many people I imagine).

What web page creating tools exist under Ubuntu?

Thank you.

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Jim Hutchinson
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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#1

Nvu is a good choice. However, I think the internet is getting to a point were average people don't need to mess with any kind of html editor or front end. Products like WordPress and Drupal allow people to make nice and functional web pages with minimal effort. With WordPress you can sign up for a free account and make a site in a matter of minutes. You can also install it on your own web server or a hosted server. I'm not as familiar with Drupal but I think you have to install it on a server to use. WordPress is very simple to use - even if you install it. It literally takes 5 minutes. Some companies have it already loaded so if you buy web hosting from them you can use it without having to set it up. I know Yahoo do (or did). Not sure about others. The easiest is probably to go to wordpress.com and sign up. Browse some of the sites there for an idea of what you can do. Although it's called blogging software, it can be used for almost any type of site. It's perfect for keeping the family up to date or even running a small business.

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george_rutkay (yaktur) said : 		#2

When I download Wordpress, I don't know how to install it. When I get Wordpress from the Synaptic and install it, I still can't find it from the command prompt or from the menu.

And when I try to install Drupal from the Synaptic, it has unsatisfied dependicies which I don't know how to resolve.

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Martin Kaufmann (martin.kaufmann) said : 		#3

Do you have an own server to host Wordpress? The easiest way to get Wordpress run is the Way that Jim show, Register an Account at Wordpress.com. For Really Webdeveloping there are some other tools: Bluefish, Quanta Plus, Screem and Nvu like Jim said. You can install via Synaptic

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george_rutkay (yaktur) said : 		#4

I looked in Synaptic, I couldn't find Nvu at all.

Synaptic had Wordpress so I installed it.

My computer is set up to be a small server as well as function as a regular home computer. But after I let Wordpress install, I couldn't find where it was on my computer - not in any menu, not in Alt+F2 command line, nothing. Weird! Not even restarting the computer made Wordpress available to me anywhere! Grrrrrrr! I hate things that just waste my time!

So I uninstalled it then because wherever it was, it was useless to me and therefore just taking up space.

I am not familiar with these other programs, Bluefish, Quanta Plus and Screem. Which is best suited to someone who wants to just create and not be bugged by insane fiddly little HTML encoding?

The web page I wish to make ISN'T going to have a lot of frills, no flash or other silly nonsense - just a meat and potatoes kind of simple home page for myself.

Which program is best suited for this purpose?

Thanks.

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Best Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#5

I can find Nvu in synaptic but it said it's no longer being developed and to use kompozer instead. Based on it's description it is probably fairly easy to use. Bluefish is the only other one I've heard of and it's not for the novice. After searching synaptic I don't think quanta or screem will be to your liking either.

The nice thing about Ubuntu is that it is easy to install many apps, try them and then remove them if you don't like them all without paying a dime. Of course there is a time investment but that is true of any application. I often will visit the project homepage of an app. they often have screenshots and a description of the app. Doing a little research will save you time and frustration later. Visiting wordpress.org (the .org site is for downloading and running it on your own server and the .com site is for using it on their server), for example, probably would have helped you to understand how wordpress works as well as how it doesn't.

As for wordpress, it isn't a program you run. After you install it you would access it via a web browser. If you install it on a local machine you would probably have to browse to it via localhost but I really don't know. I've always used it installed on a remote server. You also need PHP and mysql. Setting all that up on a local computer to act as a web host will be a bit of work if you are not already somewhat skilled in network management. I would check with your ISP to see if they offer wordpress hosting. If so, that would be easiest. If not, register on wordpress.com. That is at least a pain-free way to use it and see if you like it. Like everything it has a learning curve but it's pretty small and the web interface is fairly easy to figure out. If you really like wordpress and want to use it on your own domain, wordpress.com offers that option too.

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george_rutkay (yaktur) said : 		#6

OH!!!! I see now!! Thanks! Now I understand!

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george_rutkay (yaktur) said : 		#7

Thanks Jim Hutchinson, that solved my question.