i asked earlier about the difference between ftp files and source files/source codes NOT http!?

Question

i am not sure how to reply to someone who has answered my question, but what i basically wanted to know is what is the difference between ftp files and source files/source codes, becuase i have access to my ftp files

the reson i ask the above is becuase i have a website being developed, and i have been hearing that the 'source files/codes' are quite important and that i should have a copy of this on a weekly basis,
i have also heard that you need these informations (source files/codes) if you were to move on to a new developer and that if you dont have these, it would be difficult for new developers to pick up on your website development.

Answer 1

For your website, the source code means all the codes ( html, css,..), files and scripts(php, javascript,..) that were written to create your website. That also includes all the images.



If someone else is making your website, then that person is supposed to give you both the finished product ( your website as see on a web browser) and the source files ( how he created it).



If you have ftp access to the files that make up your website, then that's your source code ( you will see a bunch of files like index.htm, xxx.css, xxx.php, etc). and folders named img, or images or something like that.



Using these files, you ( or anyone) can make any modifications to your website easily. So it's very important for you to have, and to keep it safe.



Btw, FTP files are just any files. They are called as such only because they are accessed by FTP, thats all.

Answer 2

Well, you're still asking the wrong question (and getting the wrong responses)



See my answer to your first question, but here's a further clarification.



There is no such thing as an FTP file. FTP is a process, so I guess any file on your system is an FTP file because they all could have been placed on your system with the FTP protocol.



Source files are the files used to create your programs. Web pages don't have separate source files. The page is its own source file. (In any browser, use the 'view source' command to verify this.)



All of the files needed for your web page will be on your server. What you need to have from your developer is the full access to your server - the user name and password used to get onto your account through FTP and other means.



When you have this, you have everything you need.



When I take over a site for a client, if I can get access to the original site, I can get everything I need from it. However, if the site was that great, they didn't need me. Normally when I'm redoing a web site, there's very little I need from the original except perhaps some copy (which can be gotten with an ordinary web browser) and the domain name access (which requires an entirely different process.)



Get the username and password to your site, and keep them in a safe place. That's all you'll really need. If you have these, you have the source files, because they're on your server.



If it's a more complex site, (say a data-driven content management system or something) then you have a right o the code (which will be on your server) and decent documentation, including the names, usernames, and passwords of any databases used, and a list of the source files (which you'll already have.) You might also ask for documentation of any custom databases, as a second developer may find these very helpful (especially entity / relationship diagrams) These are more advanced features that most web sites don't have.



It sounds like you don't trust your developer. Maybe you should get a different one.

Answer 3

I think you are confusing two concepts here,



FTP is a transfer protocol (a way or one computer talking to another used mainly for moving files over the internet)

Source files are the files that contain the information that is needed for your website (images, text, music etc...)



What you should do to is make a copy of your source files (all the .jpg, .html, .css etc files) on another location incase the webserver explodes for no reason at all taking your website to server heaven. Think of all the effort lost if this happens !



The best way to get files from the webserver to your backup location is using the FTP protocol.

Answer 4

The ftp files are the website files that the user of your website will see (users will see them vis http://www.websitename.com for example).



The source files are all the files used to make the ftp files or to put it another way to make the website.

Yes you should have a copy of the source files too or it can be a problem when someone else or even yourself wants to build on the design.