How to build a social networking site?

Question

I am planning on building a social networking site in a few months and I am ready to start doing some research on how to go about it. I have built websites in the past using Dreamweaver so I have an understanding of HTML. It sounds like PHP and MySQI is needed to build a social networking site.

Can anyone out there point me in the direction of a good reference book (note: I have used the Visual QuickStart guides in the past for Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop and I really liked them. They also publish guides for PHP and MySQI. If anyone knows of these books and can comment specifically on them I would really appreciate it!). Also if there are any kinds of useful forums or websites on how to build a social networking site, that would be great as well.

Thank you for your help! It is much appreciated!

Answer 1

First you'll have to learn programming. (Languages are tools you use to do programming - if you don't know programming you have tools you have no use for.) http://www-old.oberon.ethz.ch/WirthPubl/AD.pdf



SQL (MySQL is a program - you use the language SQL to communicate with it) can't be learned in a "quick study guide". Figure on at least months, with a working database, to understand what you're doing. (PHP, OTOH, can be "learned" as you use it. Simple PHP programs are trivial. The language is designed to not get in the way of writing the program.)



I'd start with an easier project - like using WordPress as a social networking site. There are loads of plugins you can use for that. And you can "program" WordPress without knowing very much of the nitty-gritty to start with.

Answer 2

Forget about the Mac. You pretty much will need a Linux platform. Almost all serious web sites are Linux based. If you have a good idea, just hire the people to do it, if you want to start a business. Otherwise, make some friends that are programmers. It'll almost be impossible for non-programmers to create a website like facebook.

Answer 3

Try this channel on youtube:



http://www.youtube.com/user/flashbuilding?blend=1&ob=4



there are 29 videos on how to build a social network website, and i think they are all in one playlist.



i hope this helps :)