Website Builders Versus Raw Programming
When someone has decided to launch a Website, the norm is to use a Website builder product as their platform. Website builders are convenient and normally needs little effort to get them up and running. For a person who is not familiar with Internet programming languages, a Website builder product is the best way to go to bring a functional Website online in a short time.
The downside of Website Builder products is that the Website owner is locked into the templates of the Website Builder product. What this means is that the Website owner cannot make modifications to their site other than those specified by the template that they are using. If asked, the Website Builder manufacture can make minor modifications to an individual’s product but they themselves are locked into the templates of their products.
Computer programming languages intimidate many people. One look at a computer programming script and the average person mistakenly decide that this communication technique is beyond them. Looking at the design of an airplane can be overwhelming to a person who is not an airplane designer. By the same token, looking at a computer program can be intimidating to a person who has little to no programming experience.
The key to overcoming this anxiety of computer languages is by taking the focus from the big picture and in breaking the software down into its component forms and server-side programming scripts and linking them together to perform the desired function. Breaking a language down to size is a workable approach to JavaScript, Java, Perl, PHP, Ajax, HTML, C, CGI, Visual Basic, and any other computer and Internet programming language that is now in use.
When a programming language is broken down into statements, functions, and routines it becomes easier to understand. Of course, you need to know the basics of a specific computer and Internet programming language to understand what you are looking at, and fortunately, there are many tools to help you do this, many of them are free via Internet sites.
Some Website owners feel that they need to be an expert in every facet of an Internet programming language to be able to properly program their Website. But here again, breaking your Website down is a better approach than trying to tackle the whole all at once. So, what does this mean to the novice computer programmer?
This means that if the Website owner wants to change the color, or layout of their Web page or how their Website starts and responds to Email request they should focus on the statements that will do that in either HTML, or whatever server-side scripting and general-purpose programming language that the site owner has decided to employ for those specific purposes.
It should be remembered that a computer and Internet programming language is just a means for nuts and bolts to communicate with other nuts and bolts, internal and external software scripts, and human beings. A + B = C. If this is true, then do this. Background-color: white. 1 and 1 = 1. 1 and 0 = 1. 1 Or 0 = 1. This is basically all that you are dealing with that is embedded within the coding of all computing and Internet language structures, so do not be intimidated by them.
I prefer to build my Websites in the raw learning different language techniques as I go, and when I want to experiment with software scripts. However, I am also using Website Builder products which have their drawbacks, such as, being locked-in to a template design and having to pay extra money for every change that the Website Builder manufacturer makes to your product at your request.
The bottom-line is, whatever works for you, go with that. It is cheaper and more satisfying to learn how to build a Website in the raw but many people do not have the time nor the patience to do this.
It should also be noted that some companies promote their Website Builders as being your key to success. They claim that their products will place you on the first or second page of a search engines search results. This all sounds good but keep in mind that you are competing with millions of Websites, many of which are owned by companies that have millions of dollars specifically allotted for marketing and advertising.
Website Builder products are functional but they fall far short of being a magic wand that will propel your business to the heights of recognition on the Web, and it is a good idea to wait for a while to see if there are any noticeable results showing on your Web page hits that translates into money in your cash register before you allow Website Builder companies talk you into spending more funds on their product.
The key to most success is by taking one step at a time towards your goal, and if your goal is to have a thin client, thick server Webpage presence on the Internet then you must decide which approach that you are more comfortable with, either Website Builders or coding in the raw.
