So I've signed up with blogger beta and my intent is to become dedicated blogger. In the process I hope to learn as much as I can about web design. But here's the thing. I have a very undemanding job with a lot of spare time on my hands. However I have no internet connection at work. So I need to work on my blog off line. Can you pros or amateurs recommend any type of software that will allow me to do this?
1. Type and save your content. 2. Copy it in a Floppy/CD-ROM 3. Go to cafe or where you can access Internet. 4. Log in to your blogger account and post your content.
Okay I know that much. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I would like to work more on the design aspects of my blog. Although I'm with blogger now. I eventually would like to host my own blog. So what do you recommend I do to learn more of the design aspect such as templates? Also by offline software I was referring to programs such as w.bloggar or Windows Live Writer.
Then WordPress will be a good option for you. Download WordPress (free) from here : http://wordpress.org/download/
If you have wordpress, then you could run a local webserver using something like EasyPHP or WAMP (Apache with PHP and MySQL). Install it on a USB key or similar, and then you can work on the template quite easily. Then just upload the template to your live server. I use this technique alot for template development.
I am impressed by the WordPress site. But since I have spare time on my hands I would like to code my own unique blog. The only educational book I have right now is Elizabeth Castro's book HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Fifth Edition. When I Wiki'd WordPress it said it was written in PHP and backed by a MySQL database. Know what the hell does that mean. I thought blogs were written in (X)HTML. If you could please explain.
HTML is a data format, its just how a page is presented to a user. PHP is a programming language aimed at the web. MySQL is a database system associated with PHP for storing information such as posts, comments, etc in a blog.
To store information such as posts, comments, etc you must you must have to use a database system like MySQL, MS Access etc. To display these information you have to use PHP, ASP or other programming languages. You can't 'code a blog' only with HTML.
Okay so to create my own personal blog what language's do I need to know. For all the different commonly found design features and functions in the majority of blogs? Also what off line editor do I use to create them in? I would also like to view my progress as I create them. Can I do this in my web browser (offline) if I code in notepad?
Here is your answers: 1. Scripting Language: PHP is best. 2. editor: Notepad 3. Testing: As said by JagoHarry, "using something like EasyPHP or WAMP (Apache with PHP and MySQL)." Apache, PHP, MySQL are free to download. visite their sites.