language selection help needed

Hi guys,

I am in need of help in selecting a programming language for making a web page.

Currently, i have not studied any web based programming languages besides basic HTML, but i am familiar with C++, fortran and (from eons ago) basic.

The site i wish to design is a server based data and graphics storage for specific information for an old school boardgame that we all play. Currently, the only way we can send the information to eachother is by mass e-mail, which, considering the number of separate small files we have, is quite annoying to sort through our emails.

I wish to create an online DB for us to deposit these files. I want each user to be able to view the files, but not edit other people's files. In addition I wish to be able to automate some of the more repetative and annoying game functions on the website as well. In particular, i want to put the game map file online and allow players to see where eachother are located on the map.

Could someone recommend to me which language and server type to use? Ive investigated php and mySQL, along with Visual Basic, but Im not sure which of these, or a different language, i want to use.

Thank you all in advance for your help.

Is there some kind of information that people need to help me with this? :/

You've investigated php, so why not use it? If you've had experience in coding C++, then php shouldn't be much trouble for you to learn.

You can install WAMP(windows) or MAMP(mac) on your local machine, which includes pHP, MySQL, and Apache, to develop and test files locally, then make sure you find a host that supports php/mysql: most do since php/mysql is free and widely supported.

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, I am leaning towards php, but I wanted to check before I went over and learned a new language and started programming to see if there was another language that might better suit my needs.

Thank you for the tip on WAMP and MAMP!

Well, I'm biased towards Coldfusion, but like I said, php is free, more widely supported, and can handle all your needs.

The downside to php versus coldfusion is that coldfusion is much easier to learn, but if you;ve got some C++ under your belt, php should be easier for you.

Alright, thanks for your help :)

One last question if i may: Does php allow for automatic updates to the webpage without refreshing? Its not a critical item but one i would like to incorporate if possible

Alright, thanks for your help :)

One last question if i may: Does php allow for automatic updates to the webpage without refreshing? Its not a critical item but one i would like to incorporate if possible

No server-side language allows you do this. This is client-side behaviour, achieved through JavaScript.

Ive seen FB games written in php that have some kind of auto update. The example I'm thinking of is Castle Age, where every five minutes you recharge your power by one tick. Another example i can think of is google docs, where you can see several people updating a doc in real time. Is some kind of javascript behind something like this too?

Ive seen FB games written in php that have some kind of auto update. The example I'm thinking of is Castle Age, where every five minutes you recharge your power by one tick. Another example i can think of is google docs, where you can see several people updating a doc in real time. Is some kind of javascript behind something like this too?

Yes.
Basic run down of how the internet works:

- A server-side language, such as PHP, will generate a HTML page, which is delivered to the client via HTTP.
- The client will parse the HTML and display the content.
- The client will load any attached CSS files in order to style the content.
- The client will load any attached JavaScript files in order to modify the behaviour of the content.

The specific functionality you are referring to is AJAX.

Thanks alot for all your help both of you! :-)