Selection of tools and technologies

Hello everybody!

I recently opted to go for a webproject. It involves a database of roughly 70 tables, expected number of users around 20K. I during my course of education have done only one project that was using Java. Now the thing is that the project I am going to do involves a working social network as its part. Now considering all those facts i want all experienced users to guide me what tools and technologies to use, in all, databases, webserver and language. We have to keep a check on cost as well.

Well, you'll need a good grounding in PHP and MySQL at the very least to get started. For the social network side, it depends on what you want to do. If it's a simple forum or comment-based feedback mechanism, something along the lines of a Simple Machines Forum or Disqus might work well for you. If it's a full-blown social network along the lines of FB or MySpace, then you'll probably need to get into Ruby on Rails to get flowing down that path.

For web building, you'll probably need something along the lines of Adobe CS for design and implementation.

Hope that helps.