Forms of Web Development

Various Forms of Web Development

Creating an online presence has become one of the best options for business expansion. For an individual, too, a website placed on the world-wide-web (www) enhances communication and network interaction. 

Website Development is the creation of a website for the internet (world-wide web- www) or intranet (private network). It includes web design, web content development, client liaison, client-side/ server side scripting, web server, network security configuration and e-commerce development. A large organization may require a large number of web developers but a small one can perform website development with a webmaster, graphic designer and information systems technician.

Database driven websites are the most common type of dynamic web pages as opposed to static web pages that obtain information from a programmed database and updates the web pages continually. Database driven websites are like online banking sites where we can check bank balances that are updated automatically through an inbuilt program. The old static manual system that would require a herculean effort from a thousand employees has been consigned to the past.

(CMS) in Drupal, Joomla and WordPress or Content Management System is a software library of web-based programs uploaded to the server to provide word-processor like abilities to the website. If CMS was a kitchen with many dishes, Drupal, Joomla and WordPress are CMS packages or electrical appliances that help in meal preparation.

Drupal is an open source CMS platform powering millions of websites and applications. From Blogs to enterprise applications or The Economist and The White House use Drupal.

Joomla is another open source CMS platform that provides the tools to build standard sites, directories, intranets, social networks and shopping charts. MTV and Citibank are a couple of Joomla users.

WordPress is also an open source CMS blogging tool based on PHP and MySQL. It is the most popular and has a web template system using a template processor. Android and Blackberry use WordPress.

PHP, Ruby on Rails are frameworks on which PHP and Ruby languages are scripted by web developers. While PHP Framework has speed, stability, is easy-to-use and is quite extensive Ruby on Rails lets us write beautiful code by favoring convention over configuration and supports most common open source databases.

Internet Portal connects us to a global system of interconnected computer networks. A computer that connects to the internet can access information from a vast number of servers and computers. Web users send and receive information using a web browser; other software for interaction includes electronic mail, online chat, file transfer and file sharing.

Interactive Platforms have now been provided with software for iPad, Smartphone, Tablet PC, Android Tablet and other web-enabled devices.

Blogs are discussion sites on the world-wide web with entries appearing in reverse chronological order to display latest entries first. While many blogs are commentaries on a particular subject, others function as online diaries while yet others function as online advertisements for companies or individuals. 

Forums are online discussion sites where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. Depending on the access level of a user a posted message needs approval from a moderator before it is displayed. Users can be anonymous or have to register with the Forum.  On most forums users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

Wiki is a website which allows its users to add, modify or delete its content via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a rich text editor. Wiki provides Knowledge management and note taking.

Networking Sites focus on building relationships through a network where people share interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections. Interaction over net through email and instant messaging are enabled through networking sites. Family, friends, classmates, school or college mates combine in Facebook, Twitter and Google adding a new dimension to an otherwise drab routine.

All said and done website development has shrunk the world. A person or company’s worth or inherent abilities can now be declared public for the world to know and appreciate. Online presence is just a matter of choice- TO BE OR NOT TO BE.

Anil Bhat

Cell :  +91 – 9911720780

Email :   sanganaktechnologies@gmail.com