I actually don't need anyone's labor, but rather some advice. If this belongs on a different board, please let me know. I'm working on a project that is based on a soon-to-be popular video game. The web site will be a trading post. Users can trade items with other players online. There will be a 'Sellers' section, and a 'Buyers' section. If you want to sell at item, you visit the 'Sellers' section and you make a listing for that item. The listing will remain active for 7 days, or until the trade is made. If you are looking to buy an item, you make a listing in the 'Buyers' section. Catch my drift? Of course, if you were buying or selling an item, you would want to check the listings already on the site to see if the item you are selling/requesting is already being requested or is on sale. Users would communicate with each other through private messages, because I want to make sure that each user's email address remain private. This would require that users create an account (with username and password) and sign in. So how would you go about doing this? Can I do the whole thing with Perl scripts and cookies, or do you think other technologies are required? I've heard of PHP, ASP and SQL and that sort of thing, but I have no idea what they are. Would any of these be more appropriate to handle these tasks? I'm willing to learn new concepts for this if it will help get the job done better. I know how unreasonable, on so many levels, this question sounds, but if you could just do your best to answer it then that's all I need. Thanks! Edit: I intended to post this on the Help Wanted board. ---signature--- People get ready. I'm ready to play. [edited by - utwo007 on August 31, 2002 3:07:37 PM]

Hi,

You can do it with PERL scripts, but I''d look into SQL. What you''re doing looks like it requires a database to be effective. I likewise recommend taking a look at mySQL (http://www.mysql.org) which is a free open-source database. Then start reading up on database interaction with whatever language your using. For the web, I personally recommend ColdFusion or PHP, but that''s a matter of preference and has to do with limitations on your web server.
You probably won''t be able to execute this project on a Geocities or Tripod type web server.

Three weeks?! Well, this could be interesting...

I agree with TommyTune that PHP and MySQL are the best way to go. Perl and cookies may work but it seems like it may be very messy and awkward. For your reference, PHP is kind of a form of C++ that you can embed in web pages to be executed on the server. ASP is almost the same but uses VB instead of C++. That and you can only run it on Windows servers. If you want to use a free server, you have to use PHP, not ASP. Both are similar to Perl in that they are executed by the server but are like &#106avascript in that they are embedded into pages using a pair of tags (I don''t <i>think</i> you can do that in Perl). MySQL is a free database engine that can be installed &#111n a server. SQL is a scripting language that can be used to read from and write to a database.<br><br><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN CLASS=smallfont>quote:<hr HEIGHT=1 noshade>You probably won''t be able to execute this project &#111n a Geocities or Tripod type web server. <hr height=1 noshade></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE> <br><br>Definitely not Geocities, but Tripod''s European equivalent will let you sign up for a PHP/MySQL capable site. It''s <a href="http://www.tripod.co.uk">here</a>. Or you can try <a href="http://www.host.sk">Host.sk</a>. Both are free and give you 50 MB space with PHP and MySQL. The former has forced ads, the latter doesn''t.<br><br>Alternately, you can set up a server &#111n your own computer to run the site from. Advatages: as much space as you could want and no forced ads. Disadvantages: it violates most ISPs'' TOS and you may be vulnerable to attack.<br><br>Now to get going, set up your site (either &#111n a local server or using &#111ne of my suggested &#111nes above) and go to <a href="http://www.zend.com">Zend</a> and <a href="http://www.ascenvia.net/content/index.php">Ascenvia</a> and use the tutorials &#111n the sites to learn how to use PHP and MySQL. And I believe both sites have forums to use if you get stuck.<br><br>It''s not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination so I wish you the best of luck.<br><br>-Auron

Wow. You guys are awesome. I knew there was something more appropriate out there than Perl for this sort of thing. I''m going to read up on this stuff and get crackin''. Perhaps in 3 weeks, I may have my "Hello World" finished. ;-)