Choosing a Web Development Path
I have recently finished this HTML course, which recommends using cPanel to configure websites. So I bought a domain and registered with cPanel.
- What I thought would happen in trying to create a website/app:Buy a domain and use cPanel and Python in perfect sync to create a website.
- Reality:cPanel is configured mostly for PHP. You can run Python scripts with it, but it doesn't seem to be the most effective route from what I've read.
So I went back to the drawing board and I've simplified this down to two basic paths:
| Options | Languages | Hosting | Framework / IDE |
| Path 1 | Build a website using Python + Python Web Frameworks and HTML | PythonAnywhere or other Python friendly hosts | web2py |
| Path 2 | Use a combo of HTML, Javascript + Python, other languages | cPanel, many other hosts | None (AKA I'm not sure) |
I'm going with Path 1 because the only language I know is Python. I hope to learn other languages like Javascript and CSS but would like to get building as fast as possible.
I found a free web hosting service called PythonAnywhere. There are other free and paid Python-friendly hosts.
Instead of the previously mentioned web frameworks, I've chosen web2py as a starter because of its compatibility with PythonAnywhere, its simplicity, easy to read documentation and relative ease of use for beginners.
- A note on PythonAnywhere: they get 5 stars for the tutorial pictured below. It is very nice to see in the whirlwind of confusion of learning to deal with code and a new environment.
++ Love this opening quote from web2py Documentation: "I believe that the ability to easily build high quality web applications is of critical importance for the growth of a free and open society. This prevents the biggest players from monopolizing the flow of information."
+++ A note on web2py so far: the videos from the creator, Massimo Di Pierro, are super useful!
Update: consider using py4web, web2py's successor