6 September 2024, 03:56 AM
Hello everyone,
I hope you're all doing well! I am relatively new to web development and have a lot of questions as I dive deeper into creating a custom website from scratch. I’ve done some basic projects using website builders and CMS platforms like WordPress and Wix, but now I want to create something completely custom, starting with nothing but a blank canvas.
Before I get too deep into the weeds, I wanted to reach out to this forum to get some advice from experienced developers and designers who have built custom websites or even run agencies. I have broken down my questions into a few main areas: planning, design, development, and deployment. If you’ve got insights or answers to any of these questions, I’d really appreciate your thoughts!
1. Planning the Website
Starting a Custom Website in Lausanne from scratch can be a daunting task, and I want to make sure that I don’t miss any critical steps during the planning phase. From my understanding, planning the website thoroughly before jumping into development is crucial. Here are a few questions I have regarding this step:
Once I’ve planned the structure of the site, the next step seems to be design. I have basic design skills, but I’m not a professional UI/UX designer. From what I’ve researched, the design phase is just as important as development because it dictates the user experience. My main concerns here are:
Now for the part I’m most excited about – the development stage! While I have some experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I’ve never built something fully custom before. I’m eager to improve my skills and would love to hear from more experienced developers about how they tackle building a site from scratch.
Once the site is built, I assume testing and deployment are the next big steps. This is where I have the least experience, so I’m hoping for some practical tips on getting the site live and ensuring that it functions smoothly.
Finally, if there’s any other advice you’d like to share about building custom websites, I’d love to hear it! What’s something you wish you knew when you were starting out? Any common pitfalls I should avoid, or tips for staying organized during the build process?
I’m really excited to take on this project and create something truly custom, but I know it’s going to be a learning experience. Thanks in advance for your insights and advice – I’m looking forward to hearing from you all!
I hope you're all doing well! I am relatively new to web development and have a lot of questions as I dive deeper into creating a custom website from scratch. I’ve done some basic projects using website builders and CMS platforms like WordPress and Wix, but now I want to create something completely custom, starting with nothing but a blank canvas.
Before I get too deep into the weeds, I wanted to reach out to this forum to get some advice from experienced developers and designers who have built custom websites or even run agencies. I have broken down my questions into a few main areas: planning, design, development, and deployment. If you’ve got insights or answers to any of these questions, I’d really appreciate your thoughts!
1. Planning the Website
Starting a Custom Website in Lausanne from scratch can be a daunting task, and I want to make sure that I don’t miss any critical steps during the planning phase. From my understanding, planning the website thoroughly before jumping into development is crucial. Here are a few questions I have regarding this step:
- How important is creating a detailed sitemap or wireframe before coding?
- I’ve read a lot about wireframes and sitemaps being critical for laying out the structure of a website. I know some people prefer to jump into the code right away and figure things out as they go, but I want to understand the benefits of planning every single page and user interaction before doing anything else. How detailed should these wireframes be? Do developers typically stick to them religiously, or do things evolve as the project moves along?
- I’ve read a lot about wireframes and sitemaps being critical for laying out the structure of a website. I know some people prefer to jump into the code right away and figure things out as they go, but I want to understand the benefits of planning every single page and user interaction before doing anything else. How detailed should these wireframes be? Do developers typically stick to them religiously, or do things evolve as the project moves along?
- What should be included in a solid website strategy?
- When working with clients or stakeholders, how do you gather requirements in a way that ensures everyone is on the same page? I’m aware of tools like discovery workshops or initial client interviews, but how do you translate these conversations into actionable plans? I’m looking to build a site that’s user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for SEO, but I feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of information out there.
- When working with clients or stakeholders, how do you gather requirements in a way that ensures everyone is on the same page? I’m aware of tools like discovery workshops or initial client interviews, but how do you translate these conversations into actionable plans? I’m looking to build a site that’s user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for SEO, but I feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of information out there.
- How do you manage client expectations for a custom website?
- Sometimes clients seem to expect all the bells and whistles for a low budget. How do you balance what’s possible given the time and resources without sacrificing quality? Any tips on communicating technical limitations to non-technical clients? How do you keep the scope from expanding uncontrollably?
- Sometimes clients seem to expect all the bells and whistles for a low budget. How do you balance what’s possible given the time and resources without sacrificing quality? Any tips on communicating technical limitations to non-technical clients? How do you keep the scope from expanding uncontrollably?
Once I’ve planned the structure of the site, the next step seems to be design. I have basic design skills, but I’m not a professional UI/UX designer. From what I’ve researched, the design phase is just as important as development because it dictates the user experience. My main concerns here are:
- What are some best practices for creating user-friendly designs?
- I’ve heard about user-centered design, but I’m not sure how to apply it practically. Are there any key principles or frameworks (like Material Design, for instance) that you would recommend? How do you prioritize functionality over aesthetics? How do you ensure that a design is accessible and inclusive for all users?
- I’ve heard about user-centered design, but I’m not sure how to apply it practically. Are there any key principles or frameworks (like Material Design, for instance) that you would recommend? How do you prioritize functionality over aesthetics? How do you ensure that a design is accessible and inclusive for all users?
- How much of a website's design is dictated by trends vs. timeless principles?
- Trends like dark mode or minimalism seem popular now, but how much should these influence my design choices? Should I aim for a timeless design or something that incorporates current trends? I’m wary of making something that will look outdated in a year, but I also don’t want to create something too plain.
- Trends like dark mode or minimalism seem popular now, but how much should these influence my design choices? Should I aim for a timeless design or something that incorporates current trends? I’m wary of making something that will look outdated in a year, but I also don’t want to create something too plain.
- What tools are best for designing custom websites?
- I’ve heard of Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD as common design tools, but I’m unsure which would be best for someone who is relatively new to custom design. Are there any pros or cons to these tools? Or should I just stick with more familiar graphic design software like Photoshop?
- I’ve heard of Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD as common design tools, but I’m unsure which would be best for someone who is relatively new to custom design. Are there any pros or cons to these tools? Or should I just stick with more familiar graphic design software like Photoshop?
- How do you handle mobile-first design?
- With most traffic coming from mobile devices these days, I understand that designing with mobile in mind is critical. Do you have any tips or workflows for ensuring that designs are responsive and look great across all screen sizes? Is there a “golden ratio” for scaling elements across devices, or do you rely on testing?
- With most traffic coming from mobile devices these days, I understand that designing with mobile in mind is critical. Do you have any tips or workflows for ensuring that designs are responsive and look great across all screen sizes? Is there a “golden ratio” for scaling elements across devices, or do you rely on testing?
Now for the part I’m most excited about – the development stage! While I have some experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I’ve never built something fully custom before. I’m eager to improve my skills and would love to hear from more experienced developers about how they tackle building a site from scratch.
- Front-end vs. back-end: How do you decide on the right stack?
- There are so many options when it comes to choosing a technology stack for a website. For front-end, I’m familiar with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and some frameworks like Bootstrap and Tailwind. But when it comes to choosing a back-end language (PHP, Node.js, Python, etc.), I’m a bit lost. How do you choose the right stack for a project? Are there specific languages or frameworks that are better suited for custom sites?
- There are so many options when it comes to choosing a technology stack for a website. For front-end, I’m familiar with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and some frameworks like Bootstrap and Tailwind. But when it comes to choosing a back-end language (PHP, Node.js, Python, etc.), I’m a bit lost. How do you choose the right stack for a project? Are there specific languages or frameworks that are better suited for custom sites?
- Do you recommend using a CSS framework or writing custom CSS?
- I’m torn between using a framework like Bootstrap (which I’m familiar with) or writing custom CSS. On the one hand, frameworks speed things up and come with built-in responsiveness, but on the other hand, custom CSS gives me full control over the design. What’s your advice for someone who wants a balance between speed and customization?
- I’m torn between using a framework like Bootstrap (which I’m familiar with) or writing custom CSS. On the one hand, frameworks speed things up and come with built-in responsiveness, but on the other hand, custom CSS gives me full control over the design. What’s your advice for someone who wants a balance between speed and customization?
- How do you approach website performance and optimization?
- I know speed is crucial for SEO and user experience, but I’m not entirely sure how to approach optimization beyond the basics (minifying CSS/JS, optimizing images). What are some tools or techniques you recommend for keeping load times fast? Do you have any tips for ensuring smooth animations and transitions without slowing the site down?
- I know speed is crucial for SEO and user experience, but I’m not entirely sure how to approach optimization beyond the basics (minifying CSS/JS, optimizing images). What are some tools or techniques you recommend for keeping load times fast? Do you have any tips for ensuring smooth animations and transitions without slowing the site down?
- What are your thoughts on using CMS platforms for custom websites?
- While I’m looking to build a custom site, I’ve seen a lot of debate about using CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal even for custom websites. Would you recommend integrating a CMS for easy content management, or should I stick with a purely custom-coded solution? I want to give clients some control over content without them having to touch the code, but I also don’t want to limit my design and development freedom.
- While I’m looking to build a custom site, I’ve seen a lot of debate about using CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal even for custom websites. Would you recommend integrating a CMS for easy content management, or should I stick with a purely custom-coded solution? I want to give clients some control over content without them having to touch the code, but I also don’t want to limit my design and development freedom.
Once the site is built, I assume testing and deployment are the next big steps. This is where I have the least experience, so I’m hoping for some practical tips on getting the site live and ensuring that it functions smoothly.
- What is your workflow for testing a custom website?
- I know about cross-browser testing and testing on multiple devices, but are there other essential tests I should run before launching the site? How do you handle things like security testing, accessibility testing, and performance testing? Are there any tools you’d recommend for automating these tests, or do you prefer manual testing?
- I know about cross-browser testing and testing on multiple devices, but are there other essential tests I should run before launching the site? How do you handle things like security testing, accessibility testing, and performance testing? Are there any tools you’d recommend for automating these tests, or do you prefer manual testing?
- What’s the best way to deploy a custom website?
- I’m familiar with hosting providers like Bluehost and GoDaddy, but I’ve heard that platforms like AWS or DigitalOcean offer more flexibility for custom sites. What’s your experience with these platforms? Do you use continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for deploying updates, or is that overkill for a simple website?
- I’m familiar with hosting providers like Bluehost and GoDaddy, but I’ve heard that platforms like AWS or DigitalOcean offer more flexibility for custom sites. What’s your experience with these platforms? Do you use continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for deploying updates, or is that overkill for a simple website?
- How do you maintain and update the website post-launch?
- After launching the site, what’s your approach to maintaining it? Do you offer clients maintenance packages, or do you prefer handing off the site and letting them handle updates? How do you monitor a live site to catch bugs or issues that users might encounter?
- After launching the site, what’s your approach to maintaining it? Do you offer clients maintenance packages, or do you prefer handing off the site and letting them handle updates? How do you monitor a live site to catch bugs or issues that users might encounter?
Finally, if there’s any other advice you’d like to share about building custom websites, I’d love to hear it! What’s something you wish you knew when you were starting out? Any common pitfalls I should avoid, or tips for staying organized during the build process?
I’m really excited to take on this project and create something truly custom, but I know it’s going to be a learning experience. Thanks in advance for your insights and advice – I’m looking forward to hearing from you all!