WordPress.org

1. simonmatthew
   Member
   Posted 3 months ago #

   Hello

   I am considering WordPress and would like some help deciding whether it is the right product for me.

   1. My knowledge level is basic html and css, php none so I need it be be really easy to install and get going with. Is it realistic ill be able to do it given my knowledge level? I usually use Zen cpanel for hosting so would that be ok?

   2. I want to have a site where I have a homepage and a blog but then I also want a forums section. What would be the best way to do this and again how difficult is it? Initially I was thinking of going for VBulletin and I read there is a WordPress link available but then I also read about BBpress so im struggling to decide which is best for me. Does BBpress offer any significant advantage over Vbulltin?

   3. In the forums section I really want users to be able to create their own little profile page with their pictures etc and to be able to fully customize their page. Is this possible with either of the forum packages mentioned?

   4. Can we code a WordPress site around the WordPress package to achieve our own design for our homepage etc rather than it looking like a template? Do you have complete freedom to design the look of the pages etc? Could you show me examples to show me the variation in design that is achievable?

   Im sorry I know these are probably really basic questions. I am reading about WordPress and Vbulletin all the time on the 2 sites and im just trying to work out the best way to do this. Its a bit of a case of information overload.

   Thanks for any help!

2. fonglh
   Member
   Posted 3 months ago #

   It's quite easy to get going and you don't need to know any PHP to get a simple site started. You can try it out on your own computer first. That's actually a bit harder than getting started on a web host as you have to setup a server environment first.

   http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

   If you're on windows, you can use WAMP to set up all the web server stuff you need. On a Mac, use MAMP.

   I'm not familiar with forum stuff so maybe someone else can help you with that.

   You can definitely make your site look the way you want by coding your own theme. Anything is possible, but you'll have to learn PHP to do it.
   See http://wordpress.org/showcase/ for examples.
   See http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development for theme development basics.

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