Besides not owning the server (because that’s expensive), what’s needed to create a website where the creator owns everything? It seems like everything I find online is just outsourcing to others. I get constant ads for Wix, hosting solutions, etc.
You’d have to code it yourself.
You could even host the server on your own network.
If you don’t go the local hosting route:
- Write the code to build an app (in HTML or whatever framework you want).
- Host the app on a server of your choice (Cloudflare, AWS, Azure, etc.).
- Produce all your own assets for the website (images, SVGs, etc.).
Don’t forget about security, performance, storage, and networking!
If you want to discuss this further, let me know.
Well, you code it.
Basically, open a notepad file and write code in a coding language. The simplest is a ‘hello world’ script, which just shows the phrase ‘hello world’. That’s code that’s interpreted by a compiler or browser to give you results.
There are many tutorials and starting points. For beginners, learn HTML (website skeleton), CSS (styling), and JavaScript (interactive functionality).
Instead of notepad, download VS Code as an editor.
You can check out w3schools.com for a glimpse into it all. Don’t sign up for paid programs unless you need to.
It takes time to learn the basics; the learning curve is steep, but it will level out.
What type of website do you need? The best Content Management System (CMS) depends on your niche.
Index.html and you’re done.
There are free solutions where you own everything, depending on what you want.
You can have your website with Astro and deploy to GitHub Pages, for example. It’s free, but you need some web development knowledge.
What do you mean? Are you looking for a web development tutorial, legal advice, or alternatives to Wix?
Servers don’t have to be expensive or powerful. I’m running several on my laptop right now.
You learn web development (HTML, CSS, JS, maybe a backend language) and write it yourself. Or, use a free open-source CMS like WordPress, Drupal, or Ghost and install it on your server.
index.html
content:
all mine
uploadAdd complexity as needed.
Hosting with a Raspberry Pi and the ‘setup a webserver for kids’ tutorial is great.
Even though this sounds sarcastic, that’s how to start learning.
Are you asking with or without coding knowledge?
Without coding, you can buy cheap web hosting. They often offer one-click WordPress installation. Then, log in to WordPress, choose a theme, and start editing. That’s how most people do it.
There are many website software packages you can use, depending on the site’s purpose. Want a forum? Install phpBB. A wiki? Install MediaWiki. An e-commerce store? Install Magento or WordPress with the WooCommerce plugin. These are all free and open-source, so you own them and your content.
The downside is you have to maintain and fix them. Like owning a house instead of renting. You may need to hire an expert sometimes. Managed services like Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow maintain the infrastructure and software for you.
Wix’s content policy states that you grant them permission to use your content, but you retain ownership.
See the content policy here:
https://www.wix.com/about/terms-of-use under “3. Content and Ownership”
I’m not recommending Wix.
I use Namecheap, and it’s been working well for my simple website needs.