Online Database / Choice - Need a bit of help

LianaWesten · Jul 13, 2012

Hi Everyone!

Last night, in the wee hours of the morning, I found a totally awesome and untapped niche.

I would have to set up a website for this, but my main question would be:

Where should I go to learn about how to set up a database, which can be utilized by drop-down boxes and multiple choices, to spit out a solution for you?

Let's say the user puts in choice A in B amount, and choice X in Y amount, then the site looks through the database and spits out that "sorry, that doesn't work". It might offer the next best choice.

Thanks in advance for any help!

theag · Jul 13, 2012

MySQL database with a PHP script would be the easiest solution as its the most widespread combination and easiest to find a programmer for.

Steve W · Jul 13, 2012

Hi Liana

Learning to build custom web apps isn't overly trivial & you'll either need to invest some time learning or outsource it.

I run all my sites on MySQL - it's relatively easy to use, can be easy to secure, universal (ie tons of info available) & fairly powerful. Unless you have highly unusual needs it would do the trick. To interface to the database you will also need to learn PHP & will need to design your site using html, css & most likely javascript (or a javascript library like jQuery).

Not sure if this answers your question - feel free to pm me if you need more info...

LianaWesten · Jul 13, 2012

Thank you for the help!

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about programming.
How much would I need to learn to set something like I mentioned in my first post up? I would think I don't need to learn every nuance of MySQL to do it?

I know a minimal amount of html and some basic css... nothing about Javascript.

Might be a stupid question, but is there a program or some base I could start from?

Steve W · Jul 13, 2012

LianaWesten said:
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about programming.
How much would I need to learn to set something like I mentioned in my first post up? I would think I don't need to learn every nuance of MySQL to do it?

Difficult to say without knowing a bit more about your project but generally it would be unrealistic for a beginner to expect to be able to create a polished app from scratch. It really comes down to - do you want to build the website & app yourself or do you want to pay someone to do it for you.

Having said that, I'm self taught & there is no reason you can't teach yourself if you are prepared to put in some time. HTML & CSS is very easy to learn, javascript is a bit more difficult (I usually use a library called jQuery for my sites) but you may not need javascript anyway - it is typically used for 'special effects' & isn't essential to a website.

LianaWesten said:
Might be a stupid question, but is there a program or some base I could start from?

Depending on the nature of your app you may be able to use a CMS (content management system) of some sort - lots of people use Wordpress as the back end for a website as there is practically no technical knowledge required to set up a WP website & there are tons of free & paid themes & plugins available. It might be a good starting point for you...

LianaWesten · Jul 13, 2012

I looked up several WordPress tutorials and started to study it too (I have an unpublished website where I can practice such things), so the site will be set up in WordPress for sure (have some friends who know a lot about it too so they can help out).

I'm mostly curious about how to go about setting up such a database, tie it to drop-down options, and spit out a result.

It's not a really big project, at least I don't think so.

If I'd put it into an analogy, it'd be like.... For instance (this is an example), if I want to make it easy for people to see what color matches what color.
I mean: They'd enter the color [ORANGE], color amount [A LOT], then secondary color [BLUE] amount [A LOT] (this would add up to equal orange and blue of course), then they click the "get info" button or what have you, and the site tells the person "ARE YOU CRAZY?! Don't you DARE!"

Hope this makes sense

Steve W · Jul 13, 2012

That sounds more like a scripting (eg PHP) application than a database. Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't that process be driven by an algorithm or calculation of some sort?

If it can be defined as an exact formula(s) it would be pretty simple to convert this to a set of PHP routines (no database required) - just a matter of using the correct syntax. The dropdowns etc are just window dressing & can be programmed in very easily once the formula process is nailed.

If you want to write it yourself, my suggestion is install WAMP & Netbeans (get the PHP version) on your computer, use them to learn the basics of PHP & write the routines, get one of your Wordpress friends to convert your PHP routines to a Wordpress plugin, install this on your site (you can also test & tweak the WP site on your computer if you install WAMP) & you'll be all set.

Sounds complicated but it's not really...

If I'm on the wrong track with this let me know how & I'll see if I can point you in the right direction...

LianaWesten · Jul 13, 2012

Oh neat! I just thought that the results would have to be in a database, where the script can access them from.

Or maybe I'm just proving now how I have no idea what I'm talking about

I'll look into this closely with the programs you mentioned, and see if it applies to what I'm trying to do.

Thanks so much for the help! ^_^ I really appreciate it

Steve W · Jul 13, 2012

You're welcome - pm me if you need any help/advice etc...

LianaWesten · Jul 14, 2012

This is a really crappy representation of what I'm thinking of, continuing on the color matching theory.
I've started to learn more about HTML, fortunately I remember a lot of it from making intricate forum posts

Is this something I'd need PHP for? Any MySQL?

Of course, there'd be more options, also dropdown boxes.

The-J · Jul 14, 2012

Get the idea. Go to Google and ask questions for what you want to do (how do i make a drop down menu; how do i make a mysql database; how do i get a drop down menu to check mysql database). Copy-paste the scripts they show you. If it doesn't work, go to the next website.

Or Wordpress.

I don't understand why people think web site building is so hard.

LianaWesten · Jul 14, 2012

Well, because I have never tried anything like building, coding.
Now I'm at the point where I do need to/want to learn some.
I've been busy with learning 3D and Photoshop (something I actually like to do).

I'm quite versed in teaching stuff to myself, been doing that since I was 17.

If I check the "how do I make a MySQL database" on google, I find so much jargon, other strange things and expressions, that I don't even know what to touch. I don't want to waste my valuable time on pursuing something that will turn out to be not needed at all.

On this note, I will go and research some ready-done script things or whatever.

(P.S.: I don't even know where to put these scripts... Basic of basics needed :/ )

The-J · Jul 14, 2012

LianaWesten said:
Well, because I have never tried anything like building, coding.
Now I'm at the point where I do need to/want to learn some.
I've been busy with learning 3D and Photoshop (something I actually like to do).

I'm quite versed in teaching stuff to myself, been doing that since I was 17.

If I check the "how do I make a MySQL database" on google, I find so much jargon, other strange things and expressions, that I don't even know what to touch. I don't want to waste my valuable time on pursuing something that will turn out to be not needed at all.

On this note, I will go and research some ready-done script things or whatever.

(P.S.: I don't even know where to put these scripts... Basic of basics needed :/ )

I just put it anywhere and see if it does what I want.

People learn languages this way, so why not coding languages?

LianaWesten · Jul 15, 2012

I've been searching how to implement such a thing (like I posted above) on a website, but I don't even know what it's called properly.
It's not drop down menu or drop down options, because that just brings out drop down menu items, such as would be under Contact Us -> Email, Phone, Regular Mail, one under the other.

What is this even called that I'm trying to do?

Steve W · Jul 15, 2012

Looks like what you're trying to do would be pretty easy using only basic html & a bit of jQuery - create a hidden div containing more divs with each colour. The coloured divs can be displayed (using animation if you like) by clicking one of the colour blocks at the top. The matching algorithm could be done by assigning weightings to each colour combination eg for a given colour green = 1, red = 2 etc & order the results by highest to lowest values.

theag · Jul 15, 2012

LianaWesten said:

I don't know where you want to take this, but with the risk of being called an a$$ again by pointing this out: I don't think this is such a "totally awesome and untapped niche" as you think.

https://www.google.com/search?&q=match+color

I wouldn't waste my time with learning to build this myself. If you want to apply this color match to a product you want to sell you can just steal the script from one of those sites (everybody does it) and build on top of that.

FastNAwesome · Jul 15, 2012

LianaWesten said:
What is this even called that I'm trying to do?

It's a color picker. Something like

Spectrum - The No Hassle jQuery Colorpicker
PhotoShop-like JavaScript Color Picker | John Dyer's Code

As for matching the colors, I don't fully get what you want, but here are some thoughts:

1) If matching between colors is based on some algorithm, (which takes color codes as variables,
and calculates how good a match it is) - that's the easiest option and no database is needed.

You can write the algorithm in:

JAVASCRIPT
- It will load just once on user's computer, and thewithout further requests to your server, and even without internet connection,
so less load on your server
- They will also be able to easily see, figure and steal your algorithm

Some server side language, such as PHP
- Each color matching will be one more HTTP request - more load on your server
- They will not be able to see your algorithm, just the result of matching

2) If matching is based on a limited number of possible combinations, but which cannot
be defined by algorithm, situation is similar, you can hard-code, that is, simply write all the
combos to some file, and just read it from there and calculate

Same note for language choice applies

3) If there is a big number of combinations, big enough to make it tedious hard-coding each one,
and also not possible to define by algorithm, then you need a database.

In your case it seems to be a very simple database that you need, so if you're gonna go ahead
and learn about databases (I agree mysql is a practical choice) it can be your first "homework".

Pat · Jul 15, 2012

I highly suggest you hire someone to do it.

If you have no clue about programming, I doubt you will get this done any time soon.

LianaWesten · Jul 15, 2012

Thanks for the responses everyone!
I will look into it all as soon as possible.

Right now, I'm trying to recover from a serious email account hack, and don't have time to concentrate on websites

(I'm extremely security conscious, I have NO idea how it happened.)

theag said:
I don't know where you want to take this, but with the risk of being called an a$$ again by pointing this out: I don't think this is such a "totally awesome and untapped niche" as you think.

https://www.google.com/search?&q=match+color

I wouldn't waste my time with learning to build this myself. If you want to apply this color match to a product you want to sell you can just steal the script from one of those sites (everybody does it) and build on top of that.

It's not a simple color matching site, the picture example is just something I drew up in 10 minutes to try and show what KIND of thing I'm looking for. My niche is a specific problem that hasn't been addressed anywhere on the net or in an app (nicely and comprehensively anyway), and it will be tied to products to be sold as well (through affiliate marketing).

Thanks for the input though ^_^

EDIT: I'm trying to find a code or script that is similar to what I need and I just need to know enough to modify it. Or ask someone to show me how to.
I'd prefer not to spend shit ton of money on someone doing it for me.

FastNAwesome · Jul 15, 2012

LianaWesten said:
(I'm extremely security conscious,

This...

LianaWesten said:
I'm trying to find a code or script that is similar to what I need and I just need to know enough to modify it

...does not go well with this, most of the scripts published on the net and in tutorials (and even in some beginner books) - are just junk,
with security not even being a consideration.

LianaWesten · Jul 15, 2012

FastNAwesome said:
This...

...does not go well with this, most of the scripts published on the net and in tutorials (and even in some beginner books) - are just junk,
with security not even being a consideration.

I would have the code checked over before implementing it, naturally.
I don't trust anything on the internet.

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