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Using PHP to create a membership Web site?

I would like your recommendation on integrating php scripts on the website to create free membership or paid membership access only web pages. Are there any books that teach you how to do that in the most simplest way? I'm quite new to website building and still in the process of learning html. I would appreciate your advice. Thank you.

Dave's Answer:

Alas, PHP is still on my ever-growing action list (I do occassionaly lop something off the top of the list, to be fair, but there's so much to learn! And so much new technology coming out every week! But, hey, that's my problem, right? ;-) so to get a good answer I asked my friend and colleague Derek Scruggs, head of Escalan Integrated Direct Marketing and a darn good PHP programmer. Here's his answer:

Ugh. If you're not even conversant in HTML, I recommend you get a grip on that first (insert promo for Dave's Creating Cool Web Sites with HTML, XHTML and CSS book here) because PHP's roots are in web page templating.

If you're looking to get something up quickly, you're better off getting one of the jillions of PHP/MySQL CMS systems out there. You can compare and contrast some of them at CMS Matrix.org.

If/when you decide to roll your own solution, I recommend the book PHP and MySQL Web Development from SAMS and, once you're comfortable with PHP, PHP Developer's Cookbook also from Sams.

It's relatively easy to build a pw-protected site. The hard part is tying userIDs to subscriptions and processing credit card (and especially) PayPal transactions. You can do some of this manually, but it becomes a big PITA once you hit a certain number of users.

I hope that helps you out!

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Comments

Yes, if there are not HTML roots, there won't be much PHP. I'm still a bit new to PHP myself, but the stuff is fun as all. So I've been looking for a good book, and I think that PHP Developer's Cookbook sounds good with my birthday coming up.
That said, I'm working on a blogging website with a similar problem. I cheated a bit, I think. I took the log-in off of the main page and put it on each individual user's 'new-entry' and 'edit' pages. It just asks for the password, and the username is drawn from the URL (site/username). It's certainly not the best, but it works. I do hope to fix this in the future.

Posted by: matthew at March 27, 2005 3:56 AM

Hi,

I have tried a few CMS but because I don't know PHP I have never been able to change any of them to work for me as I want it, layout mainly. Any advice?

Also do you have paid links (free would be great, but alas not these days it seems), I am buildinga new web site here in Ireland for the Irish market on web hosting, broadband, blogging etc, and need to get seen.

Thanks

Posted by: Leslie Gilmour at October 20, 2006 9:25 AM

I want to build a simple membership website, with free members and paid members. Where can I find the script and installation manual.

Thanks for the help
Regards,
Saifuddin.

Posted by: Saifuddin Indorewala at December 25, 2006 12:38 AM

I recomend using phpdirect
it sure has helped me out when im in a pickle

Posted by: stedo at January 11, 2007 10:53 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!