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Web Design

This website demonstrates using wikis as teaching and learning tool.

The course instructor is happy to share the teaching materials here with those who find it readable.

Lecture /

Large-Scale Web Site Development

A Web Design Lecture by Steven Choy

Overview: Staffing a large-scale Web project - The Web site development cycle - Registering your domain names - Choosing a Web Hosting

Staffing a large-scale Web project

  • Project Manager
    • create the project plan and schedule
    • oversee the development process
    • coordinate team activities
    • risk management
    • communicate with all stake holders
  • Information Architect
    • determine the mission and goals of the Web site
    • determine the functionality of the Web site
    • define the site organization
    • define the site navigation model
    • define the label for each section
  • Marketing Representative
    • ensure the look and feel of the Web site is aligned with the marketing goals of the organization
  • Copywriter and Editor
    • prepare and evaluate copy
    • repurpose or rework the various materials (e.g. existing brochures, newsletters) for the Web media
  • Content Manager
    • participate in the strategic and creative development and enhancements of the Web site
    • oversee changes in content
  • Graphic Designer
    • determine appropriate use of color and graphics on the Web site
    • create page layouts
    • design graphics
    • work with Web developers to create various interactive effects
  • Database Administrator
    • create databases
    • define procedures to maintain databases
    • control access to databases
  • Network Administrator
    • configure and maintain the Web server
    • control access to the server
    • set security measures of the Web server
  • Web Developer
    • write XHTML code
    • write client-side scripting such as JavaScript
    • write sever-side programs such as PHP or ASP

The Development Process

  • The Web site development cycle
  • Analysis
Determine information topics
Determine functionality requirements
Determine environment requirements
Determine content requirements
Compare the old website with the proposed website
Review your competitors' websites
Estimate costs
Do a cost/benefit analysis
  • Design
Choose a site organization
Prototype the design
Create a page layout design
Document each page
  • Production
Choose a Web authoring tool
Organize your site files
Develop and test each component
  • Testing
Test on different browsers and browser versions
Test with different screen resolutions
Test using different bandwidths
Test from another location
Test using mobile devices
Test web accessibility
Test usability

Registering your domain names

  • Choosing a domain name
Describe your business
Be brief, if possible
Avoid hyphens ("-")
There's more than .com
Avoid trademarked words or phases
Verify availability
  • Domain Registrars, Domain Names, and Name Servers
Domain Registrars are the authorities who administer Domain Names.
The Domain Registrar contains the information about where the Domain Name Servers (DNS) are located.
The DNS Name Servers are what finally direct the Internet surfer to their destination, the actual website.
An example records for a domain in the DNS name server:
  • Should you register a domain name on your own?
  • Should you need a complete control over the records on the DNS name servers?
  • Should you need a complete control over the website server and/or email server?

Choosing a Web Hosting

  • When looking for Web site hosting services, it is easy to overlook some of the most important factors while paying too much attention on some features which you may not need at the start.
  • Some important Web hosting checklist
1. Disk space
2. Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the total amount of data that downloaded or uploaded from a particular website during a given time (usually a month).
3. Domain Name
You can register a domain with domain register. However, many web hosting company offer you free domain name if you hired their web host.
It is better if you register your domain name yourself and retain control of your domain name account.
4. Operating System and Web Server
UNIX, Linux, or Windows Server? Apache or IIS (Internet Information Services)
5. Technical Support
Is it available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Email, forum, or phone?
6. Service Agreement
Does it offer an SLA (Service Level Agreement) with an uptime guarantee?
Does it offer automatic monitoring?
7. Email accounts
Most virtual hosts offer multiple email accounts per site.
8. Uploading files
FTP access and/or web-based file manager
9. Server-side scripting support
ASP, PHP, Perl, Ruby, or .Net?
10. Database support
MySQL, MS Access, or MS SQL?
11. E-commerce features and packages
12. Backups
Most Web hosts will back up your files regularly. Check to see how often the backups are made and if they are accessible to you.
13. Site statistics
The Web server log contains useful information about your visitors, how they find your site, and what pages they visit. Check to see if the log is available to you.

References

Thanks for Reading

If you would rather like to have this lecture note in printed format, please click the print action link in the top right corner.

If you find any problem in this lecture note, please feel free to tell Steven via steven [at] findaway.hk.

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Page last modified on March 14, 2012, at 10:33 AM