I am new to Drupal.
I want to use it really bad.
I want to install it on my local computer.
- The installation instructions on Drupal and any website are way too vague. They are pretty much like "Get a web server, install drupal and done", like if it were so easy.
1. Tried on WAMP, latest release. Downloaded latest drupal. Went to install.php. First problem, the usual error I have found on a lot of postings "Can't connect to SQL"
2. Ok so Drupal instructions don't say anything about that I have to create my own database.
3. So I go an read about. Phpmyadmin create my database. And spend 2 days, with the same problem. After about to commit suicide (not really) I ran into this posting that says. "To install locally, create a database and select host is only 'local'"
4. So there we go again. Create DB, user. Go to install.php. Yepeee. SQL error gone. But now I get an "execution time exceeded"
5. I spend another 2 days, reading. To find I need to change php.ini and some other file so the execute time is zero. Score!!!
6. I go and do install.php. Localhost waiting...(10 minutes)...Next screen "Install"....(10 minutes)...."Language"....(10 minutes)...My god!!! This is slower to install than Windows 98!
7. Next screen "Enter database info"...I do this. Submit...(20 minutes)...Then:
Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in C:\wamp\www\oa\includes\file.inc on line 934
8. That's it. I am stuck!
9. I go to that file and the "execution" line is nowhere on that file
Conclusion:
Why do they make it so hard to install?
HELP, would really be appreciate it.
Comments
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Not sure to what 'instructions' you refer-- directly from the INSTALL.txt file included with every drupal download:
3. CREATE THE DRUPAL DATABASEThere's also: http://drupal.org/documentation/install and http://drupal.org/documentation/install/beginners not to mention http://drupal.org/node/128752.
I'm all for making things easier, but 1) getting wamp / lamp up and running is really not a drupal topic (there are much better sites for learning that than drupal.org) and 2) there's not much that can be done to improve things when people don't make use of existing resources.
Drupal is by far the easiest
Drupal is by far the easiest CMS I have ever installed. I can literally have an installation up and running within 3 minutes. So rather Han complaining about the problems, be glad it's not a harder even more confusing system.
Contact me to contract me for D7 -> D10/11 migrations.
Now that Drupal is getting
Now that Drupal is getting more recognition by 'any' user, that is non-technical people. Drupal should have a more through documentation for beginners.
You say it is by far the easiest CMS you have ever installed. But I am sure you have some level of technical knowledge to be able to do that.
The same would apply if I say. I can do a P&L report under an hour. While it takes you a whole day, because your skill set is different.
My complaint is more a call for improvement.
My point was more like this.
My point was more like this. If you get in your first car, and it's a Ferrari, and you complain that it doesn't accelerate very fast, you are just missing perspective.
Contact me to contract me for D7 -> D10/11 migrations.
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How much more can there be? Did you look at the links I provided above? There are quite literally pages and pages of documentation as well as videos. How much easier can it be than watching a video?
As jay said, it literally takes about 3 minutes to install drupal so the process itself can't be as bad as you're portraying it to be or it would take much longer.
Simply repeating your premise that it's too difficult doesn't tell us anything or contribute anything useful toward clarifying the process. What about the instructions is unclear? Which pages? Which steps? Which sentences? And how about the videos-- how could they be improved?
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By completely wiping out the original post and replacing it you've totally disrupted the flow of this post. I've reverted the original post. Please post your additional thoughts in a new comment rather than replacing the original content.
Without getting defensive on
Without getting defensive on the subject. I agree that my initial posting came out from days of frustration, but I think Drupal members should be more emphatic towards newbies questions. Drupal's smart and skilled members are pretty much the evangelists of the "software". There should be friendly correspondence towards new users, instead of booing them away.
The documentation is way too technical for a newbie. For someone that comes from a non-software background and slaved by Windows, a Drupal installation is not a 3-minute one. (If I spend 4 days installing and you say it takes 3 minutes, then something is clearly wrong. Let's see what it could be)
Here are some specific examples:
1. Where to start on Drupal.org? (From someone that never visited Drupal site before)
- I think the home page sells you on Drupal, by showing you a portfolio and a big button that says "Get started with", which is good...so far.
http://drupal.org/start
- There is a cut in the flow of ideas here. So I want to download it and install it. I go to http://drupal.org/drupal-6.20 and download it.
- Where are the installation instructions there? I go back to "/start". I guess under "installation profiles". Then some page with some options and then instructions for a script.
- It's getting scared already. Now what. Step 2 Extend Drupal. Nope. Ok Step 3. You can barely see "installation guide"
2. Create a test site:
- This was the first thing that occurred to me. So let's try to install it on my LAN.
- Go through the links that point to "install on Windows".
- Different options for server installations. WAMP and its different versions. Getting dizzy there.
- Ok finally a link that says "simple install of drupal" http://drupal.org/node/307956
- This is by far the most reasonable installation summary from all the links I have seen
3. Installation and errors
- These instructions (http://drupal.org/node/307956) are good but then frustration kicks in.
- Right off the bat. Upon opening 'install.php'. There was some odd SQL error. Which after spending days reading through the forums, all the installation links, FAQ, troubleshooting. Led to:
* There something in phpmyadmin that you have to setup as 'local' only.
* Changing the settings.php, manually
* Adding a line of code somewhere on the php.ini and other file, posted all over the forums. But yet then I read a posting that said something about not hacking Drupal.
Improvement:
- Home page after getting started. Organize the information so it gives you a clear section where newbies can go. And explain: if you are familiar with such and such technologies, here is your link: http://drupal.org/node/307956. Otherwise, here is a list of Drupal service providers.
- Give the information on how to install Drupal on a hosting provider. For example, godaddy. This is actually a 3 minute installation.
- The 'newbie' installation link should come with possible errors that you might find under Windows (I think if you use anything other that Windows or Apple, then you are not a newbie)
- Give authorized solutions to given errors and links to other possible solutions. (For instance, there are solutions about modifying the drupal code; on the forums, yet isn't there a culture of not hacking drupal core?. I think it gives mixed signals. Who do I listen to?)
- Most of the documentation is good, but trying to troubleshoot for an error, for someone not familiar with this, the documentation is all over the place, and one can easily spend days trying to go over all this to install Drupal.
- For a newbie, the most pertinent install documentation should be more visible.
Put some effort
Hello Boy, welcome to Drupal. You need to put on some effort to search where the contents are listed. A little effort from you would get you there in seconds. As Jay Mat said , Drupal can be installed in less than 3 minutes in local system. I had some problems in installing Drupal when I started out with Drupal many weeks back. But those problems were because of the hosting provider and not Drupal. I did not read all your comments. But I think you are trying to install Drupal in your local system. It's easy as that!
1. Download wamp and put it online in your local system
2. go to phpMyAdmin and create a database named Drupal
3. place all your files in www folder of wamp installation eg: www>Drupal>
4. go to http://localhost/Drupal/install.php
and thats it.
Fill up the details and it's self explanatory.
By default there's no password for the database. Database username is 'root' password can be left blank.
You do not have to modify anything in advance settings.
Hope it helps.
I still think that You are missing the point...
Drupal can be actually installed in a few minutes, but only on a machine that satisfies the System Requirements!
You need a properly configured OS, a properly configured and supported Web Server, a properly configured and supported SQL database, and a properly configured and supported PHP environment...
Drupal runs on top of a massive amount of software, that must be understood, or you will run into troubles, if not now, then later...
If perchance you are not familiar with concepts like Application Server, I strongly suggest you to take a step back and go through a lot of Wikipedia... (Pages like LAMP or WAMP or even AMP)
If I am mistaken, then please accept my apologies, but I really feel like you need to deepen your knowledge about Software Architecture...
Everyone learns differently.
Everyone learns differently. While the official docs are pretty comprehensive, they're intended for a wide audience and hence may not meet your exact needs. Also bear in mind that everyone who does this does it for free, at their time and pleasure, and therefore it befits you to graciously do the same, put in some time and learn all you can :)
One trick that I find useful is to search on google for "beginner guide to xyz" and you'll find A TON of useful tutorials for beginners that have been created by users like you who may have felt something was missing or not as clear as they would like and shared what they learned. I am one of those, and you may find the beginner tuts on my blog useful. Other amazing resources are http://learnbythedrop.com/, http://lullabot.com, etc
Hope this helps somehow
bitnami
use the bitnami stacks to install drupal... very easy and painfree.
Suggestion for starter - Use existing server
My suggestion for newbies to setup of a LAMP/WAMP stack or Drupal is to focus on the Drupal part.
Instead of complicating matters by attempting to bake your own WAMP/LAMP server, I would suggest leasing server space from any hosting vendor (Site5 for example) and first learning ow to install Drupal (knowing that the LAMP DB connections and config are handled by the server company).
Once you are familiar with the Drupal install and admin stuff, then you can continue to spread your wings and setup your own server. Justt he basic rule about isolating problems.
As it is, you cannot be 100% sure if the problem is with Drupal, Your WAMP server, or compatibility of your WAMP blend with Drupal
Hi, I would say this is the
Hi, I would say this is the recommended way to go for newbies with no programming background (myself). Installing on a hosting is really easy. I tried it there and then it was easier to understand and learn about Drupal, by using it and playing with the settings.
The documentation is not so overwhelming now.
Thanks a lot for all recommendations