By phuile on

Can any of you gurus tell me how I need to proceed if I want to learn how to work with and design websites based on Drupal?

I have no problem with graphics, html, CSS, Flash and have been designing webistes using these basics, plus some javascripts. But I'd
like to know if I need to work with Drupal, what do I have to learn, and the best ways and steps to go about it.

I learn pretty quickly, mostly by reading and doing things hands on, but currently have no real programming background. I
know the basics of databases, but not very in-depth.

I need some advice as to where to start, which books or sites to go to, basically the steps I
should take to get me there.

Thanks for any feedback,
Petre

Comments

kalin_s’s picture

kalin_s commented

You can start with http://drupal.org/handbooks
Good articles on http://support.bryght.com
Check CivicSpace (Drupal based) http://civicspacelabs.org/
On particular issues/requests use the forum here.

phuile’s picture

phuile commented

Thanks for the pointer. I will cetainly go and read the articles and so on.

I've gone to the handbooks page and taken a look before. However, I am looking for something more basic *before* I get into Drupal itself. As I mentioned, I have next to no programming background. So I am thinking whether I should be learning about PHP and more about database before I can even understand what the manuals and handbooks are talking about in Drupal.

I am wondering whether, for example, I should learn PHP and perhaps MySQL first? Or what exactly do I have to know before I can understand how to use Drupal to design a site.

Thanks,
Petre

nevets’s picture

nevets commented

You do not really need to know PHP or mySQL before installing and using Drupal. You can do alot without knowing either.

You will need to know how to install the drupal files on your server and how to install the database tables. The handbook and the install.txt in the distribution covers this.

It also helps to understand HTML and CSS if you want to customize the theme at all.

And if you want to really customize things by writing modules then you will need to know PHP and if adding tables, mySQL. Depending on your background, if you know another language you can pick up the basics of PHP pretty fast (at least in my opion).

phuile’s picture

phuile commented

Thanks, nevets. That's very useful. I have been designing sites with HTML, CSS and Flash for a few years now so those are no problem for me. But increasingly, I am asked to design sites that no only looks good but are able to be edited by people who have no knowledge of HTML and so on. So I thought I have to get more into CMS and other things to move on.

I will need to customize themes, so it's comforting to know that HTML and CSS help. I do plan to learn PHP and mySQL so that I can move up a level. But it's good to know that I can work with Drupal now while I learn.

Thanks.
Petre

sepeck’s picture

sepeck commented

I still don't know php. Read the best practices link in my sig. If you really are interested, read through sections 1-3 of the MySQL manual as well.

Knowing php will help you with stuff later, but you can start playing without knowing it.

-sp
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Test sites and good habits: Drupal Best Practices Guide.
Misc Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

phuile’s picture

phuile commented

Thanks, I will have a look at the Best Practices Guide and hopefully can start right away!

Petre