Soundcloud-Similar site from scratch

[DJTStill]

So I'm looking to make a website that is almost identical to SoundCloud, specifically: individual user profiles, a stream based on users you "follow", & a unique mp3-player with waveforms and comments.

Obviously I would change key parts of my site to make it unique and the overall idea of the site is a good bit different, but I have a few questions to get me started.

1. Which language(s) should I focus on for the social aspects (following, user profiles, messages, etc.)?

2. For the mp3-player & features, should I use a template and tweak it or write from scratch? If the latter, which language would be ideal?

3. What programs/services will I need (or would be helpful) to write, publish, and host my website? (I currently use Notepad++ and save all the fonts, images, code-files, etc. in a folder but I'm interested in utilizing BuddyPress as well)


I am completely new to website design but I have taken classes and completed tutorials in jQuery, Javascript, HTML, CSS, and PHP and am totally open to learning new languages!

Any and all advice is welcome, thanks!

[email protected]

 

[Phreaddee]

Dont want to be a killjoy but thats not really a "beginner" website.
Have you made any websites yet?
Show us where you are at and we can see if its plausible for you to progress to this.

 

[DJTStill]

I kinda had a feeling I was gonna get that response. I haven't made any sites yet. Like I said, I'm a complete noob. I have written a basic webpage with html and css, but the other languages I learned were just in some free online tutorials and have not been put to work.

I guess what I was really looking for is what language(s) I should invest my time (and money) into if those elements are the end-goal? Where should I get started/how should I go about working my way up to such a complex site?

Thanks for the response!

 

[leroy30]

I'm in the Microsoft camp, so I'm recommending VB.Net or C#.net

Most *real* developers tend to prefer C#.net, but myself I prefer VB.Net and as a beginner you might find it more readable.

You can use Visual Studio for web express which is free or visual studio professional which costs money.

That being said if you register a business and are developing primarily with Microsoft software, you can join their Bizspark program and get free software and web hosting to kickstart your business (from 1 to 3 years I think).

The upside of using Microsoft's .Net framework is it's relatively easy to pick up and has a HUGE amount of technical resources available. The downside is everything costs money. For example you will need* to use SQL for your database which has a free version but once you out grow it, will cost you mega bucks (but by that stage it should pay for itself).

If this is your very first website, it's going to be a ENORMOUS undertaking to learn and develop this in any reasonable time-frame. But, despite or in spite of Phreaddee , it can definitely be done. If you want it that badly.

Good luck!

 

[chrishirst]

Or if you prefer/want NON-M$ tools

SharpDevelop