Basic Overview Of Programing Languages Confused about CSS and html

Hey guys im kinda new here and I would really like to be able to build better websites. People have told me to never use "cheat programs" like dreamweaver and front page. Now im sorta confused cause HTML to me does not sound like you can do that much with it so I was wondering if you dont use Dreamweaver and you dont use front page how do u combine all the other langueges together to make an aweseome webpage? Im taking a class on vb in the fall along with C++ however i unfortunatly do not even really know what they are ( i guess thats why im taking a class on em right) So what i would like to know is can you guys just kinda help me figure all this stuff out for instance what is perl scripting ? and php? dont they have somthing to do with msg boards like phpbb ones? are they just for msg boards and DO you guys use dreamweaver or front page? do you think its bad? this is a link to one of my current sites : http://www.team-sp.g.iwarp.com/ That is about the level im at now so as you can see i have alot to learn. Thanks for reading and all info greatly appreciated. P.s. i hope this is in the right board

OK here is a long post about what these things are. First of all, like you heard you should not use frontpage because it changes the code you already have written. However, i use dreamweaver because it doesnt change your code and it gives you highlighted code and basically a manual for the popular languages.

Now for the other languages. VB is used for databases and macros for word, excel, etc along with simple windows programs. Since it is a basic language, it does not have complex statements nor semicolons. C++ however is a complex language that is used for windows programs, graphic, games, etc and anything else.

Now for msg boards and dynamic pages. Perl, PHP, java, javascript, etc are all used for dynamic pages. phpbb is a msg board created with php. Basically in order to make a message board you need a language that can interact with a database that would store all the information. These languages allow developers to make login scripts, pages that change over time or can be updated with having to upload new files and such.

Finally, if you want an example you can check out my newer unfinished site here

I suggest PHP. Using the "echo" command, you can use HTML in these pages, while still having functionality. Also, there are many shortcuts, like an e-mail form, SQL qwertys, and more.For example:

<?phpecho "<center>hello, my name is BJ!</center>"echo "<p align=right>no, it really is...</p>"echo "<A href=http://www.hflw.org/ site>"</?>

so, you will find yourself at home, and it's really easy, you can learn most of it in a week.Try it out, tell me how you like it.

Websites are made using HTML. CSS is used to style your HTML and position elements on the page.PHP, ASP, JSP, Perl etc. are scripting languages which you can use to interact with databases to present dynamic information on your pages. Regardless of which scripting language you use, the information that gets sent to the browser is HTML, so in other words, you use those scripting languages to dynamically write your HTML.Javascript can be used in conjunction with your HTML for a variety of purposes like determining browser type/settings etc., opening pop-up windows, rollover effects and so on.

Thank you guys very much for the in formation When you say they are used for creating "dynamic" pages what exactly does that mean? that a user can change and interact with the site not just the webmaster? Another question ive like i said heard that DW and FP are both bad but DW less soo than FP and ive seen people use DW arnt the colors of the font like blue red and purple etc?? i think Dreamweaver is what im talking about. Also are there any good books i could buy that are just general knowledge of webpages and how they work/ how to build them i dont want somthing on HTML (not that basic) but somthing i could understand or should i just go pick up c++ for dummies and start reading it? what would help my web skills the most. Another thing i find quite odd is that frontpage costs like what 150 and dreamweaver costs 400? how is that possible? dont they do about the same thing how can dreamweaver get away with that price. THank you for the above posts they were very imformative.