Website Development Roadmap
1. Planning & Preparation
- Define purpose (portfolio, business, e-commerce, blog, system, etc.)
- Identify target audience
- Research competitors and similar websites
- Plan website features & functionalities (login, forms, payments, search, etc.)
- Create a site map (which pages you’ll have: Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.)
- Sketch wireframes (basic layout ideas)
2. Setting Up the Development Environment
- Install a code editor (VS Code, Sublime, etc.)
- Install browser tools (Chrome DevTools, Firefox Developer Edition)
- Choose tech stack:
* Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (React, Vue, Angular optional)
* Backend (optional): PHP, Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), Java, etc.
* Database (if needed): MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
- Set up version control with Git/GitHub
3. Frontend Development
- Create structure with HTML
- Add styling with CSS (Tailwind, Bootstrap, or custom CSS)
- Make interactive features with JavaScript
- Ensure responsive design (works on mobile, tablet, desktop)
4. Backend Development (if dynamic site)
- Set up server-side language (PHP, Node.js, Python, etc.)
- Connect to database (user accounts, products, etc.)
- Handle user authentication (login, registration)
- Implement CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete data)
- Secure data with validation & sanitization
5. Testing
- Test frontend (UI/UX, responsiveness, accessibility)
- Test backend (server errors, database queries, API calls)
- Check security (input validation, SQL injection, HTTPS)
- Test on multiple browsers & devices
6. Deployment
- Buy domain name (example.com)
- Choose hosting provider (Shared hosting, VPS, Cloud: AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean)
- Upload files via FTP, cPanel, or GitHub Actions
- Configure DNS settings to point domain → hosting server
- Set up SSL certificate for HTTPS
7. Maintenance & Updates
- Monitor website uptime & performance
- Apply security patches & updates
- Backup database & files regularly
- Add new features/content as needed
- Track visitors with Google Analytics or similar tools
Quick Visual Roadmap
1. Plan → Goals, Pages, Features
2. Design → Wireframes, UI/UX, Layout
3. Develop → Frontend + Backend
4. Test → Fix bugs, security checks
5. Deploy → Domain, Hosting, SSL
6. Maintain → Updates, Backups, Monitoring