I'm looking to take my college football pick 'em contest online. I've been managing it through email and spreadsheets, but I want to create a dedicated website for it. I have some background in basic HTML from the MySpace days, but my knowledge of web development is pretty rusty and outdated. While I have experience with C++ and JavaScript, it's been nearly 20 years. Currently, I work with SQL and SAS in analytics, so I still have a logical mindset.
I envision a site that allows users to create accounts, submit their game picks, and view basic stats that update weekly. I'm open to using platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress, but I'm unsure how flexible they are when it comes to user management and data storage. On the flip side, I also like the idea of building the site from scratch, though I don't know where to start these days; my last attempt was with a simple .html file in Notepad. I came across The Odin Project, and I'd like to know what others think about it. Also, I'm curious whether learning JavaScript or Ruby on Rails would be better. Lastly, I'm not opposed to hiring a freelancer for this project, but I have no idea what to expect in terms of cost since this is more of a hobby than a money-making venture. Any advice would be super appreciated!
5 Answers
If you want to create something from scratch, you might want to check out vibe-coding tools that can handle backend setup without needing heavy deployment, like base44.com or sitegui.app. These can simplify the process a lot.
WordPress has a ton of customization options, especially if you go for premium plugins or themes, so you’ll have more freedom in tailoring it to your needs.
If you need additional help building your site, I'm here to assist you with any coding questions or direction you need!
Supabase or Firebase could be great for your project since they'll manage a lot of the backend workload, letting you focus on the front end and the user experience.
I recommend starting with WordPress and adding a user management plugin to keep it simple. But if you're feeling adventurous, The Odin Project is a solid choice to learn full-stack JavaScript and make it yourself.
Related Questions
How to Build a Custom GPT Journalist That Posts Directly to WordPress
Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate Setup Guide
How To Effectively Monetize A Site With Ads