Hi everyone! I'm starting out in programming and web development, and I've got some ideas for basic business websites that I want to create. They'll be quite simple and mostly informative, but I'd like to include scheduling features for meetings and possibly a way to gather customer information. As I gain more knowledge, I plan to develop more complex projects, maybe even apps.
I see three options for getting started:
1. **Option A**: Set up a GitHub account to save my work, host it on Vercel, and use Visual Studio for coding with the help of AI tools like Claude or GPT-5.
2. **Option B**: Use Lovable-Dev for the simpler website creation, starting with the free version and paying for features as needed. For future web apps, I might stick with traditional cloud hosting while exploring Cursor or Windsurf.
3. **Option C**: Use WordPress, which seems a bit overwhelming for me right now.
I'd love to hear your suggestions! What would you do in my situation? Which tools do you find the most helpful? What's your take on Lovable vs. Cursor vs. Windsurf? Any must-have tips or habits you recommend? What has helped you the most in your own web development journey? I'm aiming to use the best tools to simplify the process while ensuring that my projects are well-organized and sustainable in the long run. Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
I’d recommend avoiding WordPress for simple sites since it can get pricey. Try creating a GitHub repo for your code and keep things simple when coding—no need to overcomplicate with frameworks. You could host your site on Render too. Plus, GitHub will help you keep track of changes easily.
Option A sounds good! Use GitHub and Visual Studio Code to start coding with AI support. You can generate static HTML and CSS and even scaffold a Vite project for easy library usage. For hosting, Netlify is a solid choice; it connects directly to your GitHub for seamless deploys!
Definitely! Just make sure to take time to understand the code you're generating. Knowing how HTML structures a page and how CSS styles elements will save you tons of time!
Focus on the fundamentals first—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Pair that knowledge with GitHub and a simple host like Netlify or Vercel. Once you understand the basics, tools like Cursor or Windsurf will be much clearer and more efficient to use.
Starting with the essentials is key. Use AI for research if needed, but ensure you’re getting hands-on experience by creating small projects. Check out Astro for simple frameworks and Vite for a great setup experience. Just starting with HTML and CSS will give you the best foundation!
If your goal is to genuinely learn web development, try to resist relying heavily on AI for coding right now. These simple websites are great opportunities to develop your skills. Read documentation, learn debugging, and how to integrate tools. Codecademy has fantastic beginner courses on HTML and CSS.
Exactly! Also, make sure to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics; it'll save you a lot of headaches later on, especially when troubleshooting your sites.