Tim Dupree

I have been wanting, for some time now, to create a website that will teach visitors how to create a web application completely from start to finish. From no server and no domain name, to a complete site running on a vps/cloud based hosting provider complete with CDN, DNS management, S3 file hosting, etc. In addition to the administrative tasks of getting a site up and running (domains, server, cdn, dns, etc.), I would like the teach visitors how to create a database driven site complete from server-side to client-side (including front-end high performance best practices and SEO).

I plan on teaching visitors to implement their web apps using an open source stack consisting of Linux (Ubuntu Server Edition), Nginx (webserver), MySQL (database), and PHP (server side programming/scripting language). I may add tutorials for additional languages and web servers after completing the first run through the aforementioned stack.

I think it is important for a web developer, regardless of being server-side or front-end centric, to understand the entire process of creating and launching a site. This knowledge gives one a better understanding of how various decisions can impact performance, maintainability, and scalability of a site.

I have never come across a site or set of tutorials that really encompasses the entire lifecycle of creating a web app from start to finish, so this will be my contribution for those who want to gain an understanding of complete web application development (rather than seeing a web app from a single viewpoint of sys-admin/server-side programmer/front-end programmer/designer).

A couple weeks ago I settled on a domain name I was happy with, fromthecloudup.com. A little play on words, since we will be starting our foundation in the cloud :) I decided to throw a little splash page together for fun until I have time to design and launch something more substantial. I used Adobe Fireworks to create the cloud and title text.

Check it out: fromthecloudup.com