The Toolshed
Web Hosting: The Rackspace Cloud
I do all of my hosting through the Rackspace Cloud. The cloud provides my clients with a stable scalable platform which is backed by the best customer service in the industry. In the interest of full disclosure I should note that I interned with the Rackspace Cloud support team (at the time they were still going by their original name ‘Mosso’). My experience there allows me to optimize my websites and applications for the cloud. It’s an easy process to setup or transfer a website to the Rackspace Cloud and take advantage of the bleeding edge of website hosting technology.
Data Storage: MySQL, MS-SQL
To store your data I typically use MySQL which is an open source database solution supported and maintained by a rich development community and Sun Microsystems. MySQL is an extremely popular database solution due to it’s speed, reliability, and flexibility. Additionally MySQL does not require expensive licensing. I also have experience in working with Microsoft SQL Server and can create software solutions which work with MS-SQL upon request.
Web Scripting Languages: PHP, JavaScript
While basic HTML is still the language of web browsers most applications now have at least some sort of scripting designed to make updating and maintaining websites easier. Scripting also allows websites to change dynamically based on user input or other conditions. Client side scripting is done with JavaScript and I use PHP for my server side scripting. Both these tools have been around the block and are supported by maintained by a rich development community.
CMS: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla
A Content Management System (CMS) allow non-developers to edit a website’s content without having to touch a line of code. I’ve had experience with the three most popular open source CMS implementations (WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla). These open source implementations are great because developers can customize solutions to fit individual client needs. As with other open source solutions, they are also more affordable due to the absence of licensing fees. Which one is the best depends on your specific needs, feel free to contact me for a recommendation for your implementation.