Paul Vu

Set Up Web Development Tools

• Apache Webserver

A commonly used HTTP server.(http://www.apache.org/)

• CGI

I will be using FastCGI as it is the most efficient CGI. (http://www.fastcgi.com/)

• C++ Web Toolkit

The toolkit I will use is 'Witty'. This is the best toolkit candidate as it has the most support and documentation. (http://www.webtoolkit.eu/wt)

Review Toolkit Documentation

I will be reviewing the documentation on the Witty website, which will enable me to begin creating websites using C++. (http://www.webtoolkit.eu/wt/doc/reference/html/index.html)

Marketing Strategies

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Social Networking and Bookmarking

• Purchasing Advertisements

Find Server Host

There are practically three possible hosting options for websites.

• Shared Web Hosting

This is the cheapest, most common option. Depending on the provider, domain names are usually given as part of a shared webhosting package. Unlimited network bandwidth and storage space are usually an option in shared webhosting, but the CPU and RAM usage are usually limited.

Pros

• Cheap (Usually around $10-$20/month)
• Easily managed
• Free domain name
• Tech support

Cons

• The website can have slow loading times
• Will not be able to handle many concurrent users (only a few people can use the website at the same time)
• You have to follow the rules of the hosting provider, so the content is restricted

• Virtual Private Server

Virtual Private Servers, or VPS, offer a bit more than shared webhosting. These servers give you more options, as you actually have control of part of a server. You can install things onto the server, like development tools and scripts, which you wouldn't be able to do with shared hosting.

Pros

• You have more control over your website (You can install things on the server)
• More dedicated RAM and CPU power

Cons

• More expensive than shared hosting (VPS cost around $40-$50/month)

• Dedicated Server

Dedicated servers are the best option for larger websites that have more users. Buying a dedicated server is like buying an entire computer to host your website on. This means that you have complete control over it, and you can manage it however you want. This also means that you have full RAM and CPU usage, so you can handle larger amounts of users.

Pros

• Complete control over the server
• Usually no content restrictions

Cons

• Very expensive ($150+/month)
• More difficult to get support for

Research Online Advertising

Selling advertisement space on a website is a common way to generate revenue.

• Revenue Models

The main revenue models are CPC, CPM and CPA.

• CPC

Cost-Per-Click, or CPC, is a revenue model which pays a website owner based on how many people click on the advertisements. You can expect around $0.01 - $0.10 per click, depending on the company you are advertising for.

• CPM

Cost-per-mille, or CPM, pays for every 1000 page impressions. An impression can be described as a page view, or the act of a user's web browser loading the advertisement. Rates are variable, but are usually above $0.10 per 1000 impressions.

• CPA

Cost-per-acquisition, or CPA, can also be referred to as affiliate marketing. This is when you place an advertisement on your website for another service, and get paid based on how many people you refer to them. This often means that users have to sign-up or purchase something from the other website in order for you to get paid. Rates are usually higher for this model, as it is generally more difficult to hook people.

• Types of Advertisements

• Advertising Companies

Register a Company

Registering a company can be essential when you plan to make a non-personal website. If I make a website, registering it under a Limited Liability Company will protect me from lawsuits, as the LLC is the entity being sued instead of myself. Another benefit of forming an LLC is that my personal information will be protected. Instead of my name showing up on the website, it will be the LLCs name.

The process of registering an LLC varies per state. Virginia requires you to submit an application form with a $100 fee. The state requires that LLCs file an annual report, and pay an annual fee to maintain the registration.

The application forms to register an LLC in Virginia can be found on the state's website. (http://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/dom_llc.aspx)

c++

Guitar Tab-to-Sheet Converter module

User inputs fret details and the program outputs an image of the sheet music equivalent

This module can be implemented into a program which will be able to convert a text guitar tab, like:

e------------------------------------
B--5---5-6-5-6-5--3--------------
G--5---5-5-5-5-5--3--------------
D--------7--------3----------------
A------------------------------------
E------------------------------------

to

Talent Show 2010

Mixed Elements - TS 2010 Mix (http://www.zshare.net/audio/76200709f13a88d5/)

Wikipedia Links

• Apache
• Computer Gateway Interface (CGI)
• Dedicated Hosting
• Online Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Shared Hosting
• Virtual Private Server

External Links

• The Apache Software Foundation
• An open extension to CGI
• Wt, C++ Web Toolkit
• Wt Documentation
• Virginia SCC - Office of the Clerk