Keith Devens .com

Entry 1247

Awesome, "After seeing Keith Deven's weblog and liking the style and functions, I decided to roll my own!"

Like I've said before, roll your own! Also, he noticed that "weblogs aren't actually too tough to make" and he found it "surprisingly easier than I thought it would be". I've said before in an e-mail, "It's really not that hard, and you'll probably learn by doing it."

You know, while I'm here, here's an excerpt from that e-mail I mentioned above to someone who wanted to set up a weblog and had asked me how I use MySQL on my site, and had also mentioned using Radio, but was undecided on whether to continue using it. In a later e-mail, he agreed with me, noting: "As you pointed out, it's really not that hard".

But before I paste that e-mail in here, I'd like to make a disclaimer. I mention Radio and Movable Type in the e-mail. Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I'm very impressed with both systems, I often recommend them, and both offer features that my weblog doesn't. As I say in the e-mail, rolling your own gives you flexibility in the directions you decide, and if you're up to the task, can be a fun learning experience. It's not for everyone, and I in no way mean to disparage anyone who uses the tools I mentioned or any other similar tools.

Here's the e-mail (from Dec. 6 2001), to a nice guy named Jeffrey:

I use MySQL on my website purely to serve my weblog, nothing else. I've looked at Radio a little bit, but never really grokked it. I prefer not to use other people's tools when I can. You get more flexibility (at least flexibility in the directions you decide) when you roll your own.

For instance, with a Radio weblog, can you get a full archive like this http://www.keithdevens.com/weblog/?a ? Or have it be searchable? As far as I know you wind up with all just HTML files that you can't do anything with. You might be able to export it to something else from Radio, but I don't know. I can also have any link structure I want, etc. If I was able to use mod_rewrite I'd really be able to have fun Anyway, I can program, so I do

I'd say roll your own if you feel you're up to the task. It's really not that hard, and you'll probably learn by doing it. Most Radio weblogs look the same anyway

At minimum, all you need is a simple database with three fields (date, text, and id), and display the last 20 entries or so on your homepage. Or the last week's entries, etc. One table, one select statement, and you're all set. Of course, you have to be able to enter text in, but you could always get up and running with it right now and use phpMyAdmin to enter text in until you program your own entry screen.

Incremental development is key. Keep in mind that you don't have to have it "finished" before you start using it. I started mine years ago very simply, and continue to add to it. You couldn't search it at first, or even go to archives, etc. Think about a few things up front, like what you want your link structure to be, and go with it. You can look at how I do things as an example, if you like.

My weblog is at http://www.keithdevens.com/weblog/, and that'll never change, and my links aren't tied to another server like editthispage.com. I have programming language and web server independent URLs, such as http://www.keithdevens.com/weblog/?id1038, so if I ever want to change to another technology I can without my URLs changing. As far as I know, all other tools available tie you to their link structure. For instance, use Blogger, and all your archived links look like like this: http://www.wannabegirl.org/2001_11_01_log-archive.php or http://www.wannabegirl.org/2001_11_01_log-archive.php#7531745 or this: http://www.runwithscissors.com/paul/old/2001_10.html or http://www.runwithscissors.com/paul/old/000002.html#000002 with Movable Type. You get the point.

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00:55 (utc-5)
edited: 01:35 (utc-5)