Most upvoted comment
When you build an HTML site, do you still need to buy a domain and hosting?(r/webdev)
Just to BUILD an HTML site requires no hosting or domain! Once you have a built site that you want to display to the public though:
First, get a domain:
- I use Google Domains.
- Namecheap is also super great.
- If you use shared hosting (see below), they often offer included domain names with your purchase.
Second, find hosting:
- Github Pages offers great static site hosting. Free.
- Shared hosting like DreamHost is great if you aren’t comfortable managing your own server but want access to databases (they also give you email addresses with webmail access). Costs a monthly fee.
- Use a combination of PaaS like Heroku and Firebase. Free (can pay for more features/performance).
- Your own VPS (virtual private server) like Digital Ocean lets you configure just about everything if you’re okay with system administration. Costs a monthly fee.
- Buy a Raspberry Pi and hook it up to your router (assuming your ISP gives you a public IP address). This is essentially setting up your own server. One time cost.
Third, figure out how you want to make the site:
- Use a CMS like WordPress, BoltCMS, Grav, DjangoCMS, etc…
- Use a static site generator like Hugo or Hexo.
- Write everything yourself (too many options out there to link, depends on your language/technology preference). This is the route you’re going.
Other stuff:
- You can get free SSL certs for your site (especially important if people are going to be entering information) from Let’s Encrypt.
- CloudFlare acts as a CDN and IPS/IDS to help protect and optimize your site (they have a free plan).
- A good option for students is to grab the Github Student Developer Pack, which includes a bunch of free goodies.
EDIT:
A few more things you can play with:
- C9 is cool for prototyping and playing around in a VPS playground with a nice built-in editor. It has a free plan, but last I checked it still requires a payment card for verification.
- HyperDev is another cool Node-specific playground.
- Forestry.io is a new service that gives you CMS-like functionality with Github Pages. I have not used it.
- Prose is an editor application for managing Github content.