Methodology of work for developping shop

[laurentb]

Hi

I am not from programing background, so I do it my own way, but I am sure there is a methodology somewhere.

I have worked On & Off on a shop, changing its look and adapting it to my requirement, and learning about php, mysql etc. Definitively not an expert at any of them.

 

I have worked on a version downloaded from here, with MAMP locally, and made the adjustment on an already installed osCommerce that was installed by my host. I don't know if having two different versions to work from is an issue.

 

The way I worked so far, was to experiement with MAMP and the latest osCommerce download, discovering the modifications and codes until they worked.

Then edited the similar files on my backup files (FTP version of my online shop), then uploaded these edited files to the server, so I could monitor the progresses and cheched its functionality. I didn't feel confident about mixing version.

 

It went well until an upgrade of my OSX to tiger. My version on MAMP went bad, and I tried to recover it but after reading the help files, I realise that osCommerce, has to be installed again from fresh every time, and modified again.

I just did this and it works well locally, but thats again a newer versions.

 

Now I have virtually 4 or more versions on my hard drive, plus some backups which i am not sure are of any use any more, plus a version on line, that now struggle with symbol like £ or €.

I am not sure any more what is what as I believe I may have mixed my brushes a bit.

I fell I need to start from scratch again and get rid of it all these mixed versions.

 

Could you please advise me on your methodology of work, so that I don't do the same mistake twice.

What do I install first, install online, locally, in the same time, how many copies are required to be efficient and safe.

and can I work from different version, or not.

 

All advises are welcome

Many thanks

 

Laurent

[Guest]

Hi

I am not from programing background, so I do it my own way, but I am sure there is a methodology somewhere.

I have worked On & Off on a shop, changing its look and adapting it to my requirement, and learning about php, mysql etc. Definitively not an expert at any of them.

 

I have worked on a version downloaded from here, with MAMP locally, and made the adjustment on an already installed osCommerce that was installed by my host. I don't know if having two different versions to work from is an issue.

 

The way I worked so far, was to experiement with MAMP and the latest osCommerce download, discovering the modifications and codes until they worked.

Then edited the similar files on my backup files (FTP version of my online shop), then uploaded these edited files to the server, so I could monitor the progresses and cheched its functionality. I didn't feel confident about mixing version.

 

It went well until an upgrade of my OSX to tiger. My version on MAMP went bad, and I tried to recover it but after reading the help files, I realise that osCommerce, has to be installed again from fresh every time, and modified again.

I just did this and it works well locally, but thats again a newer versions.

 

Now I have virtually 4 or more versions on my hard drive, plus some backups which i am not sure are of any use any more, plus a version on line, that now struggle with symbol like £ or €.

I am not sure any more what is what as I believe I may have mixed my brushes a bit.

I fell I need to start from scratch again and get rid of it all these mixed versions.

 

Could you please advise me on your methodology of work, so that I don't do the same mistake twice.

What do I install first, install online, locally, in the same time, how many copies are required to be efficient and safe.

and can I work from different version, or not.

 

All advises are welcome

Many thanks

 

Laurent

 

You might find this thread of interest.

[star3am]

Hi Laurent, well done with your progress thus far, your curiosity is a valuable tool, together with some reading and forums, and you'll be coding like a pro :)

 

ok, to start off, every time you update apache, you DON'T have to fresh install Oscommerce, apache only serves the files for a website,

I also suggest that you setup a local copy of oscommerce a staging server or development box, keep it updated to the latest software, php mysql apache are the most important, and keep the oscommerce version on there, in tip top shape, with bug fixes, and all your favourite contributions installed, that is the files you will use for your life shops

 

so everytime you make a change to your development shop, note the changes, test your work afterwards and then make those same updates on your live site, viola

 

all the best Laurent!

ciao Riaan

www.3am.co.za Psytrance

 

Hi

I am not from programing background, so I do it my own way, but I am sure there is a methodology somewhere.

I have worked On & Off on a shop, changing its look and adapting it to my requirement, and learning about php, mysql etc. Definitively not an expert at any of them.

 

I have worked on a version downloaded from here, with MAMP locally, and made the adjustment on an already installed osCommerce that was installed by my host. I don't know if having two different versions to work from is an issue.

 

The way I worked so far, was to experiement with MAMP and the latest osCommerce download, discovering the modifications and codes until they worked.

Then edited the similar files on my backup files (FTP version of my online shop), then uploaded these edited files to the server, so I could monitor the progresses and cheched its functionality. I didn't feel confident about mixing version.

 

It went well until an upgrade of my OSX to tiger. My version on MAMP went bad, and I tried to recover it but after reading the help files, I realise that osCommerce, has to be installed again from fresh every time, and modified again.

I just did this and it works well locally, but thats again a newer versions.

 

Now I have virtually 4 or more versions on my hard drive, plus some backups which i am not sure are of any use any more, plus a version on line, that now struggle with symbol like £ or €.

I am not sure any more what is what as I believe I may have mixed my brushes a bit.

I fell I need to start from scratch again and get rid of it all these mixed versions.

 

Could you please advise me on your methodology of work, so that I don't do the same mistake twice.

What do I install first, install online, locally, in the same time, how many copies are required to be efficient and safe.

and can I work from different version, or not.

 

All advises are welcome

Many thanks

 

Laurent

[laurentb]

Thank you tractormad and star3am

 

Coopco solution is similar to the one I have been using, and he seems to be using as many copy as myself.

But one thing I haven't done for sure that is mentionned continuously is to keep track of all the changes I made. Silly of me.

 

Star3am

I wasn't to concerned about the server update as this is my host decision. Although it is good to know, that this shouldn't have any influence on an already excisting shop.

 

I am a bit confuse with your explanation.

You seem to be using only 3 copies.

 

-The developping version. (on which you develop ur coding and experiment)

-The tip top version, (is it where u implement your coding when u are happy)

-The online version (to which you update with file from the tip top directory)?

 

Although you said "test your work afterwards ". I was wondering with which version you do that?

 

Let me know if I misunderstood or could you clarify?

Sorry to ask, but I misunderstood a concept of working with osCommerce, which ended up with few bugs.

I would love to avoid that again.

 

Thank you again

Laurent

[star3am]

Hi Laurent

 

Sure no problem :) I have apache mysql php installed on my laptop, that's my development box, where i do most of the braking :lol:

Then I have a live site, www.3am.co.za that does a lot of free stuff, downloads so I test it on there hehe, I'll know very soon if something is not working :blink:

 

To do it properly, you actually need to go the eclipse / SVN or CVS repository way, then you'd commit your changed code to the repository and you can easily roll back to another version, and keep track of changes properly

 

It's like a detailed dairy for your code :thumbsup: tricky to get used to but once you do, you'll be glad you did, most open source projects are managed that way.

 

ciao Riaan

 

Thank you tractormad and star3am

 

Coopco solution is similar to the one I have been using, and he seems to be using as many copy as myself.

But one thing I haven't done for sure that is mentionned continuously is to keep track of all the changes I made. Silly of me.

 

Star3am

I wasn't to concerned about the server update as this is my host decision. Although it is good to know, that this shouldn't have any influence on an already excisting shop.

 

I am a bit confuse with your explanation.

You seem to be using only 3 copies.

 

-The developping version. (on which you develop ur coding and experiment)

-The tip top version, (is it where u implement your coding when u are happy)

-The online version (to which you update with file from the tip top directory)?

 

Although you said "test your work afterwards ". I was wondering with which version you do that?

 

Let me know if I misunderstood or could you clarify?

Sorry to ask, but I misunderstood a concept of working with osCommerce, which ended up with few bugs.

I would love to avoid that again.

 

Thank you again

Laurent