Should i use Flash?

[DarkSUn]

I am wanting to creat a site that will have some type of user authentication system as the site i plan will have the option of the user to upload images and post their profile, but also i want them to be able to edit their info themselves. I am thinking that it will need seperate directories for each member and such. Now i have no idea how to approach this, and i was thinking of using flash and maybe php. Any ideas, tutorials, links, etc would be very, very appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[unchew]

It could be possible by using a database like MySQL or something, but you can also do that without flash and would works the same.

[DarkSUn]

Well the problem is i am not too familliar with MySQL, and i really would like to launch the site soon, just the coding end is my problem. Any good resources out there?

[bwh2]

i would recommend using php/mysql. you could of course do combine those with flash, but that would take longer.

i'm actually in the process of building a membership site also that sounds a lot like the one you're describing. my suggestion is to get out a notebook and write down the necessary functions of each page. also write down necessary security measures. designing the system correctly is more than half the battle if you ask me.

a quick word on mysql: it's very easy to learn and use on a basic php functional level. in particular, if your host has phpAdmin, mysql is pretty basic. the server-side forum has tons of threads about basic php/mysql interaction.

[andr.in]

to make a decent thing like this:

using html and php without mysql is very hard
using html and php with mysql is hard
using flash and php without mysql is tremendously difficult as hell, I will give you a cookie if you succeed
using flash and php with mysql is still harder than the first option

That's my personal opinion

Mysql isn't hard at all. If you do some intense learning for a couple of days you should have no problem with it later on.
I'm nto sure where you should start ...
perhaps http://www.kirupa.com/web/sqlrecords_php.htm
then try to look for easier tutes on www.devarticles.com
and there's always www.google.com ;)

[DarkSUn]

I actually had a look in my account center, and it seems fairly simple. My host is Media Temple and they make it fairly easy. Well i will try my best anyhow.

Thanks alot to all of you for the great suggestions. :)

[ElectricGrandpa]

Yeah you shouldn't need Flash at all for what you're trying to do, it will just cause you more headaches.

Definitely go with php/mysql...

In fact, you might be able to find a ready-made solution(for free) that does exactly what you're looking for anyway! You wouldn't have to code or learn anything.

Check out http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/index.html and see if there is anything there that fulfills your needs.

-Matt

[DarkSUn]

Thanks, i never fully looked at hotscripts, seems like a good site.

[MTsoul]

The more technologies you tie in, either front-end or server-end, the more complicated it becomes. Rather than actually focusing on the techniques used on each technology, you'll be spending a lot of time trying to to work out the relationships between them.