How to Build Your Own Website Program

By Robert Karr

Overview

Building a website program is subject to a straightforward flow of logical steps no matter how complicated the program will be. The process is always the same. The example below uses simple HTML code and VbScript to create a program that runs on the Web. Images illustrate both the Web page and the code, which was written using Microsoft ASP.NET 3.5 and VBScript. However, it will work with standard HTML page development and JavaScript.

Step 1

Describe in one sentence what the program should accomplish. Then, under that sentence, note the steps that will have to be taken to get the desired result. Use this guide to formulate the coding needed for the tasks. As a template, to build a website program that will calculate a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) will require these steps.
Step 2

Let a user view a form on the Web, input her height and weight and have the program display the result (Description of Program).

Step 3

Write the code to create a Web form to hold the program that will have a place for a user to input his height and weight, click on a command to calculate the provided values, and display the result. Add some explanatory information to tell the user what to do and what the results mean.

Data Input Web Page Code
Step 4

Use the standard formula for calculating BMI, which is BMI equals the person's weight in pounds divided by the square of the height in inches and the result multiplied by 703. Mathematically this is expressed as (Weight / (Height * Height)) * 703. Write this code using either JavaScript or VBScript. Each will take the two values provided by the user and then perform the necessary calculation. Save the result and test using a Web browser. Upload the files created above to your Web server and retest.

Code to Calculate BMI
Step 5

Display the final result.

BMI Calculation Final Form

Skill: Moderately Challenging
Ingredients:
Web Development Software
Tip: Follow the same reasoning described above to create any website program. The process will work no matter how complicated the program is as long as the outline is complete and the coding follows the outline.
Tip: The more time spent in thinking about and analyzing what has to happen to make the Web program run successfully, the less time that will be required to write the code and test for bugs.
Warning:
Computer language coding is completely literal. The slightest error in any line of code, even one single character, will either throw the result off or cause the program to fail completely.
Ensure your Web browser settings allow scripts to run.

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