taylor223

Initial connection time depends on various factors, but mostly a combination of how the Web server has been tuned, and how the scripts are programmed. For example, if you use CGI (e.g. for Perl or Python), every request starts a new process and this overhead increases connection time. Similarly, starting a PHP interpreter to compile each PHP page on every request incurs time. In terms of execution speed, going to FastCGI, pre-compiled code and caching systems is going to be quite noticeable, as will optimising database queries (another frequent bottleneck). Other factors to consider are tuning the Web server for number of concurrent users, number of child processes kept around and what each process does (and holds in memory). In a typical Apache prefork model with PHP, every process has an internal PHP interpreter and this adds overheads even for non-PHP files.
 
We found that using a PHP server for static resources (like images, JavaScripts and stylesheets) increased connection times. As soon as we separated scripts from static content, and started using static servers optimised for disk-network file copies, the sites loaded so much faster. There's also the benefit of parallel concurrent HTTP connections this way.
 
In a shared hosting environment, you aren't going to be able to tweak the settings for your exact needs - there has to be a balance of tuning which works out as "good for everyone" rather than "excellent for you". You're also either not pooling or are sharing database connections (from a finite pool), and are contending for disk access, bandwidth etc. If load speeds are really essential and you can't optimise your scripts further, consider a more dedicated environment so you can tune the performance.

Sedo should have explained the process, although probably not too clearly.
 
I'm assuming when you say you've paid for it you mean you've agreed a price with the seller and paid that amount.
 
Once paid, the money goes in to a holding account until the seller releases the domain and it has been transferred. In your sedo account you should be able to check the status and set what domain name registrar you want to use. Apart from that its mostly an automated process. Just keep checking up on it.

Hi
 
Why not set up a virtual host instead of an alias? This will allow you to replicate how the site will function on the hosting server and allow you to access your development site locally on a URL such as 'siteroot.local'.
BenTheDesigner

Here are the instructions for downloading and installing Wampserver and adding your website site to the server. (If you have windows, use MAMP if you have a mac)
 
Go to www.wampserver.com/en
 
Click Downloads
 
Click DOWNLOAD Wamperver 2.0i
 
Click the green Download now! button
 
*Click run
 
Wait for the file to download
 
*Click allow
 
Click next on the Wampserver setup wizard
 
Accept the terms and click next
 
Click next
 
Click next
 
Click install
 
Choose your default browser (if you have more than one installed)
 
*Click unblock
 
Leave the SMTP as localhost and the email as you@yourdomain
 
Clicknext
 
Click launch now
 
A small icon will appear on the right hand side of your taskbar (near the clock) it looks like a white bridge, left click this icon and click www.directory
Copy and paste the your website folder into the directory.
 
When its finished copying left click the bridge icon on your taskbar again and click Localhost
 
Under the title Your projects you should see a link called whatever the name of your site folder was. Click this and (fingers crossed) the site will open.
 
*depends on the security settings on your PC.

Practice and a lot of patience! Apart from that there are all kinds of things to consider, and I’m no expert.
 
Speaking as a beginner, taking a look at the relevant competition is always a good start for me. And get yourself Photoshop if you can, it's the nuts.
 
Being a long-suffering web surfer more than developer, its clean lines and concise content with the right amount of well produced graphics and a good colour scheme that I generally look for. The site has to work well and have a good navigation system, navigation is key in my eyes.
 
When it comes to layout there's all kinds of ways you can do it. From my experience there tends to be some 'best practice' type guidelines I try to stick to.

Site/company logo in top left above everything else
tagline introducing people to what the site/company is and can offer (nothing too wordy). Relevant pics work well.
A search box near the top
A well thought-out navigation system with clearly defined hierarchy (sections>sub-sections>etc). Tabs are a tried and tested method and work really well.
Clean graphics, they don't have to be web 2.0 super shiny and colourful, just clean.
A colour scheme that’s works with the type of content and target audience. I like using a triad scheme.
Nothing too fancy like flash etc unless absolutely necessary
Keep it easy to use and obvious what does what
And I never thought I would say this but adverts. They don't have to be external ads but rather ad style graphics promoting things within the site that people may be interested in. It kind of gives a feeling of the site being established and 'in use'.
 

 
Of course, this is just my opinion and it depends largely on the type of site, content and audience you would be designing for.

Practice and a lot of patience! Apart from that there are all kinds of things to consider, and I’m no expert.
 
Speaking as a beginner, taking a look at the relevant competition is always a good start for me. And get yourself Photoshop if you can, it's the nuts.
 
Being a long-suffering web surfer more than developer, its clean lines and concise content with the right amount of well produced graphics and a good colour scheme that I generally look for. The site has to work well and have a good navigation system, navigation is key in my eyes.
 
When it comes to layout there's all kinds of ways you can do it. From my experience there tends to be some 'best practice' type guidelines I try to stick to.

Site/company logo in top left above everything else
tagline introducing people to what the site/company is and can offer (nothing too wordy). Relevant pics work well.
A search box near the top
A well thought-out navigation system with clearly defined hierarchy (sections>sub-sections>etc). Tabs are a tried and tested method and work really well.
Clean graphics, they don't have to be web 2.0 super shiny and colourful, just clean.
A colour scheme that’s works with the type of content and target audience. I like using a triad scheme.
Nothing too fancy like flash etc unless absolutely necessary
Keep it easy to use and obvious what does what
And I never thought I would say this but adverts. They don't have to be external ads but rather ad style graphics promoting things within the site that people may be interested in. It kind of gives a feeling of the site being established and 'in use'.
 

 
Of course, this is just my opinion and it depends largely on the type of site, content and audience you would be designing for.

Is it just me or do you think all posted links should automatically open in a new window or tab?
 
I know you can right click 'open in new ...' but I often click on the links without thinking and get directed away from here. If I go rooting around on that site then there's potentially loads of back button clicks to get... back.
 
Seems like a logical thing to do would be automatically open in a new window for all links, especially in the review section.

A little bit of JS would get around that, just don't tell the heavies at W3C
 
 
You do have a point; choice is always a good thing. But I do think in context of the review section it serves two useful purposes. Firstly with the amount of external links posted, people wouldn't be redirected away from here, where they may not bother finding there way back. And secondly, as mentioned by smoothonline, it helps the review process by having it opened separately for people to refer to while typing up comments.
 
 
Maybe some js to add 'open in new window' as an option, like a second link next to it stating 'open in new window'.
 
 
ok, so it's not a big deal and it isn't much of a nuisance to right click and select open in new. Forgetting to do it is annoying though and I just think there's always room for improvement.

A little bit of JS would get around that, just don't tell the heavies at W3C
 
 
You do have a point; choice is always a good thing. But I do think in context of the review section it serves two useful purposes. Firstly with the amount of external links posted, people wouldn't be redirected away from here, where they may not bother finding there way back. And secondly, as mentioned by smoothonline, it helps the review process by having it opened separately for people to refer to while typing up comments.
 
 
Maybe some js to add 'open in new window' as an option, like a second link next to it stating 'open in new window'.
 
 
ok, so it's not a big deal and it isn't much of a nuisance to right click and select open in new. Forgetting to do it is annoying though and I just think there's always room for improvement.

Practice and a lot of patience! Apart from that there are all kinds of things to consider, and I’m no expert.
 
Speaking as a beginner, taking a look at the relevant competition is always a good start for me. And get yourself Photoshop if you can, it's the nuts.
 
Being a long-suffering web surfer more than developer, its clean lines and concise content with the right amount of well produced graphics and a good colour scheme that I generally look for. The site has to work well and have a good navigation system, navigation is key in my eyes.
 
When it comes to layout there's all kinds of ways you can do it. From my experience there tends to be some 'best practice' type guidelines I try to stick to.

Site/company logo in top left above everything else
tagline introducing people to what the site/company is and can offer (nothing too wordy). Relevant pics work well.
A search box near the top
A well thought-out navigation system with clearly defined hierarchy (sections>sub-sections>etc). Tabs are a tried and tested method and work really well.
Clean graphics, they don't have to be web 2.0 super shiny and colourful, just clean.
A colour scheme that’s works with the type of content and target audience. I like using a triad scheme.
Nothing too fancy like flash etc unless absolutely necessary
Keep it easy to use and obvious what does what
And I never thought I would say this but adverts. They don't have to be external ads but rather ad style graphics promoting things within the site that people may be interested in. It kind of gives a feeling of the site being established and 'in use'.
 

 
Of course, this is just my opinion and it depends largely on the type of site, content and audience you would be designing for.