In this article, I will explain some of the terminology that we will be using for your website design and the entire process in general.

    Below you will find a much respected resource of information that should speed up the design process and get you up and running in as short a period of time as possible.

    During the educational process of managing your new website, we will explain this information in greater detail.

Live Design:

    A live design is one that takes place while the URL is live. Many designers make the pages they need to build the site and then upload them to the HTML folder that makes them live. We try to do all of our development live, so.. You the client can be more involved and see the changes as they happen.

Template:

    Most all websites begin with some sort of framework or a template. This gives us as developers a chance to get going quickly. It cuts down on a lot of time for the developer and the pocket book for the client. Custom coding is great; however, it will cost you. For that reason the vast majority of developers use different styled templates to start the job. In the initial “interview” with the new potential client, a developer should have a pretty good idea of what he or she is looking for.

    It is always best to go out and check out competitors sites to get an idea of how you would like your site to look and feel. It will be a better experience for both of us if you do some homework prior to the “interview”.

Extensions:

    An extension is an entity that exists outside the core functionality of you general web template.

    For instance, a community Builder program, slide show, picture gallery, shopping cart, WYSIWYG (a type of editor) are all types of extension. These may also include components, modules and Plugins.

Components:

    A component is an extension that enhances the core functionality of your CMS (content management system). This is usually displayed in the “main content” section of your website. Try and think of a component as a standalone entity such as a forum, image gallery, contacts, events calendar.

Modules:

    A module, for the most part, is a program to create content that surrounds your “main content” section. These are mainly displayed in the different module positions: top, left, right, etc. Modules usually go hand-in-hand to display certain information from other installed components. Ex: display latest forum post made on your forum component, display random images from your image gallery component, display latest news, most popular articles, and so on. Even the menus are modules. Note: You can display modules in “main content”, but that’s another how-to for later on.

On this page you will see a number of “modules” that are set up to give you an idea of what is possible.

Plugins:

    A plugin is a kind of type of extension. Plugins provide routines which are associated with trigger events within your website. When a particular trigger event occurs all plugin routines of the type associated with the event are executed in sequence. In this way it is possible to add functionality to the template framework. That is to say you can add pictures or other data inside an article for instance, or that type of framework or template.