Free scripts

[mtajim]

How often do you use free scripts for your site , like there are many sites which give such scritps , do u use them if u have are making a business website

[randle]

I tried getting a free script for a forum but i didnt know i had to piece it together. Hoe do I do this exactly?

[capty99]

Whenever I can.

Why waste the time to do menial tasks and or programming that has already been done for you. If you are learning a language, or designing something you have never done before... then fine, go ahead and type out everything , set up a content management system on your own and do all that... but if your goal is to quickly get a product to a customer, and you can find a script that does it for you?

Why not use it.

I have used a multiple of different content management systems in the past, and programmed one or two myself. The open source ones such as joomla or bulletin board systems such as simple machines. These are great because not only can they be customized for a customer, but also are easily extensible because we all know a customer will change his mind twenty times before the product is due.

Even on a smaller note, simple css layouts and column designs from websites are not a sin for a designer to use, especially if you can save the customer time and money.

[gsmile]

I would not use free scripts if I were running a business site. Simply because it would not be "professional" and most of the free scripts sites require credit somewhere on your site. It would bring your site's reputation down in people's eyes.
It's not a good idea.

[capty99]

gsmile.

major disagreement with you there.

i mean, if you are working for a major corporation and have a team of web developers on your side, fine, build a shopping cart and content management system from scratch but if you working a small - medium business size syte there is nothing un-professional about it.

the open source community lets you integrate their code with your as much as you want,
and they don't require credit for most of their stuff. im not talking php nuke sort of stuff but enterprise level applications.

[britjojo]

I've never used free scripts for a business site, again because I think that it is less than professional. I have issue with the fact that I don't trust other people to write scripts as efficiently or neatly as I do, and so I prefer to do the footwork.

[halotree]

I programme PHP myself, therefore I use my own framework and build around it. But I have used free scripts not for actual use though, I used them to help me learn PHP a few years ago. I will never use a PHP script built by someone for Free as I know of possible security vulnerabilities and when customers trust you, you need to be 100% with your script.

Alex

[lowco2525]

Depends on how you look at it. If you use a free script, you most likely have to credit them, and that may be a "turn off".
But on the other hand, it saves you money, or time from making your own. Start off with a free script, and if you're making money then buy a nicer script.

[SageMother]

When I find a premade script that is simple, easy to manipulate, and runs smoothly on just about anyplace I want to insert it, I keep it and use it over and over again. There's nothing worse tha n having to find a new code for each instance and I see nothing wrong with sticking to what works.

The big draw back to this approach is I'm not forced to stay up with the latest developments. Right now I REALLY need to learn some flash and get comfortable with css, but my old ways are still holding up so I have little motivation to push my brain through a new coding colander.

[gsmile]

Originally Posted by halotree

I programme PHP myself, therefore I use my own framework and build around it. But I have used free scripts not for actual use though, I used them to help me learn PHP a few years ago. I will never use a PHP script built by someone for Free as I know of possible security vulnerabilities and when customers trust you, you need to be 100% with your script.

Alex

Exactly. I program a bit of PHP, but I usually look at other peoples' scripts and try to build around it. I do some hacking-- I lurk around security forums sometimes. It helps your skills. :) But when a client pays you to build a script, ripping off free stuff isn't the way to go.