I'd like to build a web app (with help) with hopes of it becoming a FB and mobile app in the long run.<p>The structure is basically HotorNot/FaceMash to start. That will be the minimum functionality. From there I'd like to improve it and add the features that will actually make it wicked fun but at the very least a HotorNot that people can contribute to is the immediate goal.<p>Is it a waste of time to build that into Wordpress to use all of the user, db and registration framework but have to build a plugin for the whole purpose of the site?<p>Would it be better as a dead simple app built from scratch on a more modern framework?<p>Should I go with PHP so I can get cheap coding help or man up and learn a big boy language so I can finish it myself in 10 years or go broke trying?<p>Thanks for reading =)<p>UPDATE: Thanks for the wicked response, it's great to be able to 'talk' this out with the HN crowd!
If you're not looking to do something super complicated maybe you can look into Sinatra (ruby). I'm not sure if python has something similar if that's your language of choice.<p><a href="http://www.sinatrarb.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sinatrarb.com/</a>
>> Should I go with PHP so I can get cheap coding help or man up and learn a big boy language<p>Facebook was written in PHP...<p>Re: language choice, pick whichever you are comfortable with, they all kinda do the same thing and you can mix/switch to other languages if the need for them arises later. If you go with PHP, better to go with a MVC framework like Cake or CodeIgniter or whatever, rather than Wordpress, because the Wordpress codebase is famous for being a mess.<p>Re: ambitions: I'd suggest doing some reading on angel investing etc before assuming you can make a "FB and mobile app" with merely some "cheap coding help".
If you start learning to develop today it won't take you 10 years to do it yourself. I'm teaching myself Rails to build an app and it's not taking nearly as long as I thought it would.<p>This is not to say the whole thing has to be done by yourself, but it's best that you try it alone first. This way you'll know what to look for when you're bringing someone else on.<p>I really like Ruby and the Rails framework so that's all I can recommend based off of experience.<p>There are a ton of free resources to check out and the premium resources are definitely worth it too.<p><pre><code> www.railsforzombies.org
www.tryruby.org
www.railscasts.com
www.railstutorials.org
www.css-tricks.com (CSS and HTML)
www.pragprog.com (premium)</code></pre>
Personally, I'd go with a php framework like Zend, Symfony, or Cake. It's php, so you'll have an easy time finding low cost developers (you'll have to filter out the bad ones). These frameworks have tools built in or easy to find for things like Ajax, user management, etc.
You've overlooked an option: use Drupal as a development framework. You get core security updates and huge chunks of functionality basically for free, freeing up you or your hired gun developer to crank on the guts of your application. Wheel reinvention is minimized.
This won't be the popular answer, but Wordpress is actually pretty good for prototyping things like this. The plugin hooks system makes it easy to try things out quickly. There is already a plugin for just about everything, so adding Facebook Connect, etc. can be done in a couple minutes.<p>I actually gave a talk at a local WordCamp about this. I built a couple prototypes that had APIs via simple plugins and leveraged WP users and posts (with custom post types) for content. And nearly everything can be abstracted out to the point that users won't know it's running on Wordpress.<p>As far as what YOU should use, the correct answer will always be "whatever you're comfortable with."
Don't use Wordpress for things that are not blog-related. Use tools that are <i>meant</i> for the job. It doesn't matter what language you use, they're all the same. PHP 5 has good OOP support and isn't a "small boy" language.
I did something similar and was able to roll the whole thing on Wordpress in an hour or two. For something as simple as this I would say you just stick with a framework that handles mostly everything for you.
You can do it in all of the above. In a relatively similar amount of time if your starting from zero.<p>What you should do is first try the base language of each and see which one is easiest to work with. Then you can go from there.<p>Honestly the most important thing is that you ship.
Disregard the 'whichever one is best for you' answers - those aren't helpful. The only hard and fast rule is to use a framework. WordPress, Drupal, Rails, Django are all frameworks.<p>I personally use Django and I think it has the most power per unit of work - this is mostly because the documentation is so good.<p>Rails is a totally valid option also.<p>I don't know anybody working on a PHP framework right now who is happy about it, whereas I meet plenty of happy Rails and Django people. There are a bunch of cool looking frameworks like Lift, web2py, etc... but stick with Django or Rails if you're not sure what to do.<p>Also, nobody ever wants to put their neck out and say it, but MySQL is easier than Postgres to use and manage IMHO.
Wordpress is a no. It would not be easily maintained in the long run. If you want to use a CMS type deal then check out Drupal. I'm not an expert on Drupal and have only been playing with it for a very short time, but you could create your own module to do this and then take advantage of the other features.<p>If you want to make sure something is more custom I would look at using symfony PHP framework, Ruby on Rails, or Django.<p>My personal favorite is symfony. You can also add the Zend Library to that framework. Most of my framework experience has been with symfony.<p>Keep in mind there will be pros/cons to any framework you use.