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Django or NodeJS for long-term web and business project? [closed]

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Good afternoon all, we are struggling to decide which way to go for a project and would like to have some insight from people who have been dealing with this. We have to invest in training/time for the two people who are working on our business and we would like to understand which way to go.
The people
Both have a good understanding of HTML, CSS, SASS and some JS
One has some experience with PHP
One has more experience with Python
The Project
Database driven website that will host and display hundreds of products (laboratory products which will need specific templates for each product
Shopping chart for reagents and lower cost products
A section with a knowledge base
The website(s) will be multilingual, with different products for different countries
Integrated CRM, connected to the products, stock management and shopping chart
Potentially (desirable, but not necessary) an APP for the phone
An application that will link all the components
AI services and big data analytics (as a separate product)
The timeline
2-3 years, potentially 4 for completion
This is to move what we are doing manually at the moment (and what we are planning to do) to something that is kept together by a coherent structure.
We do not have much experience or funds, but we have the man hours to pour into it. Would you suggest to go with Python/Django or with JS/Node? Why?
Thnks

It depends on the kind of data structure you need to keep if your data is kept around the world or in a central location, what kind of traffic you expect to have, and what your future of expansion looks like.
Option 1: Stick to your strengths
The first, and possibly the most obvious option, is to stick to your strengths. If you have someone strong in Python, Flask or Django could be the way to go because of the immense flexibility you have with python scripting, TensorFlow (for AI), and R libraries for statistical interfaces.
If only one of your 2 devs is good at python this will provide some separation of responsibility as you can have one dev focus on the page design and the other focus on the actual app functionality.
My biggest suggestion is to please stay away from PHP. Modern languages and libraries will work for what you need and are usually more reliable, less complicated, and have a whole community of active support built around them.
That being said you have to consider all the components of what you need. If your site needs are truly as large as you've described, you could break it down into microservices that handle various parts of the site independently and scale to meet traffic demands. This is all dependent on what you need of course.
Option 2: Go outside your comfort zone
The second, and more risky, option for you is to exit your comfort zone. NodeJS is a wildly adaptable and extensive JavaScript framework that can be molded to fit nearly any web-based need. The extensive lists of frameworks that can be used are a lot to consider, but you can deliver a more reliable, scalable, and user-friendly product with node. The HTML, CSS, and JS knowledge your team already has would be essential to making a NodeJS site work. Node also has the ability to provide you great flexibility in terms of localization. If you need to have different databases in different countries, for example, node can easily accommodate this and any other complexity you might have to throw at it. It's built to be robust and customizable for any need.
However, the drawbacks to using node are that it would be harder to implement AI and Statistical infrastructure to your site because of the nature of how node sites run. This part alone may make using python the way to go, but it can also make your site buggier, and take much longer to deploy.
Wrapping up
Ultimately the best choice for you is going to come down to your funding, team skills, and the systems you need to create to pull your site together. I encourage you to talk extensively with your development team to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and limits for what you need. Take their input seriously and use it to put together the best game plan possible to create the product you need.

How to learn PHP, Jquery, Javascript, in smooth way [closed]

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im taking classes for programming for about 1,5 years now and started from 0. I must say for my feelings I already learned allot but still it is not enough to build anything complex on my own without using examples from the internet that I just modify and try to make it work.
I did some courses on CodeCademy and watch youtube guides and google allot, use certain websites like w3schools and more of that. But what is the best method to learn any givin language in a propper way. Im spending allot of time on searching and reading things that I never seem to fully understand, only sometimes some parts of it.
It does make me lose the hope that I wil ever be a good programmer and feel demotivated.
What are your expiriences and tips and tricks for a beginner like me ?

This question is rather opinionated, not sure it is suitable for StackOverflow.
For what its worth, this is my advice:
Ask lots of questions, make lots of mistakes and build things, keep challenging yourself. Never give up. Also, learn to use some frameworks, for PHP, Symfony, Yii, CakePHP, for example. For JavaScript, Angular, Backbone, Node.
PHP Manual and JQuery documentation are your best friends :)
Also, install a testing server on your local machine such as XAMPP.
Good luck!

I was in same situation as you before.
As mentioned already contributing to project is a good way to learn as it will give you motivation to push yourself forward and do it because you don't want to let your team down.
Another great way I have found for myself is to create a small projects yourself, for example:
I want to create my own website, what do I need? I need to know: html, css, js and php.
Okay so start with what I can do.
When you reach PHP and JS part, you will face problem which you can break down into smaller problems it will also develop your problem solving skill in IT.

As an intermediate programmer myself, I would say the best way to learn is to continue finding resources online and communicating with other programmers or developers.
Some words of advice:
1.) Never be afraid to ask for help
2.) Don't feel discouraged, feel inspired
3.) Believe in yourself
Also, this website is probably the best resource I've found, both for information and kind people.

You must have some idea's of something that you yourself miss on the internet. Start with that, work out that idea as a concept and then start it.
Read a lot of IT-related news items; they might inspire something for you to start thinking about doing.
Contributing to projects has already been mentioned, but I'll do it as well. It has many advantages, not in the least having people in the project focused on achieving whatever the project has set out to do, which might give specific insights in that field of the wild internet.
Get a part-time job at a web-developers company, it doesn't have to be big, but it does offer you opportunities to learn specific areas. There's always work in the IT sector.
Also, troll along the questions asked on Stackoverflow, see if you find something that might challenge you and go attempt to answer it. The questions are usually abstract enough that you can replicate the problem someone is having, then try and document your solution for them.

In my long (yet short ;-) ) programming experience, it's a matter of perspective. Some learn better learning the whole theory from books and then applying examples, and then making sample projects. In this case use JQuery, PHP and JavaScript tutorials for basic concepts and then make some examples of the methods, and then, try to make a project on your own. But then again, this is one perspective.
The other and it's been kind of direct to me, it's that if you have already some basic programming skills, go ahead and do something you like. When you have doubt about doing something, google it, read docs try, and try again. Why this is smooth? Because even though it's not as fast, the experience will remain solid. If you're the practical type of person, you won't easily forget when you learned something out of try & error.
There are other perspectives, but I'll leave it from here. I wanted to be helpful somehow on this because I had this same question before. But, faithful to the rules ^^u (yeah, rules... ¬¬u), if it's a question that derives from perspective, debate, or recommendation (like product benchmark, or best educational way of learning something) then should not be addressed here. A specific question for an specific answer. Try to make it specific, and search in the similar question matches just in case. Good luck =)

Where do I start for writing my own calculator program [closed]

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I have been learning programing, mainly JavaScript and C++, but all the programs I have been writing are simple and in note pad like applications.
What would I need to make a simple calculator that takes user input and dose calculations with it.
What would I use to get the GUI on the screen, how would I compile it, and what IDE should I use.

It depends how complicated you're going, it'd be easier to recommend if you had a specific project in mind. You could make a simple 'GUI' that just opens in a CMD/Terminal window with C++ and easily allow input (cin), changing what's displayed as you desire. You could easily do your example this way, without the need of anything overly complex.
In terms of using Notepad you probably want something with at least some sort of formatting to make it a bit easier on yourself (such as Notepad++) although you could just open Notepad and start coding. There are IDEs such as Eclipse with the CDT plugin which are good for starting C++, or Visual Studio. I'm not big on Javascript myself, but I've heard Komodo is good for web coding.
In terms of complex GUIs, as has been said in the comments there are many and it basically comes down to your preference as to which you use.

If it is basic to advance experience you seek then try Windows Forms application. Make a calculator or something. Sky (and memory) is the limit.

The first thing to write an application in my eyes is to need that application in the first place. So try to think of some tool, you or someone else might need and then re-think your process.
With a clear aim you can start off and think of everything you need and - even more important - we can help you in this community, because you can then ask more specific questions regarding the actual development and all the problems that occur alongside it.

Develop deep understanding of c++ concepts. Study more and good books including it's standard. Start with normal applications & go towards advanced programming. for GUI, try QT - it's good of go for MFC Application. Write Code yourself and work on different projects, alogirithms. For book suggestion, i suggest you getting Scott Mayers Effective c++
For Compiler, i suggest using Visual Studio on widnows - it's awesome IDE.

Possibility of fully functional word-processor in html5/css3/javascript? [closed]

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With the current state of html5/css3/javascript and the browsers support of it, do you think it is possible to create a fully functional word-processor (or document editor) like Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer with > 80% of its features? I'm talking about the rendering and editing engine, I think a server-side component for loading and saving documents to disk is always required because of security, conversion, etc.
Of course I am not talking about HTML-editors which are commonly available (e.g. CKEditor, TinyMCE, etc.) but I compare it with products like DevExpress DXRichEdit, Telerik RichTextBox and TX Text Control. Why would you at this moment still need technologies like Silverlight, ActiveX or Flash to create a webbased word-processor?
There are some initiatives regarding HTML5 document viewers, but besides Google Docs and Zoho Docs (which are limited in features compared to desktop based word-processors, and operate more like advanced HMTL editors) there is little available in regards to webbased word-processors.
Is there a reason there is no HTML5 word-processor yet? What do you think is still missing from the current technology to be able to create a webbased word-processor suitable as replacement for products like MS Word?

No if you think anything more advanced than a letter to your aunt.
HTML WYSIWYG components are horrible mess (contentEditable). You might almost success for one browser, but xplatform stuff (IE) just wont fly.
Google Docs is the best what money can buy today and it is flakey at the best.
However Silverlight or Adobe do not offer anything better.
The best bet is to hope that HTML5 APIs got to the point pure Javascript editor is possible. But they are not yet there.

ConstEdit at http://www.constedit.com may be such a word processor that satisfies your requirements on html5/css3, but not javascript.
It generates documents in the html format. Html5 sectioning elements tags are fully supported. There is an option to generate css stylesheets. It is not web-based. It runs locally on your pc.
You may give it a try. It is free for non-commercial users.
(Please note that I am the author of this software)

I am very interested in this issue, too. I want to be able to take templates and finalize my cover letters and similar format-critical documents via an online word processor.
I detest CKeditor and the other html editors. They are definitely not WYSIWYG.
The best one I've found so far is www.TeamLab.com I have no affiliation with them at all. I think they already recognize the monetary value of their online word processor. They are not giving out their API's and last time I spoke with them they said they will not do so for a number of months - presumably to assess how they want to charge for this valuable WP feature.
I am an attorney who needs to have proper looking letters and documents. I have my own online application, and the online word-processing feature is only one small - but very important - aspect that I want to add to my app for my staff attorneys to have.
I may be wrong but ConstEdit seemed to be just preliminary. If I am wrong, I would very much like to talk to you. I can give you good advice from a User's perspective.
Another group that I think is working on this concept is www.TheFormTool.com They indicated they have a secret project, and I suspect it is this very html5 word processor.
As a user it is my opinion that such a product would be very valuable. I encourage people to pursue this.

Only reliable way to find out is to attempt it yourself, and see if you're blocked by something missing in the tech stack you're using (in this case js/html5/css).

Choosing the right design for a website? [closed]

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I'm a programmer (hobbyist, but looking to make it a career) by nature so when I was asked to design a website I felt a little out of place (most of my applications don't have pretty UI's, they just work because I'm the only one using them). I have been looking into how I could design my website and started wondering how you guys decide.
What guidelines can you guys give me? What should I consider before I start coding?

It's pretty hard to sum up the whole field of UI design in an answer.
Make the most common tasks the easiest. Figure out what people will want to do, and make that as intuitive and straightforward as possible. Don't make them think.
Make mockups and prototypes. Watch people try to use them (watch, don't help them), and fix things that they found awkward. Your first attempt at a design isn't right, don't be too opposed to throwing it away.
There's really so much to this field that it can't be explained to anyone easily. Designing is no less complex than programming, but many programmers seem to look at it as an afterthought for some reason. Try some creative googling for design principles, especially as they apply to the web. Look at sites you consider well-designed and try to figure out why they feel that way to you.

Read, read read!!!
The best thing to do is read up on design techniques, and coding practices!
Design sites:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://www.youthedesigner.com/
http://www.psdtuts.com/
Coding sites (design minded):
http://www.nettuts.com
http://cssglobe.com/
All the above answers are great! My advice is to learn as much as you can by studying others (and asking questions).

Design and building HTML/CSS from a design are two different games. The first requires artistic skill, the second requires a large knowledge of how HTML and CSS should work and how some browsers choose to understand those rules.
For the first, if you can design, great. If you can't and the client wants something you can't deliver, talk to freelancers. There are a billion of them out there.
Building it out can be comprehensively learnt but it can take time. If this is the first time you've taken a complex design to web, you might want to outsource that too... But it's really something you need to be able to do if you want to make a career of this.
There's no reason you can't do everything but you need to appreciate that your skills will improve over time and when you do your first, it could be a lot better. As with everything, practise makes perfect.

You should always try for the bare minimum at first.
Consider usability and easy navigation before anything else.
Take example of other sites, find their weaknesses and their strong points and inherit them in your solution.
In case you find your self blocked due to lack of design imagination, then try to simply think of content placeholders, ie where something elements go, try to sketch it on paper to see how it looks and judge it, rinse and repeat and you should get to something.
Ideally show your sketchs to someone and take a second opinion.

I've realized I'm bad at web design: I know HTML, CSS (both pretty well), but I don't know how to make a page look good. So I use existing templates, and make small adjustments or customizations. See these questions for free templates:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/851666/free-website-templates-royalty-free-css-html-asp-net
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/522856/what-are-good-resources-for-css-templates-or-templated-layout-sites

Since you were asked, I assume there is a customer involved in the process. So create a prototype, try and get feedback and keep going according to that feedback, try to always keep tack on those feedbacks at final stage it might became very helpful.
In most the cases creating design depends on the contents of web site. Before you make your sketch go through sites with the same topics and same context in order to get some ideas in your head. After several times you will gain some skills and the ability to actually feel how it is suppose to look. My personal advise is try to think of clear design, avoid cluttering, think about usability and about functionality in most cases enough common features.

I agree with the approach that just researching and reading and looking is the best path to becoming a good designer. I think sometimes programmers are afraid of the 'artistic' realm because it's so subjective, or they think that they need to have some natural talent.
Most good artists work really hard to refine their craft. Natural talent is roughly as useful to a designer as advanced math skills are to a programmer. It can help in some areas, but just isn't required.
Look at popular sites that have similar objectives. How are they solving their problems using visual elements? How is information arranged on the page, how can it be broken down, what pieces are vital to functionality of the site, and which pieces just help improve aesthetic presentation (or don't improve it)?
While it's never cool to just rip off a site design, it's perfectly normal to borrow techniques or ideas and use them to create your own original design.
Make a wireframe first - this will allow you to effectively place the information on the page and think about architecture and functionality without worrying about the 'pretty' stuff. Then move onto an image mock-up that is a fleshed out version of the site. Don't be afraid to throw out designs and start over completely.
There are a number of graphic design principles you might pick up along the way. It's always good to keep them in mind, but my advice is just to go with your gut instinct for now. If you know any skilled designers, ask for feedback. Designers love to critique (in a nice way).
A lot people will suggest to just keep it simple and straightforward. That's great advice, but just remember: simple can be really hard.
As for an online resource, I think Web Design From Scratch provides a lot of good advice in one place. There are countless awesome resources online for design help and inspiration, so just keep digging and subscribe to blog feeds.
Good luck.

You might also want to skim some Alert Box articles by Jakob Neilsen. I haven't read them, but people also speak highly of his books.
There's also a ton of sites which can generate CSS templates for you, once you decide what sort of layout you might want. That provides you with the groundwork which you can subsequently tweak to meet your needs.