The website, would have members, host audio and video files, make transactions, and probably more. Basically I want to learn how to construct a professional website in my garage, all the setups required, all knowledge that needs to be learned ect鈥? Where is a good place to start? I am already learning HTML and purchased Dreamweaver. I think I鈥檓 going to need to learn some computer programming languages as well. What are the popular programming languages that create small software applications for the web?? What knowledge needs to be learned to start up a computer server in your garage?? Please don鈥檛 respond with going to college and getting a degree, I know there is plenty of information on the internet and in books for the knowledge to be learned

You should focus on the following:

a) XHTML and CSS. Coding a site using these makes it more searchable. You can learn these at http://www.w3schools.com/ or go to the www standards web site at http://www.w3.org/ (this may be lil complex reading but the best indeed).

b) How to optimize your site for search engines. Look at http://www.google.com/webmasters Consider making a google site map & submit to google. The customers reach to your web site from search engines.

c) Get a UI done from a professional, who understand usability. Or possibily learn it yourself.

d) To run a e-commerce site or even a normal site, choose a good hosting service. I would recommend Yahoo Samll Business. Look at http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com This will simplify a lot things for you. You dont need to learn complex programming languages to create & run your site. It makes online transactions a simple affair.