You can create static HTML-Websites/-Documents on your PC and view them in your browser. You can then add features using CSS or JS.

Then, you can use a VM and install a webserver in it. You can use it to simulate and practice server side scripting, for example with PHP. You can also try out open source software in it, for example blog software.

Then, when you have something to publish, you can rent webspace. Nowadays SSL is important. You need to figure out how to get a certificate installed at your hoster.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT rent a root server, because you will be responsible for keeping the whole OS updated and secure. Something that fails often. Use a managed option, so you're just responsible for your web apps.

I still think that you should start with the Python programming language. It's the modern alternative to the "BASIC" of the 80s.

Install the latest stable version (3.16 according to https://www.python.org/downloads/), struggle a bit with the official tutorial (https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html) or get any introduction book from Anna's archives, and have fun.

I'm an old fart and I don't believe there is a need to write complicated stuff to have fun. Try that for a few hours, struggle a bit because it should be entertaining for your brain, and see if you have fun. If not, there are other languages out there, but Python is easy enough to grasp most concepts like variables, loops, playing with data, and writing simple scripts.

If you want to experiment with PHP+Mysql, you can make an account on InfinityFree and do stuff there. Their free tier lets you have a free domain. As for learning content, I recommend looking for something like "making a blog from scratch with php"^[Fucking AI shit makes it hard to find stuff that actually teaches step by step. If you see anything that has "Conclusion" near the end, it's AI slop. Here are 3 that might help you: -- https://dcblog.dev/creating-a-blog-from-scratch-with-php -- https://ilovephp.jondh.me.uk/en/tutorial/make-your-own-blog/introduction -- https://codewithawa.com/posts/how-to-create-a-blog-in-php-and-mysql-database] or some such, try to look for "from scratch" wherever possible, as those will avoid cumbersome frameworks and CLI commands (like artisan install blah, which you won't have access with on InfinityFree)

You can create and edit files within the browser, from their control panel, but you can also set up a program to automatically connect via FTP, so you can code on your computer and the program magically syncs with the domain's folder

Even if you don't want to go out of the way with learning php, it can be useful to let you write markdown, the same type we use for posts here, and translate into plain html.

If you don't feel like you'll need programming or a database connection, you can go with a Neocities page and write html yourself. Again, the best way to learn will be by searching for " from scratch"

What do you want to try to do? And what sort of hardware do you have? There are endless possibilities! But that will help narrow down.

I would start with some HTML tutorial on the internet and host that on nekoweb or neocities. That way you can concentrate on learing to create a website and deal with the hosting stuff later. May people offer free templates, too. Just surf around on the websites there and see what other people make :) And yes, linux is way better than windows in every way. If you mostly use stuff like your browser or steam, it is not hard to switch, either.

Get kagi!!!

Then my steps to enjoying computing again:

1. Get Linux. Windows is shit and destroys joy.
2. Get mullvad VPN
3. Use a private DNS that blocks trackers and ads. Next DNS has them or mullvad has free ones to use.
4. Dont use any of the bug 4 corpo slop sites
5. Use lots of bookmarks, and web rings!!

Also geocities

• Get yourself an account on neocities
• Pick a website you like on https://512kb.club/ . Anyone of them, it doesn't have to be perfect
• open the console to see its html code
• use the inspector to pick elements (the title, a list, a link)
• Read the code, and write it on your neocities site. It's important that you write it, not just copy-paste it, to really grasp the bits
• Repeat with more and moro complex sites