Hi all. I am about to develop my first eCommerce site and I have a few questions. I come from a software development background, but with a good level of experience with web based systems and techniques. I wouldn't call myself an absolute expert with PHP, but I know when I understand the problem and the solution, I will be able to implement it in code successfully.
I have been looking at the likes of ZenCart and OSCommerce and I just don't like the hassle that goes with mashing my own design templates in to them. I would like to be able to create my own site (with strict markup), with a CMS driven catalog. That users could simply drop items in to a shopping cart (session), and when they go to the checkout I simply send the payment information to the likes of realex for processing.
Is this possible?, or is there tonnes of functionality in the likes of the above open source offerings that I would need to replicate. I would really like to do at least one site this way so I know I can do it myself.
So what's to it? What functionality would I need. My first client is only selling to customers in Ireland, so the Euro is the only currency I will be dealing with, along with Irish VAT rates, etc. Although I'm sure if that were to change it would be simple enough to add them in to the system (or am I being terrible naieve).
Also if I use something like Realex to process the payment data do I still need to host the actual site with a dedicated IP and SSL (+ certificate), or is all the privacy of sensitive data transmission taken care of by the payment processor. Of course I wouldn't store the customers payment details in the website database (just shipping information).
I appologise in advance if I am making jaws drop with my ignorance on the subject, but I am eager to make a start on this project and would prefer start with a blank screen and my own programming knowledge than have to force someone else's code work for me.
I have been looking at the likes of ZenCart and OSCommerce and I just don't like the hassle that goes with mashing my own design templates in to them. I would like to be able to create my own site (with strict markup), with a CMS driven catalog. That users could simply drop items in to a shopping cart (session), and when they go to the checkout I simply send the payment information to the likes of realex for processing.
Is this possible?, or is there tonnes of functionality in the likes of the above open source offerings that I would need to replicate. I would really like to do at least one site this way so I know I can do it myself.
So what's to it? What functionality would I need. My first client is only selling to customers in Ireland, so the Euro is the only currency I will be dealing with, along with Irish VAT rates, etc. Although I'm sure if that were to change it would be simple enough to add them in to the system (or am I being terrible naieve).
Also if I use something like Realex to process the payment data do I still need to host the actual site with a dedicated IP and SSL (+ certificate), or is all the privacy of sensitive data transmission taken care of by the payment processor. Of course I wouldn't store the customers payment details in the website database (just shipping information).
I appologise in advance if I am making jaws drop with my ignorance on the subject, but I am eager to make a start on this project and would prefer start with a blank screen and my own programming knowledge than have to force someone else's code work for me.