I’ve been given a task to complete and it is the following:
Build a web site with with a ridiculously small budget with these functions:
  * calendar with an event manager, that makes it easy to add/edit/delete events.
      o when event is created, user groups and individual users can be emailed with an invitation.
      o the invitation contains a link to a form, where the user has to fill in the form with all the required fields (like how many people are coming with the person, etc.)
      o the users are able to view the calendar and see the events that they are invited or can attend.
  * user message system
  * a few pages with editable content.
  * w12 only: a special page with the list of business owners that are offering special discounts to other w12 members.

So the main thing really is the event manager, the user communication system is just a really nice bonus.

I really am a designer, but I am very interested in learning programming and because I learned css and html to an extent that I can “code with my eyes closed”, I thought I might try learning php and I started with codeigniter, I have been advised to come here from a topic on the other board. So I’m quite a newbie and prolly gonna bug people if I do end up using EE to build it, so:
Should I use EE for this or not? (If not PLEASE give good alternatives.)

Well, this all sounds certainly doable. Not all of it will be working out of the box, but if you are familiar with PHP you can easily customize the rest.

EE does not come with an event calendar module as such, but there are a number of ways to achieve what you want. Adding events would probably be done via a so-called stand alone entry form, and editing and deleting are easy as well. In addition, I recommend Solspace’s (free) Freeform module for form processing.

So the main thing really is the event manager, the user communication system is just a really nice bonus.

It’s not a drop-in module, but people have done it before.

Should I use EE for this or not? (If not PLEASE give good alternatives.)

I’d say yes, it certainly beats having to code everything from scratch. My advice would be to download the free EE Core version see if you like it.

Ingmar Greil - 23 June 2008 02:33 PM

Well, this all sounds certainly doable…

Thank you Ingmar (what nationality is your name?)

Because you obviously know EE inside-out,could you please tell me what features of the full version of EE would I need and why core would not be enough? Sorry if this is confusing

daulex - 23 June 2008 04:25 PM

Because you obviously know EE inside-out,could you please tell me what features of the full version of EE would I need and why core would not be enough? Sorry if this is confusing

For starters, I assumed this was a commercial project, and as such would ultimately require a full commercial licence. In addition, I can see how the following modules, which are not part of EE Core, could come in handy for a project like yours: email, mailing list, membership, pages and query.

Thank you Ingmar (what nationality is your name?)

You’re welcome. I believe my name is Swedish, but I am not—I am Austrian.

Thank you very much.