[Mike Saltzman]

So, I'm a desktop developer, but I'm very inexperienced when it comes to the web. 

I have a desktop app that I wrote (Windows Forms DotNet with an dmb database file) that I have been using for years to keep track of some data. It's a very simply app. It's basically a grid with a list of items and then a detail view of a single item so you can add/edit. The front-end accesses a database and I can search thee data, add/delete/update records, etc. 

But being a desktop app, it's inconvenient to access it. I am basically storing the entire app and all of it's dependencies on my OneDrive. And whenever I need to access the data, I go to OneDrive, download the entire app into a folder on my PC, use the app and then, if I made any changes, I have to copy the app (or at least the mdb file) back to my OneDrive. 

So I've been toying with the idea of translating this app into some kind of web-based platform so I can access it from anywhere without all the overhead. So I need a place to host the database and some kind of front-end. Very simple. 

It seems pretty clear to me that GigaRocket would allow me to register a domain name and create a database. And then I'd have to write some sort of front-end that allows me to access the data, filter it, add, modify, delete, etc. And that's the part where I'm a little fuzzy.

A lot of these free web hosting services, like GigaRocket list a whole bunch of software packages that they support like WordPress - which I'm pretty sure is for blogs. But then there are a ton of others like cPanel (which seems pretty straightforward - it's the control panel by which I manage the databases and the files and everything else). 

So... and this will probably sound dumb... let's say I start a GigaRocket account and I am able to create the database I need. What would my next step be? Does one of these packages have a facility that will give me the ability to easily filter, add, delete, modify, etc. data in a database easily?

Or do I need to develope my own front-end using html, javascript, etc.? 

Anyway, thanks for any advice you can offer. No advice is too simple - I am truly a noob when it comes to web development. :)

[Genesis]

Unfortunately the hosting account that Gigarocket provides doesn't offer root access or the flexibility you would need to experiment with a front-end script. We also don't provide a full version of Softaculous.

My suggestion would be for you to find access to a VPS. As a VPS would be able to provide you with root access and experimentation with a script that you write yourself. Presently Gigarocket doesn't offer VPS, but I know the Owner has plans to do so in the not too far future.

In the meanwhile, you could look at other Forums, if you're thinking of posting for a VPS. I know that Evolution Host provides those with plans to create something under your own domain with free VPS. However, you'd have to do a proper justification to convince them that your plan would benefit them marketing wise. You could check this out here.

https://evolution-host.com/free-vps.php

[Mike Saltzman]

Hm. Not sure I understand a lot of that. :)
Like I said, I am a super-noob with all this cloud stuff. 

Are you saying I can't use Gigarocket to host a web site? Or are you saying that it's not necessarily a good platform to experiment on in order to create my web page? 

What if I created a GigaRocket account and then used it for the database and then I could code a web site locally using a local web server? Pretty sure I could do that with Visual Studio. Once the page was developed, I could then upload it to be hosted on Gigarocket? No?

[Genesis]

Hm. Not sure I understand a lot of that. :)
Like I said, I am a super-noob with all this cloud stuff. 

Are you saying I can't use Gigarocket to host a web site? Or are you saying that it's not necessarily a good platform to experiment on in order to create my web page? 

Hopefully you're not being condescending. Both of us know you're not really the noob you're pretending to be. Please read our Terms and Conditions of Hosting. Gigarocket is a free SHARED post2host service. Design and intention of the account is to create Websites. Using the account as a storage facility is a breach of the TOS.

Your original question suggested some experimentation which you weren't entirely clear and up front about and pretending you're not quite familiar with how it all works. I told you that with experimentation you would need root access, which you can't get with your Gigarocket Hosting Account. Therefore a VPS would be a better option for you.

What if I created a GigaRocket account and then used it for the database and then I could code a web site locally using a local web server? Pretty sure I could do that with Visual Studio. Once the page was developed, I could then upload it to be hosted on Gigarocket? No?

Possibly you need to read our Terms and Conditions of Hosting. The objective of the hosting account is to host Websites on it. You're not allowed to use it as a storage facility. Suggest you read the contents of our Home Page, and particularly the Terms and Conditions of Hosting.

[Sleepwalker]

There are a lot of questions here. To be fair it all depends on the data you want to keep. How complex is it? Is it private in nature? What sort of flexibility do you need? 

Do give you an example, I'm a full stack web developer. Stuff I write can easily be hosted here or on my local machine, and it will have the same look and feel as well as functionality. The only difference being where the data is kept. Given that what you're describing seems to be tailored for your needs I'd say it's gonna be hard to find a ready made product.

If You have some prior experience in programming creating a basic web app shouldn't be a big issue, I'd be happy to provide guidance. And if You want someone to do it for You I might know a freelance developer that should have the time to take care of that ;)