I would like to build a forum such as this one. What are the recommended steps?

I am trying to avoid fancy blog sites and this one has the features I would like to have. I can deal with programming tasks but I would like to hear how to start:

1) Personal or public server?
2) Are there cheaper/free public servers that I can use?
3) JavaScript? Can I use? Recommended?

Thanks!!

This isn't a blog. It's a forum.

I just corrected the subject from Blog to Forum.

I don't really know how to answer this, because the answer to all your questions is "whatever you want".

• You could conceivably use your own server. Then you have the job of keeping it up 24/7, handle denial-of-service and other attacks, and making sure you have enough bandwidth.

• I doubt there are many cheap/free public servers around. What would be the motivation to run one?

• You can use Javascript if you want. I use it only slightly here.

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You are probably best off finding an Open Source forum server (search for “forum software”). Writing one from scratch is quite a big job, believe me, and if you aren’t careful you will build in holes where people can attack it using methods you haven’t even heard of.