In my thesis I present the development of a web site using Software as a Service (SaaS) on the Wix platform. SaaS is not installed on a local computer because it is located on the server of the provider. Users subscribe to the use of such software, but only pay for the services they actually need. SaaS can be accessed from anywhere where there is an internet connection. However it requires authentication in the form of a username and a password.
Creating websites using SaaS is carried out using a graphics editor, which means that the user does not need the detailed knowledge of programming languages, such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript, and others. In addition to providing software for the development of web pages, SaaS providers also offer free hosting and a set of various related services in subscription packages to which one can subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis. The cheapest subscription package contains the minimum set of services and is suitable for making simple web pages, while the most expensive package contains all the necessary services for the creation of complex web pages (eg. an online store). A domain name can be purchased from the same provider or transferred to the provider if it had been bought somewhere else.
This thesis further focuses on the Wix platform, which is one of the most popular examples of SaaS intended for the production of web pages. It also compares Wix with the WordPress-content management system (CMS), which is an example of conventional systems for content management. Unlike Wix, WordPress must be installed on a local computer, which enables users to make a website using only a graphics editor. It also allows them to view and directly modify the software code. Both approaches, i.e. SaaS and CMS, are suitable for the creation of simple and advanced websites, but both also have certain advantages and disadvantages. An important difference between the two is in maintenance: the WordPress platform requires the user to install regular updates, while Wix has a technical team taking care of the updates. The choice of themes and widgets is also important and WordPress is the winner in this category. Moreover, both systems facilitate the initial development of ready-made templates that can be freely selected and changed.
In the practical part of the thesis I created a web page dedicated to the promotion of a book using SaaS. In the process I mainly focused on the production of components that are typical for this type of websites. Writer websites often contain typical elements, such as the option to comment in order to receive reader feedback, blogs in which writers publish their thoughts and news (e.g. publication of a new book or its presentation), or an online shop for selling books and other themed items, such as T-shirts etc.
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