advice What Programming Language is useful for a domainer?

[Sammy Jakes]

I have some free time now and I would like to learn coding.
I would like to know what programming language is useful for a domainer and what specific domaining problem can I solve with it?
Thanks

 

[AEProgram]

You asked for a programming language that is good for a domainer. What you got as expected is overwhelmed with info that in most cases will lead you nowhere.

Domainers mostly look for name opportunities. If you are of the rare breed that develops sites, ignore my post.

Name opportunities appear on many sites including godaddy, dropcatch, snapnames, namejet, nameliquidate, this forum, sites that curate lists etc.

If you just want to see lists of names from many sites every day, you could visit expireddomain.net free.

If you want to gather data automatically, i.e. scrape, then build your own rules to trigger alerts, keyword placement rules, custom valuation functions, connecting to godaddys api, automatically checking specific pages for domains, searching icanns whois using their simple api etc and 100'smany of small tasks domainers do, you need to learn a programming language.

First thing, everything I just said you could do with C, C++, C#, Java, Go, Python, PHP etc. The question is, what will you reasonably learn and fast.

Most private business people that work with data choose python, it's fast, has a library for everything you could think of including graphs and the learning curve is fast. You don't have to setup a special environment as you would with web development and it has a strong community.

The downside is that for a domainer, unless you learn how to build gui's with python, it will really just burn you out creating csv's, opening them etc. You will want to learn how to use tkinter, a python library to create gui's, for example, for a domainer knowing how to use the datagrid is important.

Most private people that learn python to process data for themselves end up not using it because they fail to learn gui development.

With c# you could build guis fast but the learning curve is a lot more difficult than python.

If you absolutely want to do things using more of a web setup. Meaning, having your own dashboard you go to and run reports based on live data on some other sites plus anything else you could imagine, learn html, javascript, php and mysql, this is a bigger learning curve, however, you can use these skills for a lot more you will ever be able to do with learning python on it's own.

I will say that when you learn python and as domainer need to scrape data, you will automatically have to learn some html and JavaScript.

If you want to get good at it you will have to learn an hour a day and then spend 3 hours playing around with what you learned. After 2 months you will be good enough with programming that you will see ways to do everything more efficient and build fast solutions.

 

[marijuanadomain]

I like COBOL, Pascal, Basic and Fortran!!!
I run BASIC and Assembly languages on the 12" floppy disks.

I still use punch cards ,JCL on the IBM mainframe 360

 

[jhm]

Any language is useful, just as @MadAboutDomains pointed out

If I had a gun pointed at me and the shooter shouted, saying "what programming language is useful, tell me!", and then he presses it against the side of my head, demanding I say just one ...I'd probably say Python first

In comparison to PHP and other programming languages, Python is a lot easier to read and learn. With relatively simpler coding, Python has a clear, brief and orthogonal syntax. The code written in Python is easier to understand in comparison to PHP

(In my opinion)

 

[MadAboutDomains]

In comparison to PHP and other programming languages, Python is a lot easier to read and learn. With relatively simpler coding, Python has a clear, brief and orthogonal syntax. The code written in Python is easier to understand in comparison to PHP

(In my opinion)

Python is certainly up there with many others too according to the Stackoverflow survey (83k respondents):

Source: https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2021#most-popular-technologies-language

If I can provide any advice for anyone that is new to software development, scripts are completely fine if you're trying to do something specific in isolation, but if you're trying to create a website or do something that everyone else does frequently.. use an existing open source framework or library to make your life easier!

As an inexperienced coder you may find yourself trying to build things from the ground up every time you want to do something. This isn't advisable because frameworks have worked out a lot of things for you already that is written in the language of your choice.

Want to make a HTTP request?... use a library (eg Axios, flurl).
Want to build a website?... use a framework (eg Asp.net, Slim, Next.js).

Hopefully you get the idea.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

I'm a software developer and I would say that any language is useful. I know JavaScript, C#, Python and used to know PHP but I don't use that nowadays.

If you're creating a website I would recommend using next.js and it gets you going with all of the modern tech (react, webpack) pretty much straight out of the box.

 

[LUP]

I suggest you to learn Javascript and Python

HTML, CSS, Javascript are Mandatory
Javascript Path : Native & OOP, then Node.js, React.js, Express.js
Python Path : Native & OOP, then Django or Flask

But I prefer PHP for years

You can create API for Domain Backorder or Get Domain Name Sales from NameBio,
Generate Domain Name by Suffix or Preffix
Etc.

 

[tonyk2000]

Learning some *nix as well as shell scripting is good to start... Actually, before programming, a domainer should first familiarize himself with basic network and domaining terminology - registry-registrar-registrant, whois, ports, ssl etc.

 

[BradWilson]

This is a great question and discussion that I have way too much experience with to answer in a short reply ha

I've been programming for over 30 years Ouch! My short answer is, use whatever programming language that makes you happy.

For me, I've been using php from way way back. Before that I used a bit of perl but I wanted a better user experience and php was it. I also coded many Flash projects using Lingo WOW!

The first language I learned of course was Basic and wrote an Asteroid Miner and Star Trek type game and saved it on punch tape - Ugh!

I then moved to Fortran, COBOL, Pascal, C and Java but I wasn't a big fan of any of them.

In the last year, I've been relearning my coding stack focusing on JavaScript and Node. I've been taking lots of Udemy courses to fill in all the technologies I've missed over the years.

I really like using all the amazing frameworks. For example, I've fallen in love with Vue, Nuxt and Quasar which are JavaScript frameworks. I considered the other major JavaScript frameworks Angular and React, but I really like Vue a lot more. Using Quasar, I can develop for all platforms with one code base which is very cool.

Here's an excellent video to see this in action.

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Neither HTML nor CSS is going to be of much use to domainers.

Probably more so than a programming language, most domainers would benefit from learning how to use formulas in spreadsheets and a sophisticated text editor, such as Sublime Text (including its keyboard shortcuts and regular expressions).

You'd be able to significantly increase your efficiency in dealing with large lists of domains.

We hope that helps.

 

[Bertrell]

...that can cost someone a lot of lost time and frustration.

As someone who currently has 1000+ domains, this is totally relevant. For example, using PHP for certain things on my sites is simply more efficient, particularly when mass updates or edits are concerned.

I started off not knowing a lot about HTML, CSS, JS, Python, etc., but ultimately I had to learn, because editing sites individually became too time-consuming. Ultimately, we just have to find our own way to do the things we need done. Sometimes it involves figuring it out yourself, or hiring someone competent to program whatever it is you're unable to successfully complete on your own (been there, done that...and it got me to where I needed to be).

I'm not advocating one language or framework over another, but if one can utilize these tools in a way that saves time and does what one wants them to do, that's all that really matters. FWIW, spreadsheet usage has been invaluable (again, due to the sheer number of domains in my portfolio).

Not every domainer/domain investor needs to go this route. For many, just using whatever management tools that a registrar and/or marketplace offers will be enough for their needs.

For those of us who want to perform actions or add functionality not offered at a registrar or marketplace (or WordPress, WIX, Weebly, etc.), then yeah, learning how to program is a must for customization.

I'm pretty sure my workflow is waaaaay different than everyone else's--and that's okay.

Here are other things I sometimes use when working on/editing my domains:

• Github and Gitlab
• CloudFlare Pages (I have a number of domains at the Cloudflare Registrar)
• WebStarts
• JsFiddle
• JsBin

And when I say "working on/editing my domains," in my world that mostly means designing my own landing pages. I'm not as interested in data scraping, API programming or dropcatch-related scripting at this stage, but maybe I'll dabble with those in the future.

Granted, this doesn't provide a direct answer to the OP's question, but the main takeaway is what's in bold.

Good luck with your programming/coding journey!

 

[AEProgram]

Since 1993 I'm just a front-end guy
HTML/JavaScript

No obsolete is what I call URL programming which is whatever you want to type in that URL bar (my cloud data online, not apps nor smart contract dapps is open sourced accessible like api or widgets to all 7 billion people no proprietary like apple turned out to become (my websites nothing to download/login/username/password/register cause front-end basic protocols the internet was built on I remembered in 1994 before any browser except mosaic gov) cliff notes for the astute domainers to point to

The webchat, dreamt something exists there, irc was 1994 --> today wwwindiatimes.com
Raising as we are creating the first computer race from these timelines here.. 2 computer systems become one and what you could write in the URL bar is 2way interaction that lasts..

One day I aspire to understand anything you just said.

 

[tonyk2000]

then moved to Fortran, COBOL, Pascal

That was the time!

If anybody is going to learn programming today in 2021, I'd recommend to read this first (old but still good... really):

 

[Jurgen Wolf]

For API just bash script is enough, no need to learn any languages.

 

[LUP]

Are you sure Javascript is mandatory? because you later say you prefer PHP

I am very sure. HTML, CSS, and Javascript works on Client Side, meanwhile PHP working on Server Side. two different things.

You can choose anything as you like for Server Side like PHP, Python, etc. but for Client Side the basic is HTML, CSS and Javascript

 

[Future Sensors]

Ultimately, you want to use your coding skills with data sets.

Another thread on namePros has lots of data and tools relevant to domainers.

 

[clasione]

I checked off all I've ever really needed to know.
JavaScript, PHP, SQL, HTML / CSS

 

[TCK]

In addition to core programming languages, there are frameworks. Frameworks basically are reusable functions or libraries of code created on a specific programming language. So, Wordpress is not just a CMS but also a framework. Most CMS use frameworks. Learning a framework is like learning a programming language. But if you learn a programming language it does not mean you can program in the framework based on that language.

The point is, don't go on a tangent to learn a programming language because someone tells you it will help in domaining, unless you are completely invested long term.

 

[poweredbyme]

Why Linux?

Thanks

For security, performance, privacy and freedom. If you don't want to lose your domains you have to use a linux operating system on your business devices. Linux is open source. Linux based operating systems such as Debian is not owned by profit oriented companies. This is very important in my opinion. Debian is free of charge, download and install on your business device if you value your privacy and financial security. I strongly recommend Debian to everyone.

You can learn progamming languages later. I know several programming languages. But I have almost never needed to use. I am a webmaster. I manage my own web servers on Debian. I use debian on my everyday laptop too. I keep thousands of dollars worth of cyrptocurrencies on my Debian laptop without any fear for hacking. So if you a serious player on online business, you have to use a Debian desktop, in my personal opinion.

 

[TCK]

It should also be stressed that the purpose of learning a language, programming or otherwise, is to be able to customize and edit sites, not just build them from scratch. With so many tools available why would you want to do that? In order to be able to make customizations you need to be versed in PHP, Javascript, HTML, and CSS at the very least.

 

[mr-x]

Flame wars aside.. most modern websites use a combination of languages, PHP and Javscript are the most common.

HTML and CSS are not programming languages in the traditional sense but are template / layout rules.

You can do a lot with CSS but you will eventually need Javascript to process data.

Wordpress is the most common / popular program used to build websites. It uses PHP and Javscript. Learning either will not be a waste of time.

 

[karamakate]

I'm a PHP guy. I've already wrote many tools with vanilla PHP, HTML and JS to help me to find proper domain names.

But If I had a chance to start from the beginning, I would go for Python.
Since domaining is all about playing with words, Python has just sufficient libraries to play with datasets and word lists.

But any of those options would work if you can learn how to use them.

 

[Fancy.domains]

I am currently building new landing pages and I'm only using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

I would definitely have advantages using PHP, but as my portfolio is rather limited, it's ok for now...

 

[TCK]

I am currently building new landing pages and I'm only using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

I would definitely have advantages using PHP, but as my portfolio is rather limited, it's ok for now...

Indeed. I would say those are the 3 that would be most useful for domainers to learn. They are not that difficult and you can learn them fairly quickly. It's when you get into server-side languages when things get complicated. Learning Photoshop or similar is also helpful to spruce up your pages. And you hit the nail, it makes sense if you have a small portfolio. But for 1000's of names it is a different story.

 

[cipcip]

It depends on what you want to do. Domaining has nothing to do with programming.
If you want to buy and sell domains, you do not need programming. If you want to setup a wordpress blog on your domain, you do not need programming.

A programmer must be fully capable to do an entirely web application from scratch, this is not something that is learned in 2-3 weeks of spare time.