How to start developing a website

[Shwetam Mathur]

Hi,
I want to develop a website for my friend who wants to do an e-business.
I know Java & have completed my SCJP / SCWCD 4 yrs back.

How do I start developing a website (with shopping cart etc) ? Where do I start with. Can anybody suggest me some good sites that can guide me.
I have been hearing about Web2.0 / AJAX etc.

How & where do I start with ?

[Ben Souther]

Are you already familiar with HTML?
If not, that's a good place to start.
Once you're comfortable building static pages with HTML and CSS, I would pick up a good book on Servlets and JSP. I know that Head First Servlets and JSP is very popular these days. I have another of the HeadFirst series and it's excellent. In its day Core Servlets and Java Server Pages was excellent.
The first edition (which I own) is quite outdated and I don't own any more recent copies so I can't say (but I assume that) it's good.

Once you're comfortable building dynamic server side pages, then, start looking for a good book on JavaScript/AJAX.

[David O'Meara]

If we're talking books:

Marty Hall's "Core Servlets and Java Server Pages" is an excellent well rounded book. For the complete novice I recommend Murach's "Java Servlets and JSP". I just finished reading it and am in the process of writing a review. I like the HF Servlets book, but didn't feel it was at the level of the regular HF books.