Web development: Hosting, Creation, Servers, Database, Design.

Question

Might as well start a section for web development.
My real question is how do I get around SQL, Node.js?
What are my options for creating a server? I don't mind PHP, however once development gets to an API. I tend to get lost and not because I'm ignorant, but rather because I'm not (What's the point of working on top of a corporation?).
So what are my options?

Answer 1

Very informative, I appreciate that. Nice on the LAMP, MEAN too.
If one was to say perfect their wheel, would one not want something in return? Example: Node.js has a high reliance on the Google V8 engine, where does that leave my full comprehension of Google?
Also in my opinion no wheel is perfect, or we wouldn't use wheels. If I start on top of others work I feel less success.

Answer 2

Apache or Nodejs to serve files and you've got a webserver.
Then if you want a database, MySQL or MongoDB.
Server side code, PHP / Python / Perl etc or Express.JS / AngularJS
Simply put, either a LAMP or MEAN stack.
LAMP - Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
MEAN - MongoDB, Express.JS, AngularJS, NodeJS
Note: The stacks are not limited to those selections, they just tend to be the popular choices.
Also there's nothing wrong with working with an API, they just provide an easy and proven way to do something, no point in re-making the wheel if someone has already perfected it for you.
A lot of API's are also designed with security in mind, which you may not know yourself and result in leaving your own code open to attack, there's a lot to consider with an API than simply "working on top of a corporation".