Resources for Building Your Own Website

Designing and building websites using HTML and CSS is something that both has a low barrier entry (meaning it's very easy to start to learn) yet has a high skill ceiling (you can perfect the craft and get really good at making some really sick stuff). Here is a smattering of resources you may find helpful in building your own site.

Code Resources

W3schools will be your lifeline in learning HTML and CSS, and reminding yourself about the simple things you seem to have forgotten. Its articles are to the point and easy to understand, and always contain a "do it yourself" test environment to mess with the code yourself. They have a lot more than just HTML and CSS, too. Their Javascript and XML tutorials will also help you as you advance with site building.

Web Visuals

An archive of gifs found on old Geocities websites, hosted by the Internet Archive. There is a trusty search bar to find exactly what you're looking for. These are great for decoarting your site, and for finding old websites to take inspiration from.

A small collection of free-to-use cool-to-look-at cusor effects you can use for your site! Thank you to Tholman on Github.

A website that allows you to dither any image you throw into it. Cool for messing with your drawings and photos to give them interesting and unique textures, and for compressing your images (if you don't care about the quality, that is...) Thank you to Alex Harris on Github.

A second dithering tool that I also found easy to use, so felt I may as well also give it a shout out here. Thank you to Allen Garvey on Github.

A tool for converting basically any file into anything. I personally use it for converting large batches of PNGs into GIFs and WEBPs, but this is also very convenient for converting images into .ICO (what you can use as your favorites icon at the top of your page tab) or .CUR (what you can use to make custom cursors for your site)!

A MASSIVE collection of "blinkies" for your use! Decorate your page with them.

A really cool (and well organized, might I add) collection of textures saved off of old CD-ROMS, originally intended for 3D modelling, but would also work great as backgrounds for your web pages!

Lots of people make web buttons for their site to allow other people to link their site to their own (I have some you can find on my homepage and my sister sites page if you want to link to MY website!), and this is a website that will allow you to make your own without need for a drawing program. Thank you to Hekate2 on Github.

When browsing indie web sites, you will see these guys a LOT as a way for people to quickly and simply label the appropriate-ness of their sites. While I don't personally use them, I can see how someone would find them handy! Here is a link to where everyone is getting these graphics from.

Web Hosts

A free (subscription optional) web host inspired by the 90s web host, Geocities. I have not personally used this service, but I understand it as one of the top reccomendations for those getting into the indie web.

Another free website hosting service, run completely on donations. I have heard really good things about this host, and know that a lot of people prefer Nekoweb to Neocities, and am considering switching my host once my current subscription expires!

Last updated 7-22-2026.

All animated GIFs on this site sourced from gifcities.org/.

Side banner is an edited photo sourced from pixelmoondust.neocities.org/archives/archivedtiles.

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