If you want to get a feel for how it works before choosing a domain and whatnot, you could use WAMP; which allows you to host the site on your computer, but only you will have access to it. Here's a guide on how to do that:
http://www.mysidiaadoptables.com/for...ead.php?t=4774
You could edit the script with any program that handles text documents, be it notepad, notepad++, or wordpad, you don't really need cpanel or anything to open the files.