Instant CGI/Perl [Paperback]

Selena Sol (Author), Gunther Birznieks (Author), Peter Chines (Author)

Book Description

Series: Instant (Osborne) | Publication Date: May 25, 2001

Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a method for creating dynamic Web pages, that is, the Web page changes without the author physically changing it - the dynamic page is created on the server. The CGI script or programme generates a list of HTML commands which make a Web page. This guide shares professional scripts developed by eXtropia and CGI applications for the Web written in Perl. The text assists in customizing each programme to suit the user's needs. The CD ROM contains applications for common Web tasks including a mailing list managers, guestbook, Web-based data management, event calendar and email.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Ultimate Collection of Ready-to-Use Code and Expert Techniques for CGI/Perl

Create useful, dynamic Web pages and applications by matching the consistency of CGI with the efficiency of Perl. This powerful guide offers out-of-the-box applications you can install on your Web site, plus an in-depth examination of the object library for advanced exploration of functionality. Build information-rich relationships with users that include secure transfer of everything from names and passwords to targeted information in multi-tiered shopping carts. Topical organization will help you find what you need rapidly and begin transforming your Web site today.

With this book you'll learn about:

• Information sharing techniques, including sessions
• Data abstraction and management with DataSource
• Application objects
• Web programming with existing database architectures

All the applications covered are WAP and XML ready. The scripts work easily with Oracle, Sybase, MySQL, and most relational databases; directory services such as LDAP; security architectures using PKI, secure ID, PGP, or HTTPS; Perl accelerators such as mod_perl or Velocogen.

Important coverage includes:

• Toolkit and architecture overviews
• CGI installation and customization
• Setting and archiving files
• Modifying Perl paths
• Understanding and using eXtropia apps
• Managing and protecting data, plus application security

ON THE VALUE-PACKED CD-ROM:

• Object libraries from eXtropia
• Professional scripts
• Ready-to-run Web-based data management and other useful apps

About the Author

Selena Sol (Singapore) is founder of "The Selena Sol's Script Archive" (now eXtropia.com), and has been developing Web applications since the very beginning. Sol has written six popular books on web technology ranging from Perl/CGI to Java and has produced several monthly technology columns for such ezines as Web Developer's Virtual Library and JavaBoutique Gunther Birznieks (Singapore) published multiple books and talks on the area of web programming from Perl, to Java, to Commerce. He spent the majority of his web engineering/programming experience working for the Human Genome Project, but has also applied his skills to writing on-line trading systems for investment banking as well as extending web applications to other mediums such as mobile phone technology (e.g. WAP). Peter Chines (Silver Springs, MD) is a senior scientific programmer and database administrator for the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1088 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (May 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072133872
• ISBN-13: 978-0072133875
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,372,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT for beginners!!, October 21, 2004

By 

Isabella Valentine - www.IsabellaValentine.com (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant CGI/Perl (Paperback)

The title said "Instance CGI/Perl" so I bought it thinking I could do it instantly, being a complete beginner. No way.

This book is designed for people who already have an understanding or some knowledge of cgi already. I can't even make it to page two and I go cross-eyed. It is an excellent book when it comes to modifying scripts and getting into perl stuff and will probably come in handy AFTER I learn how to do it in the first place.

If you are an advanced-level user, then you will probably GREATLY benefit from this book. It has unbelievable advice and detailed instructions on web applications used in cgi.

But to be honest, I didn't understand a single word of it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, February 4, 2004

By 

Jasiu (virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant CGI/Perl (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book while looking for a web application framework that would have all the basic components I would need (i.e. authentication, session management, form processing, templating, database ...) so that I could focus solely on coding the application logic without reinventing the wheel.

Surprisingly, this book documents a powerful and seemingly complete Perl-based web application framework called Extropia.
The architecture is built in OO and has every core component I need. I downloaded the code from their Web site and simply copied it into my cgi-bin directory and found that all of their ready-made examples ran without any tweaking to my web server config!
The examples include applications like Inventory Manager, Bug Tracker, Web Store, Address Book...
A novice user can get these applications up and running with little effort. The applications are fully configurable.
An advanced user who understands the concepts of OO Perl can create some really powerful applications. Wherever functionality is missing, just override or create your own custom method.

I followed many threads in the newsgroups regarding the subject of Perl-based web application frameworks, and never ran across the name "Extropia" before. I consider Extropia and this book to be a best kept secret!

Imagine building a fully functioning issue tracking database that performs some custom pre and post processing in just a couple days?!

Although I can see how the authors are targeting novice CGI developers because the framework is designed to be easily configurable for novice users... I think the real power of Extropia is more for the advanced web application developer who is tired of reinventing the wheel and is looking for an excellent set of reusable components.

Just my opinion.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Instant CGI, More like Instant sofa leg., March 21, 2003

By 

P. Mantheiy "KJV Only" (Monticello, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Instant CGI/Perl (Paperback)

If you are looking for a book on cgi, don't even waste 3 bucks on a used copy. The only place this thing deserves is taking up space at the author's home.

I used the instant ASP scripts a few years ago and taught myself asp to the point I have done several corporate intranets. I am familiar with Perl and the Instant CGI only confused me. If you want to learn cg, buy something else.