Customer Reviews

Instant Web Scripts With Cgi Perl

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think this book is more informational than practical. Although I've been able to successfully customize some of the CGI scripts, I've had a bear of a time relating to the procedures and found no help what so ever in the error or troubleshooting department. All in all the scripts in this book are extremely powerfull, just make sure you make time for deciphering!

Great Book. Real World Scripts. Not an intro to Perl. Good coverage of some powerful scripts.

Best for use on Unix. Some work needed for use on NT. CD good, but check Selena's web site for the latest updates.

This is definitely the favorite in my library! I literally went through the entire book one evening after successfully installing several of the scripts and learned more about Perl than from any other resource or class...

More a library of pre-designed CGI-based systems than a reference book, "Instant Web Scripts With CGI" is a great way for the system admin or webmaster to add relatively advanced components to a web site with relatively little effort.

This book, however, is not for the PERL novice; although most included systems seem to work well with little or no modification save those to configuration files, the book offers little help with making significant functional changes to its scripts, and does little to explain the mechanics of the PERL involved in making everything work.

A very useful book overall, as long as you know what you're doing.

This book is a very thorough and comprehensive aid for setting up CGI/PERL scripts. Sol and Berznieks give a nice explanation for every line of every script. On the other hand, the book is of no help when it comes to troubleshooting. It offers no help for common problems for their scripts. Also, despite the fact that they have the scripts written out in the book, it is not done in such a way to be used as an example. Meaning, they have the plain, uncustomized script (unlike many other scripts who's writer makes a sample for each variable, leaving the user to merely replace words with the appropriate for their server, etc.

If you are looking to add "Professional" functions and features to your web site, this book is a must have. The introductory section tells you everything you need to know about installing, debugging and modifying these perl scripts. Includes every conceivable function the professional web sites use such as search engines, advertising banners, chat, shopping carts and much more. Most scripts need no modification to be immediately used. If you do choose to modify a script, the code is clearly commented and each chapter breaks down the functions in the program so that the reader can easily modify the code. This book does require knowledge of server software (Unix, or windows NT) sufficient to install the scripts properly. In addition, knowledge of Perl is required to modify the scripts. However, this reviewer had little knowledge of Perl and was able to successfully modify and use several scripts with minimal effort, and even learned a lot about Perl along the way! Even if you are a Perl expert, why re-invent the wheel? Get this book and jumpstart your web site!

If you're running traditional UNIX web servers, you may find value in this book as it addresses many of the more common needs for CGI programming; however, if you're running on an NT web server, beware. Although the authors make an attempt to address the NT issues, I've been 100% unsuccessful in making their programming run. Other uses for $40. include: dinner, Christmas presents, a good movie, 2 pizzas, 8 trips to McDonalds, 1/2-pair of shoes, 2 tanning sessions, a copy of Harper Lee's book and a cup of coffee . . .