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Custom CGI Scripting with Perl

Custom CGI Scripting with Perl
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Custom CGI Scripting with Perl
by Kevin Hanegan

Paperback: 304 pages
Dimensions (in inches): 0.67 x 9.22 x 7.50
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0471395978; 1 edition (January 23, 2001)


Describes how to create custom web-based applications for a web site with the common gateway interface (CGI) protocol, and add interactivity with Perl scripts. The author introduces nine Perl building blocks that provide functionality commonly required by a web site, such as the print function, variables, subroutines, pattern matching, HTML forms, and databases.

Book Description: The ultimate guide to creating and customizing CGI applications on the Web

More and more Web developers are turning to the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) protocol to add interactivity and dynamic content to their Web sites. It’s the most common method for transferring information between a Web server and a user. And Perl is the ideal language for CGI because it’s an easy environment for building and testing simple programs. This book focuses on the principles behind both CGI and Perl to provide you with the most comprehensive reference in the field. Inside, you’ll find everything you’ll need to know to understand, implement, and customize Web sites with CGI scripts.

The book begins with an overview of CGI fundamentals and shows you how to set up a server for integrating CGI scripts. Hanegan then offers detailed coverage of Perl, including all the syntax for CGI programs. He also shows you how to upload and test scripts, as well as how to use libraries much more effectively. And all of this information is tied together with real-world, step-by-step instructions so that you can create and customize your own applications.

Custom CGI Scripting with Perl is a must-have if you plan on applying CGI to your Web site. This book will help you:
• Set up, develop, and customize your Web site with the help of detailed example source code that’s broken down line by line
• Work with HTTP variables to improve your site
• Utilize the print function, variables, subroutines, comparisons, error handling, HTML forms, and other functions
• Customize your applications to meet your business needs

Book Info: (Wiley Computer Publishing) A guide to using Perl for CGI scripting, providing a comprehensive reference for professional Web developers. Shows how to work with HTTP variables to improve a Web site, how to customize applications using CGI to meet specific business needs, and how to set up, develop, and customize a personal Web site. DLC: Perl (Computer program language).

About the Author: KEVIN HANEGAN is a senior Technology Consultant at Xevo Corporation, a provider of infrastructure solutions for ASPs. Hanegan, a recognized speaker at Internet seminars and conferences, is also a part-time instructor in the MIS department and State of Art department at Northeastern University. Hanegan previously owned Custom Web Designs, a Web design firm that deals with small to mid-sized businesses. He earned his BS in mathematics and his BS in computer science from Villanova University.


Customer Reviews
Reviewer: Scott from Albuquerque, NM
I don't know if the author of this book was using a different type of perl or what, but I have had to troubleshoot a lot of his code. I have read only three chapters so far, and I've had to get people to help me figure out what was wrong with the code the author has written on three different code examples. I do think this is a good book, though. From one point of view, this is a great learning process. You get to know the code pretty dang well when you have to study it sometimes as long as an hour before you figure out what was wrong with it.

Reviewer: Joost Lommers from Amersfoort, The Netherlands PRO:
I like this book a lot because it has an easy to follow writing style. It also has a defined scope, and shows how to integrate Perl and cgi to add dynamics to your site. It shows just enough Perl to get the job done. It has a lot of small examples and 3 complete applications. Examples are clear and go from the simple to the more advanced.

CON: I think the book is targeted at beginners. Experienced programmers only need half of the current text. Also the author needs to much space to tell me again and again how good Perl actually is for the development of small to mid-sized web sites. I know that already, I bought the book, didn't I?! There are only 3 complete applications in the book, an e-mail response form, a guestbook and the use of flat file databases. The first two are very (too?) simple. I had an e-mail response form Perl-script running on my web site without any book! I also missed some "advanced" topics, like setting and retrieving cookies (or can't this be done with Perl?), retaining state at the browser site (e.g. by using variables in the URL?) and making my whole site dynamically generated from some (database) files. The author somewhere mentions "defensive programming", but most examples focus on "getting the job done" instead of showing sound software engineering principles (e.g. using subroutines without explicit return values).

BOTTOM LINE: a very useful book if you are new to programming, a still a useful book if you know programming, but don't know Perl. I do think you need another book to learn how to make really interesting dynamic websites. I only don't know which book, yet.

Reviewer: A reader from boston, ma
I was disappointed with this book. It was a little hard to follow and after this book wonder why people use CGI anymore.

Reviewer: Joseph Ruffino from Elgin, IL USA
I'm a new novice to Perl Scripting, and I have found this book invaluable. I work at a library, and found this book on our new book shelf. It helped so much, that I decided to buy it. It gives grwat explanations without bogging you down.

The appendixes are fantastic, I especially like the Perl Quick Reference in the back. I use it when I'm not sure about usage. I have programmed for many years in many languages, and I have found that this is a great reference tool. I like it much better than the other book, I bought. I found so much more in this Perl book than in others. I highly recommnend this book fro anyone who is lerning Perl, or knows it better than me, which are most people.






Book Subjects
Learning Perl
Perl Reference Manual
Web Programming in Perl
 
Perl Essential
Learning Perl (3rd Edition)
by Randal L. Schwartz, Tom Phoenix
Programming Perl (3rd Edition)
by Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen, Jon Orwant
Perl Black Book, 2nd Edition
by Steven Holzner
CGI Programming with Perl
by Scott Guelich, Shishir Gundavaram, Gunther Birznieks, Linda Mui
Perl & XML (O'Reilly Perl)
by Erik T. Ray, Jason McIntosh
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