| For new webmasters, adding third-party software and | | | | PHP generally does not require that you have access |
| scripting to a website can be a really scary proposition. | | | | to file permissions. In Perl, executable files must carry |
| I remember when I put my first scripts on my own | | | | permissions of 755. In PHP, most files will only be |
| website. Even with my basic dos programming | | | | required to carry permissions of 644, which are the |
| experience in high school, I was still intimidated by the | | | | same permissions a standard webpage carries. |
| whole process. I was so sure that I was going to | | | | Fortunately for Perl programmers like me, PHP |
| screw something up. | | | | operates in many of the same manners that Perl |
| The very first script I ever installed on my website | | | | programs operate. The learning curve from Perl to |
| was a Graphical Counter from ( I ended up spending | | | | PHP is not very big at all. |
| five days playing with the script to get it to display just | | | | Perl and PHP Bring With Them Powerful Libraries of |
| the way I wanted it displayed. | | | | Functions |
| The second script I ever installed was a Recommend | | | | What makes Perl and PHP as powerful as they are is |
| This Page To A Friend script, also from ( | | | | the fact that both utilize functions very well. Basically, a |
| How Scripts Differ From Ordinary HTML | | | | function will carry out one specific task, and it will be |
| Basic web building uses HTML. HTML is simply a | | | | able to be called from anywhere in your software. |
| markup language that helps you display text and | | | | Generally, one of the very first actions to be taken in a |
| images within a web page. | | | | script is to INCLUDE all other files that are needed to |
| Most of us know the basics of how to build a | | | | operate the software. The additional files generally |
| webpage in HTML. Others use website design | | | | carry many of the functions that will be used in the |
| software that interprets the requests of the user to | | | | software. |
| build a webpage in HTML. | | | | Then the software proceeds to carry out all of the |
| In its most basic understanding, "scripting" is the | | | | necessary functions in order to build a webpage in a |
| process of programming webpages to perform certain | | | | specific, pre-defined manner. |
| calculations, which will affect how information is | | | | Programmers decide that there is a task that they |
| displayed on the webpage. | | | | perform often, and then they build it into a function. In |
| If you fill out a form on a website and hit send, | | | | time, the programmer will usually make his function |
| chances are that you are engaging a script of some | | | | available to the programming community. And |
| sort to interpret the information that you have sent to | | | | eventually, if the function is exceptionally useful, then |
| the website. If you return to a website and it knows | | | | the function will be bundled in new releases of the |
| your username and password, then a script has been | | | | basic Perl or PHP build. All of these additional functions |
| involved in the process to make your return visit much | | | | are made available as the functions library. |
| simpler. If you see a list of the most recent posts on a | | | | How To Find Perl and PHP Scripts to Use On Your |
| website, then a script was used to make that | | | | Website |
| information appear for your consumption. | | | | There are actually many places you can go to find |
| Scripting is most often handled in Javascript, VBscript | | | | scripts to use for your websites. Some websites offer |
| (Microsoft's answer to Javascript), PHP or Perl. Each | | | | directories of free and paid scripts. Some websites will |
| one is different in its structure and utilization. | | | | let you have their scripts if they can have your email |
| Javascript can be added within the actual HTML of a | | | | address. |
| webpage, and it will fire when the page is loaded or | | | | Additionally, there are literally thousands of websites |
| when a request is made. One way that I have recently | | | | and hundreds of books that will teach you how to |
| seen Javascript used was for a page that was doing | | | | write your own scripts in any of these languages. |
| a countdown of how much time remains until their | | | | When I am in the mood to improve my coding abilities, I |
| scheduled event. I have actually used Javascript to put | | | | like going to: Planet Source Code offers full scripts and |
| news feeds across the top of my webpages. Some | | | | pieces of scripts, with feedback, that will teach me to |
| Javascript is usually placed in the page header, | | | | be a better programmer. |
| between the HEAD tags within the HTML. Other | | | | My favorite place for locating scripts to download for |
| Javascript is placed in the HTML body where the | | | | free or to buy is: |
| Javascript activities are intended to appear. | | | | The Resource Index has one part of their site |
| VBscript works in the same manner as Javascript, but | | | | dedicated to Perl scripts: |
| needs to reside on a Microsoft Windows server. | | | | They also have one part of their site dedicated to |
| PHP and Perl are more appropriately designated as | | | | PHP scripts: |
| languages. Both are file types, and both allow you to | | | | Another decent site for locating scripts is at: |
| design an entire website or parts of a website to | | | | Many individual programmers also offer a lot of good |
| perform specific actions or functions. | | | | software for purchase or for free. A few of the good |
| A function is defined as, "Functions (also known as | | | | ones will be: |
| subroutines and procedures) are chunks of code - | | | | In Conclusion... |
| parts of programs - which can be called from another | | | | If you have ever told yourself, "it would be cool (or |
| part of the program. Generally, functions greatly | | | | useful) if I could do this for my website's visitors," then |
| enhance the space-efficiency and maintainability of | | | | you are in the market to learn how to use scripts on |
| computer programs." | | | | your website. |
| PHP and Perl Usage | | | | If you have imagined it, chances are someone has |
| Most servers have PHP and Perl functionality built into | | | | programmed it. If they have programmed it, then you |
| the web hosting accounts. However, not all web | | | | will either be able to download it for free, or to buy it at |
| hosting companies are comfortable offering Perl | | | | a very reasonable cost. |
| (CGI-Bin) access to their users. | | | | Before you plunk down your money to buy a program |
| The reason why many web hosts shudder at the | | | | or script, be sure that the programmer is willing to |
| thought of making the Perl libraries available to their | | | | show you the script in action. If it doesn't do what you |
| users is because Perl is a very powerful scripting | | | | want it to do, don't buy it. If it does do what you want |
| language. In the hands of the wrong person(s), Perl | | | | to do, then by all means, do consider purchasing the |
| access in a server can be used to bring great harm | | | | software for use on your own site. |
| upon the server. | | | | When programmers offer their software for sale, their |
| In order to operate Perl scripts, you must have the | | | | documentation is usually pretty good. They will tell you |
| ability to change and set file permissions on any file | | | | what steps you need to take to install it on your |
| that resides on your web hosting account. If you have | | | | server, and they will tell you how to operate the |
| just a basic Yahoo hosting account, you will not be | | | | software. |
| able to use any Perl applications on your website. | | | | It is very realistic to believe that if you like what the |
| Some web hosts prohibit Perl usage at any level. | | | | software does, you can have it live and operational on |
| PHP is a new language that came about over the last | | | | your website in less than 30 minutes in most cases. |
| few years. It has been designed to allow people who | | | | Good luck. I will be around later to see what cool stuff |
| do not have Perl access to still have the ability to do | | | | you have added to your website. |
| scripting on their domain. | | | | |