This book will teach you the essential knowledge required to be a successful and productive web developer with the ability to produce cutting-edge websites utilizing a database.
This updated edition starts with the fundamentals of web development before delving into Perl and MySQL concepts such as script and database modelling, script-driven database interactions, content generation from a database, and information delivery from the server to the browser and vice versa. The only skills required to get the most from this book are basic knowledge of how the Internet works and a novice skill level with Perl and MySQL. The rest is intuitively presented code that most people can quickly and easily understand and employ. An extensive selection of practical, fully functional programming constructs in six different programming languages will give you the knowledge and tools required to create eye-catching, capable, and functionally impressive database-driven websites.
Author Thomas Valentine has taken the concepts presented in the first edition of this book to new heights, offering in-depth discussions of each area of functionality required to develop fully formed database-driven web applications. He has expanded on the examples presented in the first edition and has included some very interesting and useful programming techniques for your consideration. Upon completing this book, you’ll have gained the benefit of the author’s decades worth of experience and will be able to apply your new knowledge and skills to your own projects.
What You Will Learn
- Install, configure and use a trio of software packages (Apache Web Server, MySQL Database Server, and Perl Scripting Server)
- Create an effective web development workstation with databases in mind
- Use the PERL scripting language and MySQL databases effectively
- Maximize the Apache Web Server
Who This Book Is For
Those who already know web development basics and web developers who want to master database-driven web development. The skills required to understand the concepts put forth in this book are a working knowledge of PERL and basic MySQL.
Author(s): Thomas Valentine
Edition: 2
Publisher: Apress
Year: 2023
Language: English
Commentary: Publisher PDF | TOC's links are broken | Publishing Date: 10 October 2023
Pages: 222
City: Berkeley, CA
Tags: Perl; MySQL; Databases; Web Development; JavaScript; HTML; CSS; Apache; DOM
Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Chapter 1: Database-Driven Web Development Fundamentals
The Evolution of the Database-Driven Approach
How to Spot a Database-Driven Website
The Website Address (URL)
Differing Content Areas
Adding Search Features
Username and Password Considerations
Protect a Directory with .htaccess Files
Where and When to Use a Database
Web Hosting Fundamentals
The Shared Server
The VPS Server
The Dedicated Server
Email Options
Secure Transactions
Plesk or cPanel?
Hard Drive Space and Data Transfer Limits
Resellers
Installing Perl Modules
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Clients
File Rights and Permissions
Obtaining Your Path Statement with printenv.pl
Summary
Chapter 2: Perl CGI and MySQL Essentials
CGI Primer
HTTP Methods
The GET Method
The POST Method
Running Perl CGI Programs
CPAN.bat
The Perl Package Manager
Including the CGI Module in Your Script
Manager Using the param() Method
Obtaining Calling IP Address
Making System Calls
Error Handling
CGI::Carp
Where and When to Use Error Handling
Handle Your Errors
The External HTML Content Template
Printing Your Dynamic Content to the Browser
Perl and MySQL Basics
Selecting One Database Item into One Variable
Selecting a Piece of Data Using the Three-Step Method
Selecting a Piece of Data Using the Two-Step Method
Selecting a Piece of Data Using the One-Step Method
Selecting Many Database Items into Many Variables
Selecting Many Database Items into One Array
Selecting Many Pieces of Information Using a WHERE Clause
Selecting Many Items to Many Arrays
Inserting Many Database Items from One Array
Using a foreach Loop to Insert from an Array
Inserting Many Database Items from Many Arrays
Using a foreach Loop to Insert Many Items from Many Arrays
Summary
Chapter 3: Essential MySQL Skills
MySQL Column and Index Types
Integer Column Types
Floating-Point Column Types
Character String Column Types
BLOB Column Types
Enumeration or Set Column Types
Time Column Types
Perl and MySQL Functions Review
Creating Tables
Loops
The while() Loop
The foreach() Loop
Pushing an Array
Gathering Content
Ordering Your Arrays: Perl reverse() vs. MySQL ASC or DESC
Links and Parameters
Summary
Chapter 4: Nuts and Bolts
Date and Time Formatting
Website Parameters
Catching the Parameters
Processing the Parameters
Loading Your Links
Gathering the Information
Constructing the End Array
The External Content Template
Printing the End Array
Using the CGI::Carp Module
Username and Password Maintenance
Per-User Usage Statistics
Deleting Tables
Deleting Rows
Uploading Files
Managing Images and Files
Summary
Chapter 5: Understanding the Document Object Model (DOM)
The DOM Statement
Understanding the Document Statement Hierarchy
The ID and CLASS Selectors and a DOM Statement
Accessing CSS Rules via DOM
Using DOM Arrays
Accessing the Array Items
Summary
Chapter 6: Practical JavaScript Concepts and Projects
Turning Visibility On and Off
Change the Background Color of an Element
An onLoad Event Trigger
Use “this” to Change Colors
Switching Images on the Fly
Change HTML Code Using innerHTML
Change the Position of a Page Element
Using onMouseMove
Using onLoad and onUnload
Making Text Bigger
Change the Background Color of an “input” Field
Change the Text Color of an “input” Field
Change the Background Image of an “input” Field
Select All of the Check Boxes in a Form
Select the Background Color of a Submit Button
Change the Text Color of a Submit Button
Insert a Background Image on a Button
Change the Background Color of a Drop-Down List
Change the Text Color of a Drop-Down List
Change the Background Color of a Textarea Element
Insert a Background Image into a Textarea Element
Preload and Store an Image
Changing the Size of an Image
Changing the Source of an Image
Changing the Position of an Image
Changing the Background Image
An Image Viewer
A Digital Clock
A Drop-Down Menu
Create Inset or Outset Border Buttons
A Description Menu
Create a Description Box for an Image
A Sliding Horizontal Menu
A Click-Driven Horizontal Sliding Menu
Return the Cursor’s Coordinates
Make Your Text Follow the Cursor
Summary
Chapter 7: Installing and Using the Perl Server
Where’s Perl?
Preparing Your Workstation
Installing the Perl Server
Topics to Consider
Perl Is Always Ready
Installing Perl Modules
CPAN.bat
The Perl Package Manager (PPM)
Commonly Used Perl Modules
Summary
Chapter 8: Installing and Using the MySQL Database Server
Locating and Downloading the MySQL Server Binaries
What’s a Beta?
Preparing Your Workstation
Installing the MySQL Server
Start the MySQL Server
Summary
Chapter 9: Installing and Using the Apache Web Server
Handling Errors
Downloading and Installing the Apache Web Server Binaries
Allowing Changes to Your Operating System
Apache and DBI.pm
Starting the Apache Server
Startup on a Windows Operating System
Stopping or Restarting the Server
Stopping the Apache Server
Restarting the Apache Server, Gracefully
Reviewing Runtime Configuration Directives
Setting the Server Root
Setting the Server Name
Setting the Document Root
Setting the CGI-BIN Location
Summary
Chapter 10: Scripted Email: Using sendmail
Setting the Stage
Summary
Chapter 11: A Database-Driven Menu System
How Do Drop-down Menus Work?
create.pl
populate.pl
page.cgi
menu.html
Code Block One
Begin Code Block Two
Code Block Three
Begin Code Block Four
Summary
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Index
