Introduction to HTML - Scripting & Programming Languages and Environments

Introduction to HTML

Scripting & Programming
Languages and Environments
Common Gateway Interface

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Course Contents

In place June 3, 2000.

Overview:

The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is critical software which resides on an Internet server. It applies a set of conventions or standards that govern how a client application (browser) and programs on the server communicate with each other and exchange data. CGI mediates the interchange of data between server programs and the client browser application regardless of platform or operating system. This assures smooth communication and exchange of data between client and server applications.
CGI is most commonly used to process information gathered from forms or scripts. CGI also enables web-based database applications, chat rooms, dynamic content in web pages, user customization of webpages using cookies, guestbooks and many other useful functions. The most commonly used programming language for building server-side CGI applications is Perl. Also commonly encountered are CGI applications programmed in JavaScript (including JScript and ECMASCript), VBScript (Visual Basic) and C++.

Server-side programs which run using CGI communication protocols are generally put in a special directory on the server which allows the client not only to access files and execute programs but also to write data to the server filespace. On most servers the file naming convention for this directory is /cgi-bin/ and it is generally separate from the actual webspace from which HTML files are served.

Selected Print Resources:

Castro, Elizabeth.  1999.  PERL and CGI for the World 
    Wide Web.  Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.
    QA76.625 .C37 1999

Colburn, Rafe.  1998.  Sams' teach yourself CGI programming 
    in a week.  Indianapolis, IN: Sams.
    TK5105.565 .C65 1998

Dwight, Jeffry, Michael Erwin and Robert Niles.  1997.  Using  
    CGI., 2nd  ed.  Indianapolis, IN: Que.
    TK5105.565 .D85 1997

Gundavaram, Shishir.  1996.  CGI programming on the World 
    Wide Web.  Cambridge, MA: O'Reilly & Associates.
    TK5105.565 .G85 1996

Kim, Eugene E.  1996.  CGI developer's guide.
    Indianapolis, IN: Sams.
    TK5105.888 .K55 1996

Niles, Robert and Jeffry Dwight.  1996.  CGI by example.
    Indianapolis, IN: Que.
    QA76.73.C164 N55 1996

Patchett, Craig and Matthew Wright.  1998.  The CGI/Perl 
    cookbook.  New York: Wiley.
    QA76.73.P22 P37 1998

Weil, Bob and Chris Baron.  1997.  Drag 'n' drop CGI: 
    enhance your Web site without programming.
    Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Developers Press.
    TK5105.565 .W445 1997

Weinman, William.  1996.  The CGI book.  Indianapolis, 
    IN: New Riders Pub.
    TK5105.565 .W45 1996

Selected Web Resources:

Ada's Introduction to CGI - Ada Shimar (19??)
CGI: The Common Gateway Interface for Server-side Processing - Alan Richmond (2000)
CGI: A Free Tutorial for the Total Non-Programmer - WebTeacher.com (1999)
CGI for the Total Non-Programmer - Billy Zhu (19??)
CGI Made Really Easy - James Marshall (1998)
CGI Programming 101 - CGI101.com (2000)
CGI Programming Is Simple! - Whiz Kid Technomagic (19??)
The CGI Resource Index - CGI-Resources.com (2000)
CGI Resources - SpeakEasy.org (1998)
CGI Scripts Installation Tutorial - Stylusinc.com (1999)
The CGI Start-Up Guide - Win Welsh, Retrisoft (19??)
CGI Tutorial - Nik Silver (19??)
CGI-Center.com (2000)
The Common Gateway Interface - NCSA (19??)
The Common Gateway Interface Specification - NCSA (19??)
How To Use Your CGI-BIN - Kieth Parkansky (2000)
An Instantaneous Introduction to CGI Scripts
and HTML Forms. - University of Kansas (2000)
Introduction to CGI Programming - Sky Coyote (1995)
The Most Simple Introduction to CGI - BigNoseBird.com (2000)
The Official CGI Webring - CyberTwins (2000)

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Course Contents

Overview:

Selected Print Resources:

Selected Web Resources:

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