[thelist] Perl? PHP? mySQL? required to download software from a web site - REPOST

[Mike Rudberg]

Whenever you see ".../cgi-bin/someprog" the language used COULD be
anything - as long as the langugae is supported by the web server and (if
you wish to do things as you've seen), the ".htaccess" file must give an
indication of what you want the server to consider OK to execute.  Perl is
used a lot; however, PHP is making a major push forward.  This is primarily
because one has the ability (with PHP) to make a single program file which
would handle the entire generation of the website, including the action(s)
required by any form(s) being used.  Don't misunderstand me, I'm NOT
suggesting that one language is better (or worse) than another one; however,
I am saying each language has its own "upside" and "downside".

MySQL is not a language, per se.  It's a combination of a database engine
and command set which allow for access, management, and manipulation of
single (or multiple) databases.  What I've seen is that PHP is used more and
mnore to create the frontend for MySQL, only because the MySQL - along with
other databases commands are built in, so that both access (to the database)
and web design may be both unified and uniform.

Hope this helps.

Best,


Mike
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----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon F. Malone <sfmalo at 24caratdesign.com>
To: <thelist at lists.evolt.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 4:48 AM
Subject: [thelist] Perl? PHP? mySQL? required to download software from a
web site - REPOST


> This is a re-post of a question(s) I threw on the Evolt table on 6/4. No
one replied, so I thought I'd try again. Really could use the help. Here
'tis:
>
> Really could use some direction here.
>
>  I have designed and built a web site for a client who wants to sell
software online. A Buyer purchases the software, a third party will then
process the credit card information, send a confirming email to Buyer and to
my client. Once my client receives the payment confirmation he will then
generate a customized registration number based on the Buyer's registration
name so the number will be completely personalized. Client also will
generate a personalized copy of the program using the registration number
and also use the registration number as a password to allow the customer to
download their personalized copy of the program from Client's web site.
>
> I have the download set up now as a form showing an email address and
buyer's User ID # text area boxes. My problem is determining what backend
stuff needs to be set up to hold this information and call the appropriate
registration number (User ID #) program for each buyer to download.
>
> I have a form coded that calls something from the cgi-bin but I don't know
what that something consists of. I was looking at some other sites to see
how folks did this and that's where I got the code. I see the code but I
don't understand it. Example I found: <form method="get"
action="http://www.xxxxx.com/cgi-bin/hscdl">. What does hscdl mean?
>
> Client thinks he doesn't have to rely on the host for keeping his
> transaction records in a database on their server. He thinks this will be
> a manual process he will handle, but later he can automate this process on
the host server. I think it entails something from the get go involving Perl
or PHP and mySQL Doesn't make sense to me otherwise.
>
> Or, I could create a restricted directory and subdirs on the server to
which my client could upload each individual program purchased to a specific
subdir. I would set up another FTP Session Profile and these instructions
could be emailed to the Buyer ... who could then download using FTP, not
using the web site. Have already done that with another client so I'm
familiar with it. It's the backend stuff I don't know how to do.
>
> Sorry for the length of this question(s)! Am I thinking this through
correctly? What about client's thoughts on this? And what in heaven's name
does hscdl mean?
>
> Best,
> Sharon
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> Sharon F. Malone
> "web design and Internet writing services"
> http://www.24caratdesign.com
> sfmalo at 24caratdesign.com
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