Today it seems that every other website owner is looking for ways to implement automated features into their site. After all, these type of sites tend to be far more effective than those which are non-dynamic and simply present boring text. Automated features cannot only make your site easier to use for visitors, but easier for you to manage as well. There are many ways to achieve automation and almost all of them require the use of client-side or server-side scripting.
Common Usage
When it comes to web programming and development, there are a number of specially designed scripts written a language specific to their underlying software packages. Many client-side scripts such as web browsers are written in Java, which is one of the most widely used programming languages. CGI, Perl and PHP are some of the most popular server-side technologies. While CGI offers many features that can provide your site with automation, Perl and PHP are newer languages, and thus faster and higher demand by website owners and developers. Some of the functionality these scripts offer include:
Shopping Carts - Some of the best e-commerce shopping carts are written in CGI. This technology is capable of communicating with popular databases like MySQL and as well as MS SQL and Access, making it compatible with Linux, Unix, Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Other languages used to create shopping cart programs include PHP, Python and ASP (Active Server Pages), a server-side programming framework created by Microsoft.
Form Managers - Many of the forms you view on a website are powered by CGI. This includes those filled out by customers when they make a purchase. In most cases, this is a very seamless process as all the customer does is enter their details into the form and click the “submit” button. From there, CGI goes into action, sending the data to an email address or database where it can be accessed by the website owner.
Pass Protection - Some website owners require that users enter a user name and password before they access a particular area of their site. This could be the criteria for several motives such as tracking new visitors for marketing purposes, allowing site members to participate in a community forum, or confirming that a customer has completed a purchase to access downloadable products. The use of CGI scripts is one of the most common ways site owners setup registration that requires users to login with a user name and password.
What’s Your Language?
Scripting languages are abundant and you have several to choose from. Aside from the scripts mentioned in this article, you can also get automated features with technologies such as Ruby on Rails, Cold Fusion, Server-Side Javascript and many others. CGI scripts are among the easiest to use as they are pre-scripted and generally come installed and ready use on the hosting provider’s server. While languages such as PHP and Perl are more difficult to use, they also offer more power and functionality. Whatever language you choose, you are sure to enjoy a feature-rich website that gives you an edge over the competition.
