Database-Driven Web Development: Learn to Operate at a Professional Level with PERL and MySQL

✍ Scribed by Thomas Valentine

• Publisher: Apress
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 198
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Learn to operate at a professional level with HTML, CSS, DOM, JavaScript, PERL and the MySQL database. With plain language explanations and step-by-step examples, you will understand the key facets of web development that today’s employers are looking for. Encapsulating knowledge that is usually found in many books rather than one, this is your one-stop tutorial to becoming a web professional.

You will learn how to use the PERL scripting language and the MySQL database to create powerful web applications. Each chapter will become progressively more challenging as you progress through experimentation and ultimately master database-driven web development via the web applications studied in the last chapters.

Including practical tips and guidance gleaned from 20+ years of working as a web developer, Thomas Valentine provides you with all the information you need to prosper as a professional database-driven web professional.

What You'll Learn

• Leverage standard web technologies to benefit a database-driven approach
• Create an effective web development workstation with databases in mind
• Use the PERL scripting language and the MySQL database effectively
• Maximize the Apache Web Server

Who This Book Is For

The primary audience for this book are those who know 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 are a working knowledge of PERL and basic MySQL.

✦ Table of Contents

Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Introduction
Chapter 1: Database-Driven Web Development Fundamentals
The Evolution of the Database-Driven Approach
How to Spot a Database-Driven Website
The Address (URL)
Differing Content
Search Features
Username and Password
.htaccess Files
Where and When to Use a Database
The World’s Most Oft-Used Database: MySQL
Tables, Rows, and Columns
Data Types
Operators
Arithmetic Operators
Relational Operators
Logical Operators
Bitwise Operators
Time Values
Web Hosting Fundamentals
The Shared Server
Email Options
Secure Transactions
Plesk or cPanel?
Hard Drive Space and Data Transfer Limits
Resellers
The VPS Server
The Dedicated Server
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
Using the param() Method
Obtaining the Calling IP Address
Making System Calls
Error Handling
CGI::Carp
Where 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: 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 Checkboxes 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 6: Images: Uploads and Scripted Manipulation
Getting Started
Block One
Block Two
Block Three
Block Four
Block Five
Block Six
Block Seven
Summary
Chapter 7: Installing and Using the Perl Server
The Many Flavors of Perl
Where’s Perl on a Windows Operating System?
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
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: A Database-Driven Menu System
create.pl
populate.pl
page.cgi
menu.html
Code Block One
Begin Code Block Two
Code Block Three
Begin Code Block Four
Summary
Index