Intermediate HTML

Lesson 3: How to add programming to your pages without being a programmer

CGI/PERL

Because PERL is a complete programming language, it's a lot more complicated to use than Javascript. There are still many programs you can utilize, though, because they're hosted on somebody else's site. You just sign up for one, and they give you instructions on how to link to the program you've signed up for.

For example, Bravenet offers a number of programs which they will host for you. The price is that your guestbook, bulletin board, chat room, poll, Tell-a-Friend link or calendar will display an ad or two. If you don't want ads, Bravenet, like many other free CGI hosting sites, lets you pay a small fee for the privilege of having an ad-free version of the program.

Let's walk through an example. Suppose you want to add a guestbook to your site. Go to CGISpy, scroll down to where it says those glorious words, Free CGI Scripts, and click on "Guestbook." Wow! Look at all those features -- customizable headers and footers, emoticons, custom thank you message -- free for nothing! Ok, you have to display one banner. Not a high price to pay. There's another cost. Once you sign up for the guestbook, CGISpy will probably send you an occasional promotional email. Again, you can live with that. Hey, you might even want what they're promoting.

Okay. So you sign up with CGISpy, give them your name and email address, all the usual stuff, and they send you back an email telling you that you're a member. You go back to the signin page, click on Guestbook, click on "HTML code" on the right, under Script Utilities, copy the small amount of code in the text box and paste it into your own page, where you want the link to appear. I suggest, when you copy the code, that you leave the comments. Not only is it polite, it makes it easier for you to find this snippet on your page if you need to change or delete it later.

Once your page is posted to the server, you have your very own guestbook! Of course, if you wanted to, you could first click on the various links under Script Editor to modify the guestbook's appearance. In fact, you can even do that after you link to it. Nice, huh?

Most of the more popular CGI applications can be acquired this way for free, or for very little money. For custom programs, you might want to consider going to one of the many sites that list freelance programmers, such as Guru or Get a Freelancer who are willing to help you with your scripts, or write them for you. A good source of help is one of the many forums for webmasters. I frequently go to WebProWorld, which has a "Freelance Work Needed" forum where you can list your needs for free.

Bibliography

Castro HTML for the World Wide Web, 5th Edition, Chapters 18 and 19

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