Wednesday, June 1, 2011

How to Use Web Hosting Scripts Effectively

By Matt Ewing


Web hosting scripts have ability to increase the function of your website, just like a php script. Scripts such as Word Press are given away free by web hosts to their clients. The key function of the scripts is to enable website owner to improve the functions that are featured on their website for a minimal time and charge.

Some of the web host scripts are mentioned below:

Fantastico is a script library used for commercial purposes, and it helps in automation of the process of installing web applications to a given site. These scripts can be executed only by the website administrator, from the Control Panel. The website of Fantastico has it that they have been installed on more than 10,000 servers and they have millions of users throughout the world, which is a major factor in making them the leading product in this regard.

These scripts run upon a new application being added to an existing website or when a new website is made. Installing this software can assist a user in configuring their web server file better or assist them in making tables with regards to databases. Fantastico is generally seen as software that is gained in an open source manner but some scripts can be purchased. After installation, every domain on a server can use the script. This means that a server host could place SohoLaunch's website builder or PerlDesks customer support software to be used by every client, enabling them better interaction with other internet users.

Over 50 applications are linked with Fantastico scripts, with the most popular ones being:

shopping cart software

* blogs

* sharing of pictures

* web content management system

* Wikis

There is a choice to be made between Linux and Windows web hosts and it is not an easy one. A user has to know the language that their website uses before they choose which operating system they require. The Linux platform is best suited to the websites that offer basic HTML content or a simple e-Commerce website or a php or MySQL created site. If you use or plan on using ASP or ASP.NET then you need to use a Windows server.

Having used the terms PHP, MySQL and ASP.NET, it is very important to discuss about them in detail.

Hypertext Preprocessor is the full name for the term PHP and it is a server side scripting language or a language used for programming. One of its advantages is the ease you can place a HTML code in it. PHP is commonly found beside APACHE on a number of operating systems, and it is commonly found on LINUX. PHP has a strong role as a filter and it eventually showcases a specific flow of data after it has filtered information from files storing content and instructions coming from PHP. PHP is provided free on the majority of servers, platforms and operating systems.

MySQL has a number of uses and its primary use is for finding and controlling data. It is a computer language for numerous users and has many threads and is handy for users who need to get hands on with their data and need to change it about. It is a management system for SQL databases that has a huge number of uses. MySQL is most frequently found on web applications, used as an open source tool for tracking bugs and to act as a database component on MAMP, LAMP and WAMP. There is no doubt that there are similarities between MySQL and PHP as well as "Ruby on Rails." The vast majority of sites that are similar to Word Press will only work on a mixture of MySQL and PHP.

ASP.NET, otherwise known as Active Server Page is a Microsoft product that is strongly marketed and is also the companies .NET platform division. It has superseded the technology that developed ASP and provides many uses for programmers including creating websites and XML / web applications. In reducing the number of codes required to build a web application, ASP.NET assists in simplifying the process. As it supports a number of .NET languages it improves the flexibility a user has in choosing a language. The combination of HTML and source code ensures that it is easier to compile and maintain web pages. Another benefit comes in the fact that the configuration information is built in means that there is no need to register separate components. ASP.NET is also extremely fast and is able to satisfy a large number of users with no noticeable difference in performance.

Now you are armed with knowledge about these technical descriptions, you can make a more informed decision regarding the server. Although there may be some problems in trying to use CGI scripts to automate the website, there is no doubt that repeated use will make it a far easier task over time.

Starting with a simpler script is the way to begin. You can visit cgi-resources.com for some CGI scripts. You will find some free and paid scripts for mails, website management, banner rotation, classified ads, protection of password, polls, mailing lists, having a search engine for your site, shopping carts and a host of other activities. Though a fee is charged for some of the scripts, you can save money by using a less expensive script and instead of calling on an expert from the company to set it up, you can do so yourself. Remember that costliest is not always the best since some of them may have more features than what you may require.

There is a feeling amongst many webmasters that a degree in computer science is required for utilizing scripts but this is not the case. Yes, to use a CGI script, access to the server is required but there are providers who will customers the opportunity to upload, at no cost, a CGI script. This enables users to sample different types of CGI scripts before deciding what is best for them.

Running a CGI script is not difficult if the scripts contain a config file or a setup file. After these files have been loaded onto the server, gaining access to the setup or config files will enable the script to set itself up automatically after content is placed in it. An alternative to this is using a variable file. This type of file will ordinarily have the majority of the information that is needed for the script to run and the most used scripts are likely to have a number of files which require configuration before working.

Most scripts are provided with a read-me or setup file which can be read in HTML text. The instructions are contained within after opening the file up. There are clear and concise instructions to be found on many scripts but some writers will make an assumption that the user does not any directions. If this is the case, it may be possible to examine similar scripts to gain an understanding of how it works.

A major reason for choosing CGI scripts is that it will make your site a lot easier to maintain and increase the level of interaction that is available on the site.




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