[Tutor] Python and web scripting

[Michael]

> Michael,
>
> good question.  now by saying "web development" and mentioning PHP,
> you are focusing specifically on applications run by web servers
> (and not including subjects like lower-level network programming
> [sockets] or Internet client programming [FTP, POP3, NNTP, etc.]).


Yes, my primary focus is on applications run by webservers.  


> Those are a whole 'nother topic on their!  Anyhoo, congratulations
> are still in order for choosing Python after your investigation.


It seemed to be the most versatile language.  I was mainly interested in 
being able to use it in web applications, but as I progress, I like the idea 
of being able to do a complete application, GUI and all.  Glade sounds 
awesome.


>
> The "old"-style way of web development used CGI, however, the need
> to embedding logic in static HTML data spawned a great-enough demand
> for tools like ASP, JSP, Cold Fusion, PHP, and even PSP (Python
> Server Pages).  The other way to do it is to use Zope, as some have
> already mentioned.  Currently, there are some books on Zope coming
> out, 


I have been reading the CVS on The ZOPE Book at sourceforge.  It sounds 
great!  I'm looking forward to downloading it and playing with it until I can 
get proficient enough to use it.


>and as far as PSP goes, I've only seen a few magazine articles.


I've read a couple of things on this too.  Maybe by the time I'm actually 
able to use ZOPE in a real world application, there will be more information 
available on this subject as well.


>
> For basic matters, it may be easiest and most lightweight to use
> CGI (plus HTMLgen if your HTML is complex).  Performance for sites
> with a good number of hits can be improved by using a Python Apache
> module such as PyApache or mod_python.  Once this solution becomes
> less productive, then you can migrate to a more "serious" tool such
> as the ones we just discussed.


I tried using the ApacheToolBox to install all of this, but it failed.  I am 
attempting to do a manual install and see if this works.  Currently we are 
using a PostgreSQL database, PHP and Apache.  The guy working on the backend 
picked PHP becuase he has a strong background in C, but he's already having 
problems working with arrays and is not sure what to do about it.  I'm just 
looking for alternatives and since I don't have any prior programming 
predjudices, decided to look at Python.

Thanks for the information and at what point in my journey would your book be 
beneficial?  Is it right for a total newbie, or would it be better to do a 
few tutorials first?

Thanks,

Michael