Articles about the technical side of Web development. Java, JavaScript, CGI, ASP, scripting tools, development tools, operating systems, languages and Web servers.

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Technical Stuff

Propellor Heads

The term "prophead" is a leftover from the days when the nerdy kids on the block wore caps with little propellers on top. This fashion gave way to the pencil pocket protector. Here at the WDJ, "propheads" refers to programmers, developers and other technically-oriented types.

 The Latest Stuff

• Welcome to Apache
  The Apache Web server is probably the most popular Web server in use today. This article covers the basics of Apache configuration (first part of a series).
  
  
• Introduction to Server-Side Processing
  (Web Developer's Virtual Library) In Part 6 of WDVL's Introduction to the Web Application Development Environment (Tools) series, Selena investigates the resources of the MiddleWare Layer, including Perl, CGI and Server Side Includes.
  
  
• Java: Coming to a TV near you!
  The new Java TV API holds the promise of Java-based interactive television using set-top boxes.
  
  
• Object Persistence Made Easy
  With object serialization, your Java applets and applications can save and load the state of objects to disk or over a network. In this article, we'll examine the benefits of object serialization, and how to implement it in your own programs.
  
  
• How do I build a Web site with Linux?
  Have you been debating whether to jump over to the Linux camp and try your hand at building a Web site on this upstart operating system? Or are you all ready to go, and now your only question is "how?" Lucky for you, Linux comes with a complete toolkit to get your site building in full gear, and even includes a Web server to make testing sites easier!
  
  
• Hosting a Big Time Web Site
  If you're building a Web site that is going to be BIG, big in size, big in features, and HUGE in traffic, where do you host the thing? How do you select a company that can handle a complicated Web server farm? I've built a couple like this including one that pulled over $1 million every day in direct, over-the-Web orders. Here's a few things I learned to look for.
  
  
• SmartWorker
  SmartWorker is a new Web application server based on modperl.

 Java

• Agent Communication
  Agent technology is becoming more prevalent, posing a challenge for developers to design agents that can enrich the user experience, or make work cheaper, faster, or more effective.
  
  
• Intro to Servlets
  Java servlets can solve many of the problems associated with CGI and proprietary server APIs. Here's what you need to develop your application with servlets.
  
  
• Improve Performance with a Connection Pool
  
  
• Servlets Are for Real!
  
  
• Netscape-Flavored Servlets
  
  
• Applets That Read Parameters From HTML
  
  
• Internet-based Real-time Quote Systems
  Can Java handle this most demanding streaming real-time application? Most vendors of real-time financial quotes are sticking with proprietary apps (for now).
  
  
• Beginning Java, Book Review
  
  
• Java Beans - Reusable Components for Java

 CGI & Perl

• Signed Scripts
  
  
• A Beginning Tutorial for CGI and Perl
  
  
• Create a Mailing List Using CGI
  
  
• To Boldly Poll Readers with a CGI Script
  
  

 Electronic Commerce Technology

• Shopping Cart Programs Compared
  Need a shopping cart? Here's an overview of your options, from homegrown JavaScript to easy-to-implement turnkey solutions for merchants.
  
  
• EDI as the Backbone of Electronic Commerce
  It seems as though the Internet world has no idea what EDI is and what it can mean for Electronic Commerce, while just about all the large and medium-sized companies have been doing business with each other electronically for years via EDI...?
  
  
• Toolkits for a Distributed, Agent-Based Web Commerce System
  As information on the Internet becomes more dynamic and heterogeneous, 'software agents' have been touted as the new building blocks for a new Internet structure.

 Web Publishing Software

• NetObjects Fusion
  NetObjects Offers a Graphical Web Publishing Suite
  
  
• HoTMetaL Pro 5.0
  SoftQuad's HoTMetaL Pro version 5 does an exceptional job at not only being good for the intermediate user, but also at being useful for beginners and advanced HTML designers alike.
  
  
• Macromedia Flash 3
  Flash 3 is a new and improved version of the best program out there for creating animated Web content.
  
  
• Style Master
  There are several good tools for getting the most from Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Style Master 1.2 is my current favorite.
  
  
• Dreamweaver 1.5
  A WYSIWYG Editor for Pros?
  
  
• Homesite 4.0
  Homesite 4.0 wins coveted Web Developer's Journal Product of the Year, 1998 award.

 Development Tools

• Drumbeat 2000
  Drumbeat 2000 is by far the best ASP (Active Server Pages) development environment I've ever seen. After just 5 minutes with the product, I was so hooked that I dumped my copy of Visual InterDev.
  
  
• ColdFusion 4.0 - A Positive Review
  ColdFusion is an alternative to the combination of Visual InterDev and Microsoft's Active Server Pages (or ASP) technology for creating high-level HTML for database connectivity and more dynamic Web sites.
  
  
• ColdFusion 4.0 - A Negative Review
  I have a tale of ColdFusion woe and have to add my 2¢ worth. Ted Brockwood's review is positive and he's a good reviewer. I don't think ColdFusion is ready for Prime Time.
  
  
• NetObjects Authoring Server Suite 3.0
  NetObjects is shooting to alleviate the bottleneck created when Webmasters are forced to do all the work of developing and deploying Web content to Internet and Intranet sites.
  
  
• PHP 3.0
  Web application developers are divided into two camps - the Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) folks, and the Cold Fusion users. However, there are other options out there, and one of these, PHP 3.0, is in much wider use than one would think for an "alternative product."
  
  
• Hands on Visual InterDev 6
  Taking a complex Web application development tool and making it look easy is a daunting task, and amazingly, this book does it well.
  
  
• Rapid Application Development
  A Look at Microsoft Visual Basic and Layout from Objects Inc.
  
  
• Intranetics 2.0
  We've got pre-fabricated houses, why not a pre-fab intranet?
  
  

• Simple SQL
  You need to create a few custom reports on your intranet that connect to your company-wide database. Suddenly you discover the database is a legacy monstrosity filled with arcane language and structures! How will you keep your job?
  
  
• Simple SQL, Part II
  Now that you’ve learned exactly what SQL is, and how to use the standard SELECT functions, it’s time to move ahead to other features.
  
  
• eXtensible Markup Language
  
  
• What is ActiveX, and What's it Good For?
  
  
• Maximum MIDI
  A New Book for C++ Programmers - This is a book about programming musical applications in C++. It has all the details of how to write Windows applications that use MIDI.
  
  
• Instant Dynamic HTML
  Available in both Netscape and IE4 editions, this book includes a step-by-step tutorial as well as reference material.