CGI and Perl

The Layout of This Tutorial

So, a semi-formal description is probably in order at this point, of each of the chapters that comprise this tutorial. If you're just browsing this tutorial, considering the purchase, this might help you to decide whether or not to buy it. Alternatively, you can refer back here at anytime for a short description of each of the chapters, beyond what is said in the table of contents.

  • Part1: "Introduction and Overview" (this chapter): A short note from the authors regarding the usefulness and longevity of this tutorial, an overview of what this tutorial is and isn't, and an introduction to the CPAN, which is referred to throughout the rest of the tutorial.
  • Part2: "A Perl5 Overview and Tutorial": Short discussion on most of the new features in Perl5. Tutorial on the usage of the new OO features, and references in Perl programming.
  • Part3: "Security on the Web": Every aspect of security we could think of, or find information on, including file permissions, CGI issues, access issues, and others.
  • Part4: "HTML Forms--The Foundation of an Interactive Web": Generating dynamic HTML forms using the libwww modules, a review and tutorial.
  • Part5: "Putting It All Together": How a typical HTTP transaction works, and how to use Perl modules to easily perform this task within a script for testing, debugging, or other purposes.
  • Part6: "MIME Documents": MIME review and using the MIME module to dynamically encode/decode messages.
  • Part7: "Simple Pleasures--Examples": Simple examples that have been implemented many times before, re-implemented using the libwww modules to demonstrate their ease of use, and utility.
  • Part8: "Database Access": Accessing databases using the DBI modules, from within CGI and in general.
  • Part9: "Agents--Web Scanning, Mirroring, and Background Tasks": Mirroring Web sites; generating Web indexes.
  • Part10: "Search Engines": Other well-developed search algorithms to provide a searchable site. Some using Perl; some not.
  • Part11: "Datebooks, Calendars, and Scheduling on the Web": Using the Perl as CGI to access, update, and confirm schedules, task lists, and general datebooks. Various algorithms, implementations.
  • Part12: "Multimedia": GD, the dynamic graphics module is discussed, along with animation techniques.
  • Part13: "Shopping Cart Applications": How to set up and maintain the MiniVend module.
  • Part14: "Archive and Document Management": Document maintenance, updates, creation of new hierarchy within the archive. Document conversion from one format to another. Parsing HTTP logfiles to glean statistics.
  • Part15: "Client-Side Perl": Netscape Perl plugins, using Perl as a helper application, the Perl Compiler (bytecode, C), and the new Penguin module.
  • Part16: "Advanced CGI/HTML": Sessions, cookies, hidden fields to maintain state. The proposed <OBJECT> tag.
  • "Perl4 to Perl5 Traps."