I am new to Web Hosting, so please be patient. The book I am studying from talks about CGI scripts (in the context of forms). Is this a generic term describing the structure of a script which can then be created with Pearl, Asp, C++, Visual Basic or Java? Or are all of these applications very different with their own strengths and weaknesses?

If I only have time to learn one scripting language/approach, which should I learn and why? Any preferences, recommendations, or advice?

Thanks for your input.

Loftboy will more than likely find his way back here to "correct" me , but here goes...

If you're going to be using a Linux hosting plan, I say go and learn PHP/MySQL. Google those terms and you'll see why... there is alot of good to come from scripting those, although PHP is kindof a nasty little perl hack and I really don't care for it... it's getting almost archaic if you ask me. MySQL also has it's share of shortcomings, but then it is free, so what's to complain about? As long as you're not serving a very large load or programming for the enterprise both of those should serve you well in the Linux world. Most documentation is very good.

In either Linux or Windows you can use ColdFusion. CF has a very clunky style of coding, with everything scripting inline... it's hard to read, and as it's just an application built ontop of Java which uses Java for all of it's funcitons, I think it's a wasted layer. It also proves to be slow for some things, limiting in others, and has too many other dependencies. That's just my opinion, but you asked The documentation for this is also usually pretty good, but once in awhile you find these "mystery problems" with no apparent fixes... and this is MONTHS after the problem was introduced.

If you're going to be coding for the Windows world and want a fully featured and finely documented environment/API as well as a large and ever growing user base, go for ASP.NET. You have your choice of syntax (VB.NET, C#, JScript), everything is fully encapsulated and has built-in memory management (although I can't stress enough the importance of proper coding techniques) and other features.

I've been coding withthe .NET framework since right before v1.0 was released, and as time has gone on, more features have been added, and bugs have been fixed I've never been let down. It's an EXTREMELY powerful set of tools with very many options and very few dependencies.

Google the options I've mentioned here and you'll get all the information and opinions you're looking for.

Also, I just wanted to add that in my experience JSP has been very slow... but as far as coding and strengths I think it's right up there with .NET.

Wow, maybe Microsoft will send you a "Steve Ballmer is my homeboy" t-shirt for that post/ad. There was a time when I would have ranted more than that but I'll contain myself. Being a php and coldfusion coder, that post was tough to read.

rofl did I just make an enemy w/ you now? He asked and opinionated question so I tried to give him complete answers, though I know there was some opinion and bias in there. I know it's obvious, but please share all of your views because he's asking for information in order to make a choice.

BTW, know where I can get one of those shirts?

OK, here is my two cents... I agree it is an opinion based question so here is my take.

If you are just starting out PHP and Coldfusion have the most straight-forward and easy to learn syntax- although I really can't comment on .NET- I don't have the Visual Studio IDE so I haven't bothered. Although looking at the code it generates is enough to make me nauseous. Both languages are well supported and you will find lots of sources of information on both.

I would recommend a Smarter Linux account- this allows to try both PHP and Coldfusion and see which one you like best.

As far as databases are concerned, mySQL is an Enterprise level database, granted it does not have all the features of Oracle or SQL Server, but my guess would be it serves the basic purposes of most people out there.

Gotta agree with Bob - for newbs to coding webapps - PHP is really the way to go. If you plan on getting larger more complex stuff later on, you'll soon see that you need more than what PHP had to offer. But for a mom & pop style dynamic site - PHP/MySQL will do you just fine.

If you are he|| bent on MS products, go with Classic ASP & SqlServer. It's like PHP but with more wierd quirks and more convoluted coding practices.

I would also forget about CGI & Perl...
Older technologies and very niche...Perl has found itself into the internet developers junk/tool drawer and I don't beleive it's really being used much anymore for any new development

Actually, on this I have to argue... do NOT choose ASP over ASP.NET... things are so quirky it's not even funny... the error messages suck, and some of the components don't always work as they're supposed to if at all.

ASP.NET isn't that much different... you CAN code it the same as ASP w/o taking advantage of the new stuff and at least it'll work more consistently.

Wow! Thanks for all your comments. For someone new to this, all of the acronyms and pet names can be daunting (are Java, Jscript, Javascript, and JSP all the same thing? Is C# a typo for C++? etc.)

At least now I have a direction, so I can look up more background on the web.

My background/experience is from the industrial automation end of things --- oil refineries, gas plant, assembly lines --- that sort of thing. I started by building control panels, then programming PLCs (small bullet-proof industrial computers), then developing user interfaces (Wonderware and Intellution), and now I find that many of my customers are looking to archive plant data and create reports based on real-time production data.

So my projects for this year are to learn Access, then SQL, then Industrial SQL (a Wonderware product).

After that, I can look into scripting languages which will allow me to use web browsers to generate reports from the data stored in those types of databases.

I'm sure I'll be checking in, but for now, thanks for your help!

Java is a full blown OO programming language for making just about anythign you want to. Jscript & Javascript are synonymous. JSP stands for JavaServerPages and are basically the method through which Java can display web pages. Sorta Kinda...


Most definately not! C was the original language. It was improved on by Bjorn Strousep into C++. Microsoft married the power of C++ along with the nice features from Java (memory management, pointer handling, etc) and created C# which is a .Net language.



If you can avoid it - don't worry about learning Access unless you NEED it for stuff at work. Access is kinda wierd and not really needed for any web development. Even though you can use Access databases as a backend for webpages, you don't need to learn how to use the Access product. You can learn SQL (Structured Query Language) and be just fine really...once you know SQL, you can use Access, SQLServer, MySql and I would imagine most other databases that are based on SQL.



yup - PHP will get you up and running quickly with a minimal learning curve. if you aren't planning on doing any heavy duty developmetn - you will be just fine AND all the tools etc for PHP are free. PHP, Apache, MySQL etc...your boss will like that I am sure!

Try www.tshirthell.com

Oops, I meant SQLServer and Industrial SQLServer. But you are right --- I will not be using Access much. I just thought it would be easier to find a beginners guide for Access that would get me into the rhythm and flavor of this database stuff before I buried myself in technical details. But if the learning curve is about the same... why wait?

I guess all I need now is a good beginners guide SQL (either a book or online). Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Actually, if you begin with Access, you're going to discover that MANY of the real and useful SQL constructs for queries, updates, etc don't work with the Jet 4.0 engine... and then when you get to SQLServer the stuff you used for Access won't work (because it should have been done the "right" way )... Been there, done that.

Yea - Access is kind of a convoluted SQL deal...thing with SQL is that you don't really need to learn a "specific flavor" of database with it. SQL is SQL pretty much...at least in my web development experience I've not needed any DB specific stuff...other than of course connection strings. I guess if you write good SQL it should (SHOULD) just about work on any popular DB that claims to use standard SQL.

I gotta admit - and here's another kudo's to MS - the query builder in the Enterprise tools is really nice...especially for making some wierd and convoluted INNER JOINS etc etc etc...it's nice to see it visually...

SQL has prolly got to be my favorite part of webdevelopment...the power of SQL is really cool to play with...I mean what you can do with ONE statement in SQL is really amazing sometimes...

I agree... some of the queries I've built are absolutely amazing... relational data is the shiznit. Sadly, I don't rely much on foreign key constraints or relationships... I do all that manually. However, it keeps me coding right and not making sloppy mistakes lol