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Thread: Database question
Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)
From: Raleigh Way
Date: Thu, May 16 2002 4:40PM
Subject: Database question
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Hello everyone,
Please accept my apologies if my question is not appropriate for this
list. I work in education, teach html, css, accessibiltiy and more,
but I'm not a programer or network specialist. I read the digest
from this list on a regular basis for tidbits of info. I've learned
a great deal from being here.
I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to put databases on the
Net. I'm using Dreamweaver UltraDev and using Lynda.com's UltraDev
CD to learn how to do it. The CD recommends ASP, ColdFusion or Java
to set up database. In your opinion, what is the "best" way to go
with databases. I know enough to know I don't know enough to ask the
right questions yet. I wanted to go with ASP, but our campus is
UNIX, and I've been told that ASP is not an option.
TIA,
Raleigh
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From: John Foliot - bytown internet
Date: Thu, May 16 2002 5:18PM
Subject: RE: Database question
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ASP, ColdFusion, PHP are common server-based scripting languages which allow
develoers to leverage database information into HTML documents. They
generally can connect to various database types, such as Access, mySQL, etc.
Dynamic web site development relies on three components: the actual
database, the scripting language, and the server which marries the two
together.
ASP is a common and popular scripting language which runs natively on
Microsoft's IIS server. PHP is an "opensource" scripting language which
usually is bundled with most Unix based servers... if your organization does
not currently have the require core files they can be freely obtained over
the net. ColdFusion is a proprietory scripting language which requires it's
on CF server sitting on top of a regular web-server. CF servers can
piggyback on both IIS or Unix/Linux servers. While more expensive than the
2 other examples (which are free), it is quite powerful and relatively easy
to pick up (although I am by no means even an intermediate user, but trust
me, it's not *too* hard). Originally created by a company called Allaire,
you might find that Dreamweaver will interlock nicely with ColdFusion since
it's now owned by Macromedia.
To that end, there is no "best" way to go, although hard core practioners of
the various scripting languages above all swear that theirs is "the best"
<grin>. If you are on a budget and are already running Unix flavoured
servers, than perhaps PHP is the answer for you. However, since it is an
open source type project, while there is certainly a tonne of information
and resources out there for using and developing in PHP, there is no
"warranty" per se... what you get is what you get. If you are looking to
develop a serious, mission critical db based application, than perhpas
investing in ColdFusion is the way to go. Since it's a "for sale" product,
client support is a phone call away, and there are inherent warranties with
the software (I do not work for Macromedia - check their site for promises
and warranty information). Macromedia is also providing more than just
lip-service to web accessibility (to keep this at least a little bit on List
topic).
Try these resources for more info:
http://www.php.net/
http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/2002/coldfusion_mx_announce.ht
ml
Hope that helps
JF
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Raleigh Way [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
> Sent: May 16, 2002 7:42 PM
> To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Subject: Database question
>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> Please accept my apologies if my question is not appropriate for this
> list. I work in education, teach html, css, accessibiltiy and more,
> but I'm not a programer or network specialist. I read the digest
> from this list on a regular basis for tidbits of info. I've learned
> a great deal from being here.
>
> I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to put databases on the
> Net. I'm using Dreamweaver UltraDev and using Lynda.com's UltraDev
> CD to learn how to do it. The CD recommends ASP, ColdFusion or Java
> to set up database. In your opinion, what is the "best" way to go
> with databases. I know enough to know I don't know enough to ask the
> right questions yet. I wanted to go with ASP, but our campus is
> UNIX, and I've been told that ASP is not an option.
>
> TIA,
>
> Raleigh
> --
>
>
> ----
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
> visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
>
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From: Raleigh Way
Date: Thu, May 16 2002 8:03PM
Subject: RE: Database question
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Thanks, John, for your extremely quick reply to my database question.
I cannot believe what a valuable resource this list continues to be
for me. You can't buy this type of information.
Raleigh
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From: Michael Goddard
Date: Fri, May 17 2002 5:56AM
Subject: Re: Database question
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Raliegh,
With your university being UNIX and specifically stating that ASP is not an
option, then I would strongly suggest going with PHP. More than likely it
is already installed on their UNIX servers and if it is not, then it is a
free download from www.php.net . PHP is a fairly easy to learn server side
scripting language that can be installed on both UNIX(Linux) and Windows
flavor servers and it is opensource so there is a lot of great information
on the web that can be found for help.
You will find that PHP is used a lot in conjunction with MySQL
(www.mysql.com) which is a opensource, high powered sql server. If you
university does not have this database, they can download it from the above
mentioned site and install it. Since it is opensource...it is FREE!
However you are not limited to MySQL. You can use any type of sql based
databases (even Access - with odbc support). We have successfully used PHP
to interact with MySQL, SQL Server, Access, Oracle, and PostgreSQL(sp?).
Learning curve for PHP is low and in fact, I myself started out with just
design and HTML. No programming experience and I found learning PHP and
MySQL to be a lot easier than I thought.
If you are unsure about what you would like to do, I strongly suggest
setting up a testing environment on your local machine and giving it a try.
You can install Apache web server, PHP and MySQL on your windows PC ( I am
assuming you are using Windows) and create a working test environment really
easy. Plus it is great practice to learn how to install and understand the
structure. If you don't have the time to do manual installation,
www.phpgeek.com has a program called PHPTriad which will install all three
of the above mentioned software and automatically configure everything for
you on a Windows environment. Awesome program!
I hope that helps you out a bit and below I provided some web site URLs that
might help you out in your quest:
www.phpbuilder.com
www.zend.com
http://www.evilwalrus.com/
http://www.phpworld.com/
Also just a quick mention, I believe the Macromedia Dreamweaver/UltraDev has
some type of support for using PHP within their editors etc.
HTH,
Michael Goddard, CIW
Internet Developer/Programmer
TDH Marketing & Communications, Inc.
8153 Garnet Drive
Dayton, OH 45458
Phone: 937.438.3434
Fax: 937.438.3453
E-Mail: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
----- Original Message -----
From: "Raleigh Way" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 6:42 PM
Subject: Database question
> Hello everyone,
>
> Please accept my apologies if my question is not appropriate for this
> list. I work in education, teach html, css, accessibiltiy and more,
> but I'm not a programer or network specialist. I read the digest
> from this list on a regular basis for tidbits of info. I've learned
> a great deal from being here.
>
> I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to put databases on the
> Net. I'm using Dreamweaver UltraDev and using Lynda.com's UltraDev
> CD to learn how to do it. The CD recommends ASP, ColdFusion or Java
> to set up database. In your opinion, what is the "best" way to go
> with databases. I know enough to know I don't know enough to ask the
> right questions yet. I wanted to go with ASP, but our campus is
> UNIX, and I've been told that ASP is not an option.
>
> TIA,
>
> Raleigh
> --
>
>
> ----
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
> visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
>
>
>
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To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Steven Splinter
Date: Mon, May 20 2002 8:13AM
Subject: Re: Database question
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I've developed for both PHP and CF. Honestly, they both add up to the
same thing. PHP is more script-like, it tends to look more like
Javascript than HTML, but it's free, powerful, and very customizable
(plus works like magic with UNIX). And while you don't get the phone
help and paid support, you do get a vast base of fellow users and fans
who either are just as interested in learning as you are, or very
knowledgeable and willing to help you so you don't go to Microsoft.
CF's syntax is just like HTML, though there is a scripting part you can
employ if you so choose. I've found it's no harder to understand CF than
PHP, but it's also no easier- either way, developing applications and
putting together websites takes time and effort, and CF's abstractness
can be a hindrance to people who like the complex control scripting-type
languages give them. But you get paid support, some very good programs
to develop with, and one very upbeat group of devotees to ask questions
and learn with. (Plus, custom tags are very, very cool.)
Either way, you'll get the job done. But if you want to learn about
databases, I suggest getting started with Access or one of the free SQL
databases, get a good book (ask some of your friends, I've yet to find
one), and start hacking away. Put your music collection, book
collection, anything in a database and tinker around. It's the best way
to learn, really. Plus, you'll be amazed when you see just what exactly
you have.
Good luck!
Raleigh Way wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> Please accept my apologies if my question is not appropriate for this
> list. I work in education, teach html, css, accessibiltiy and more,
> but I'm not a programer or network specialist. I read the digest
> from this list on a regular basis for tidbits of info. I've learned
> a great deal from being here.
>
> I'm in the beginning stages of learning how to put databases on the
> Net. I'm using Dreamweaver UltraDev and using Lynda.com's UltraDev
> CD to learn how to do it. The CD recommends ASP, ColdFusion or Java
> to set up database. In your opinion, what is the "best" way to go
> with databases. I know enough to know I don't know enough to ask the
> right questions yet. I wanted to go with ASP, but our campus is
> UNIX, and I've been told that ASP is not an option.
>
> TIA,
>
> Raleigh
> --
>
> ----
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view list archives,
> visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
--
Steven Splinter
Web Developer, CITS Internet Development
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
(508) 910-6483
AIM- sevenjades
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