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I've been interested in toying around with Python, but it's generally a Linux or Unix based pre-installed language that can be accessed from the shell prompt. I just found out that I've been living under a rock. ActiveState, provider of Perl for Windows' based machines, have created a package for Python under different operating systems, Windows being one of them. Time to download and start playing around!

Now, should I integrate it into my Apache server, or just use it in the shell? I could use mod_py with Apache to make Python based web applications... Ha! Cool!

ActivePython

There's an Enterprise Edition listed on their main page, as they want to make money on their IDE and services, but there's a link on the right hand side under "Downloads" that points to "ActivePython Free Distribution". I'm linking to their main page because I'm sure that's where they'd want to be linked to originally.

Continue reading "ActiveState's ActivePython"

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I'm not a big fan of anything JavaScript related, however no one can truly undermine what has become a radical fascination with something that's existed for a long, long time - just because Google decided to use a feature of it on their site; now everyone remembered about it and got all excited. Either way, AJAX is now here to stay; even with all its insecurities, vulnerabilities and bugs, I don't think anyone can deny its dominance.

AJAX allows developers to create a desktop-like interface for the web without the use of an external library being installed (i.e.: Flash Player, the only other method I can think of that is as fluid). However, all of it must be painstakingly tested to be sure it works on all browsers, will degrade gracefully (i.e.: if it doesn't work on a certain browser, they must still be able to use the page/site), and many other issues, such as that at Sitepoint's Blog about AJAX @ localhost article from a UK PHP User Group Conference by Harry Fuecks (server latency and proxies).

Either way, I don't ever plan on writing my own AJAX. It would take me forever and a half to relearn JavaScript the proper way, using the DOM methods (and older, for backwards compatibility) and doing it all properly, efficiently and such. Okay, so how exactly do I (and you!) get involved with this stuff, so long as we have some sort of computer programming knowledge?

Enter the frameworks...

Continue reading "Asynchronous JavaScript and XML"

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Setting up Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Perl on your own personal Windows' based machine? Don't really know how to do it? Worried about security? I'm not really much of an enthusiast over pre-made packages that auto-install all 4 (and, actually more) software packages on to your local computer for development purposes, but this one actually seems really, really nice. I can't take the full credit for finding this, as someone else pointed me to it as I was trying to help them install these packages individually, but the features seem really, really nice:

- The security of your server is one of our #1 concerns and with that, we tend to set every single default setting as if your server will be used in production.
- Other security measures we take is that we update our package with every new release of PHP, MySQL, Perl, phpMyAdmin, and the Apache HTTPd Server.
- Supports plugins
- Web-Based administration page (Alpha)
- SSL Support OUT OF THE BOX

Plugins:
- FTP (x2)
- Java servlet engine(s) (Resin and/or Tomcat)
- PHP4 downgrade
- ActivePython (I didn't even know this existed ... time for a new download)
- Stunnel
- Admin Panel and Web-Based Admin
- Zend Optimizer (future plan)

I would suggest this to anyone just starting out now that I've seen it. If it didn't use Apache 2.0, I might even use it myself.

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