*feels stupid* What are cgi scripts?

[NotoriousJTC]

What exactly are CGI scripts? I know they can be implemented in websites and stuff like that, but that's about all i know...

I understand they are downloadable too? Who programs them? And how can you tell what a particular script does? As you can see I'm a total newbie at this, so any info would be of a real help

please dont just post a link to a site, i clear and friendly explanation is all i ask.

 

[Delusion2001]

basically it's a program that runs on the server, and it shows the stuff on your comp

you can't tell unless you read the code and crap.....unless you try it

 

[gopunk]

common gateway interface, afaik. anybody can program them. they're server side... written in different langauges, mostly perl though. you can tell what a script does by looking at the website you download them from... or sometimes they'll have a description in the front.

 

[Delusion2001]

<< you can tell what a script does by looking at the website you download them from... or sometimes they'll have a description in the front. >>



not if you download them off of an FTP and the filenames are all messed up..........if you catch my drift with the FTP part

 

[gopunk]

<<

<< you can tell what a script does by looking at the website you download them from... or sometimes they'll have a description in the front. >>



not if you download them off of an FTP and the filenames are all messed up..........if you catch my drift with the FTP part >>


what programs are these? i can't think of any need that can't be fulfilled with a free script. well... aside from some sort of large scale business script or something

 

[NotoriousJTC]

<<

<< you can tell what a script does by looking at the website you download them from... or sometimes they'll have a description in the front. >>



not if you download them off of an FTP and the filenames are all messed up..........if you catch my drift with the FTP part >>



I was just about to ask about the FTP part, so if you download one off an ftp (), or someone gives you a cgi file without saying what it does, how can you tell what it does? Or is the only way to find out by actually running the script?

Oh one more question, about the &quot;server side&quot; thing, you mean it runs in co-operation with your server? Like similtaneously? Could someone give an example of a script and what it does?

 

[Delusion2001]

<< aside from some sort of large scale business script or something >>


DUH!!!!!!!!!! Cmon, who pays these days?? lol

 

[NotoriousJTC]

oh, and is there a site that features something along the lines of a &quot;Newbies Guide to CGI scripts&quot;?

 

[Delusion2001]

<< Could someone give an example of a script and what it does? >>


CGI Resources

check out the scripts. some of them have demos on the sites from the maker

basically the CGI script runs on the server you are hosting it on and then the output is put on your comp

CGI scripts can bring down a server, so yeah.... <grin>

 

[gopunk]

<<

<< aside from some sort of large scale business script or something >>


DUH!!!!!!!!!! Cmon, who pays these days?? lol >>


right, but if you're running such a script, presumably you have a site large enough to generate enough revenue to pay for it. if not, then the free solutions should be adequate.

 

[gopunk]

I was just about to ask about the FTP part, so if you download one off an ftp (), or someone gives you a cgi file without saying what it does, how can you tell what it does? Or is the only way to find out by actually running the script?

like i said earlier, it depends. you'll have to look at the file to see if they have comments, header, whatever. if you know some programming you'll probably get by.

Oh one more question, about the &quot;server side&quot; thing, you mean it runs in co-operation with your server? Like similtaneously? Could someone give an example of a script and what it does?

there are two types of scripting languages when it comes to the internet. server side and client side. server side means the scripts are executed by the server, meaning the client's computer does no work. you can figure out what client side means.

just experiment, it's not going to kill you. remember, upload in ascii and chmod correctly. assuming you have a unix server.