Perl and Apache E-Book

Adam McDaniel

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Visual Blueprint
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 782

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Visually explore the range of built-in and third-party libraries of Perl and Apache

Perl and Apache have been providing Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access to Web sites for 20 years and are constantly evolving to support the ever-changing demands of Internet users. With this book, you will heighten your knowledge and see how to usePerl and Apache to develop dynamic Web sites.

Beginning with a clear, step-by-step explanation of how to install Perl and Apache on both Windows and Linux servers, you then move on to configuring each to securely provide CGI Services. CGI developer and author Adam McDaniel shows techniques for effectively developing and maintaining dynamic sites and he shares real-world examples describing MySQL database access, PayPal credit-card transactions, and sample Facebook and Twitter interfaces.

• Apache and Perl have been providing Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access to Internet Web sites for more than two decades, and both products are constantly evolving to support today's user requirements
• Shows how to install Perl and Apache on Windows and Linux servers and configure each to securely provide CGI services
• Details techniques for effectively developing and maintaining dynamic Web sites
• Addresses MySQL database access and PayPal credit-card transactions, and examines sample Facebook and Twitter interfaces

With this book, you’ll benefit from a wealth of techniques and resources that you won’t find anywhere else.

Leseprobe

Perl and Apache:

Your visual blueprint™ for developing dynamic Web content

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introducing Perl and Apache Web Site Development

Introducing Apache and Perl

Introducing the Common Gateway Interface

Understanding CGI from the End-User’s Point of View

Understanding CGI from the Web Browser’s Point of View

Understanding CGI from the Web Server’s Point of View

Understanding CGI from the CGI Program’s Point of View

Compare Perl to Other CGI Languages

Compare Apache to Other Web Servers

Developing Your Web Site

Find Perl- and Apache-Friendly Hosting Providers

Find Help Developing CGI Programs

Chapter 2: Installing Perl on Windows

Introducing ActivePerl for Windows

Introducing Strawberry Perl for Windows

Download ActivePerl for Windows

Install ActivePerl for Windows

Download Strawberry Perl for Windows

Install Strawberry Perl for Windows

Chapter 3: Installing Perl on Linux

Install Perl for Debian/Ubuntu Linux

Install Perl for Red Hat Linux

Download ActivePerl for Linux or Unix

Install ActivePerl for Linux or Unix

Chapter 4: Installing Apache on Windows

Download Apache for Windows

Install Apache for Windows

Configure Apache on Windows

Start and Stop the Apache Service on Windows

Chapter 5: Installing Apache on Linux

Install Apache for Debian/Ubuntu Linux

Install Apache for Red Hat Linux

Configure Apache on Linux

Start and Stop the Apache Service on Linux

Chapter 6: Introducing the Fundamentals of Perl

Understanding Perl Syntax

Understanding the Anatomy of a Perl Script

Create a New Perl Script

Print Output to the Screen

Execute a Perl Script

Introducing Perl Scalars

Store Data into Scalars

Retrieve Data from Scalars

Introducing Perl Arrays

Store Data into Arrays

Retrieve Data from Arrays

Introducing Perl Hashes

Store Data into Hashes

Retrieve Data from Hashes

Chapter 7: Building an Interactive Perl Script

Introducing Perl Conditions

Introducing Perl Operators

Control Program Flow with if, elsif, else

Introducing Perl Loops

Loop Program Flow with foreach, while

Introducing Perl Subroutines

Organize Program Code with Subroutines

Manipulate Variables in Subroutines

Chapter 8: Using Perl References and Modules

Introducing References

Understanding Compound Data Structures

Build an Array or Hash Reference

Deconstruct a Reference

Nest Variable Types with References

Introducing Perl Modules

Create a New Module

Call a Module’s Subroutines as Methods

Chapter 9: Installing Third-Party Perl Modules

Introducing CPAN

Configure CPAN

Search for Perl Modules with CPAN

Install Perl Modules with CPAN

Introducing ActivePerl Perl Package Manager

Configure ActivePerl PPM

Search for Perl Modules with ActivePerl PPM

Install Perl Modules with ActivePerl PPM

Search for Perl Modules in Debian/Ubuntu Linux

Install Perl Modules in Debian/Ubuntu Linux

Search for Perl Modules in Red Hat Linux

Install Perl Modules in Red Hat Linux

Search for and Download Perl Modules Manually

Build and Install Perl Modules Manually

Chapter 10: Configuring Apache to Execute Perl

Introducing the Apache CGI Handler

Create a User Directory for Apache in Windows

Enable the Apache CGI Module and Handler

Configure a Directory to Use the CGI Handler

Understanding the Apache Logs

Configure the Apache Logs

Read the Apache Logs

Forward Perl Activity into the Apache Logs

Forward Perl Activity into the Apache Error Log

Chapter 11: Introducing Do-It-Yourself Perl/CGI Interaction

Create an HTML Form

Read HTTP GET/POST Parameters

Introducing Cookies

Store HTTP Cookies

Retrieve HTTP Cookies

Send an E-Mail Message

Chapter 12: Using Perl’s Built-In CGI Library

Introducing the Built-In CGI Library

Import the CGI Library as an Object

Import the CGI Library’s Routines as Functions

Read HTTP GET/POST Parameters with the CGI Library

Store HTTP Cookies with the CGI Library

Retrieve HTTP Cookies with the CGI Library

Return Useful Error Messages with CGI::Carp

Chapter 13: Separating HTML Code from Perl Code

Understanding the Benefits of Separating HTML from Perl

Introducing the Perl HTML::Template Module

Understanding the Structure of an HTML::Template File

Create a New Template File

Import the HTML::Template Module

Display Data with TMPL_VAR

Control Template Content with TMPL_IF, TMPL_ELSE

Repeat Template Content with TMPL_LOOP

Nest Templates with TMPL_INCLUDE

Create an HTML::Template Header and Footer

Create an HTML::Template Toolbar

Link the Header, Toolbar, and Footer with Dynamic Perl Content

Extend HTML::Template to Non-HTML Formats

Chapter 14: Adding Dynamic Content with Server-Side Includes (SSI)

Introducing Server-Side Includes

Enable the Apache SSI Module and Output Filter

Configure a Directory to Use SSI

Understanding SSI Elements

Import Files with SSI

Execute Programs with SSI

Set Variables within SSI

Retrieve Variables with SSI

Use Conditional Expressions with SSI

Display File Statistics with SSI

Link the Header, Toolbar, and Footer with Static HTML Content

Chapter 15: Authenticating a User Session

Understanding Apache User Authentication

Secure a Directory Path with Apache

Use an Authentication Password File

Require Only Authorized Users

Understanding User Authentication in Perl

Create a Perl Authentication Module

Access a User’s Database

Store User Credentials in a User’s Database

Check for Session Authorization (Step 1)

Display a Login Prompt (Step 2)

Validate a User’s Credentials (Step 3)

Authorize a User’s Session (Step 4)

Restrict Access to a CGI Script

Terminate a User Session

Chapter 16: Interfacing Your Web Site with Facebook

Register Your Web Site as a Facebook Application

Add a Facebook Social Plugin to Your Web Site

Enable Facebook Connect on Your Web Site

Understanding the Facebook Canvas Feature for Applications

Create a Facebook Application with Perl

Chapter 17: Interfacing with the Twitter API Using Perl

Introducing the Twitter APIs

Introducing the Perl Twitter Modules

Register a New Twitter Application

Authenticate to Twitter Using OAuth

Create a MyTwitter Perl Module That Inherits Net::Twitter

Post a Twitter Status Update

Retrieve a Twitter Timeline

Retrieve a List of Twitter Users You Follow

Retrieve a List of Twitter Friends

Retrieve a List of Twitter Followers

Search for Content Using the Twitter Search API

Use the Twitter @Anywhere JavaScript API

Follow Real-Time Activity with the Twitter Streaming API

Chapter 18: Creating Dynamic Images with Perl

Accept a File for Upload

Open an Image with Image::Magick

Resize or Crop an Image with Image::Magick

Resize or Crop an Image

Manipulate an Image with Image::Magick

Save an Image to Disk

Display a Dynamic Image to the Browser

Implement an Image Captcha Test

Produce an Image Gallery

Chapter 19: Facilitating Dynamic AJAX Calls with Perl

Introducing AJAX

Introducing CGI::Ajax

Add CGI::Ajax into Your Perl CGI Scripts

Call Perl Subroutines Through JavaScript

Call JavaScript Through Perl Subroutines

Enable Debug Mode in CGI::Ajax

Integrate Perl and XML

Integrate Perl and JSON

Chapter 20: Processing Credit Card Transactions with Perl

Introducing PayPal

Sign Up for a PayPal Sandbox Account

Create Buyer and Seller Sandbox Accounts

Retrieve Your Seller’s Sandbox API Credentials

Use Business::PayPal::NVP to Connect to PayPal

Process a Credit Card Payment with PayPal

Use the PayPal Express Checkout API

Search Your PayPal Transaction History

View a PayPal Transaction’s Details

Refund a PayPal Transaction

Chapter 21: Accessing a Back-End MySQL Database with Perl

Introducing the MySQL Database

Understanding the SQL Syntax

Download MySQL for Windows

Install MySQL for Windows

Install MySQL for Debian/Ubuntu Linux

Install MySQL for Red Hat Linux

Introducing the Perl DBI Library

Connect to a MySQL Database with the DBI Library

Retrieve SQL Data Using the DBI Library

Display SQL Data Through HTML::Template

Change SQL Data Using the DBI Library

Chapter 22: Securing Dynamic Web Sites

Understanding TLS/SSL Encryption

Create a Private SSL Key

Generate an SSL Certificate Signing Request

Sign Your Own CSR to Create a Test SSL Certificate

Submit Your CSR to Be Signed by a Certificate Authority

Configure Apache to Use TLS/SSL

Understanding Security in Perl CGI Development

Limit CGI Access in Apache

Identify Unusual Activity on Your Web Site

Sanitize User Content in Perl CGI

Validate User Content in Perl CGI

Chapter 23: Speeding Up Dynamic Web Sites

Introducing the Apache mod_perl Module

Install the Apache mod_perl Module for Windows

Install the Apache mod_perl Module for Linux

Configure the Apache mod_perl Module

Understanding mod_perl’s Caveats

Appendix A: Perl Reference

Appendix B: Apache Configure and Module Reference

Appendix C: Useful Perl Modules

Perl and Apache

Your visual blueprint™ for developing dynamic Web content

by Adam McDaniel

Perl and Apache: Your visual blueprint™ for developing dynamic Web content

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256

www.wiley.com

Published simultaneously in Canada

Copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

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The Diwan-I-Khas of the palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri

The history of this intriguing pavilion is almost as enigmatic as the structure itself. Dating to the 17th century, this private audience hall is remarkable for its richly carved central pillar, unique in Mughal architecture. One school of thought holds that the design of the building and its stone centerpiece may reflect some Hindu mandala in which the central column represents the axis of the world. As such, it conferred superior status upon the emperor who received visiting dignitaries while seated at its base.

Explore India’s countless architectural treasures in Frommer’s India, 4th Edition (ISBN 978-0-470-55610-8) available wherever books are sold or at www.Frommers.com.

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Credits

Acquisitions Editor

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Project Editor

Jade Williams

Technical Editor

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Copy Editor

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Screen Artist

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Illustrator

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About the Author

Adam McDaniel has been desgining, developing, modifying, and maintaining computer programs of one language or another since 1993, and has been an active proponent of Perl since being introduced to the langauge in 1998. In early 1999, Adam led a team of developers implementing an E-Commerce fulfillment engine written entirely in Perl for a virtual shopping mall. Afterwards, he worked for Hitachi ID Systems for over 8 years, during which he designed and implemented security recommondations and software for various Fortune 500 companies across the United States and Europe.

Always interested in new technologies and architectures, development credits include an open-source offline HTML reader for the Palm OS platform, contributions to the Linux Kernel, plus countless utility and speciality programs. In 2006, Adam produced the Array.org Netbook Kernel software download and Web site, allowing users to download an optimized build of the Linux kernel, specific for the Ubuntu Linux distribution. This site, implemented using Perl and Apache, became hugely popular resulting in millions unique visitors in just a few months. It actually prompted him to move away from security architecture and design and into a new field: Linux distribution architecture. Today, Adam works as the Lead OS Architect for Jolicloud, a Paris-based Linux distribution that specializes in a cloud-based user interface designed for netbooks, tablets, and other portable computers.

Author’s Acknowledgments

This book is actually the product of many significant people, projects, and events, without all of which, this project would never have been possible.

First and foremost, I must thank my wife, Shauna, for her un-ending patience, understanding, encouragement, and love, both silent and vocal, which she happily supplied while I toiled away endlessly on this project. I must also thank my editors at Wiley Publishing, espcially Aaron Black and Jade Williams, for their expert guideance, advice, and patience, despite their occasional prodding over e-mail.

This book could not be possible without hundreds of thousands of developers who have dedicated their time and expertise to open-source software. Projects like the Linux Kernel, Perl, Apache, and everything in-between serves as an excellent model of design, efficiency, and dedication to people like me and other technology enthusiasts.

Finally, regarding significant events, I have to thank our unpredictable Canadian winter weather. In January 2008, we experienced seven days of -40 degree weather; this caused a water pipe to burst and flood my basement with 18 inches of water while I was away from home. Had my basement not flooded, I would never have replaced an old waterlogged laptop with a brand new EeePC netbook through the insurance claim. Without that, I would have never become interested in netbook hardware, nor in customizing the Linux kernel for that hardware. And I certainly would have never created my Array.org Netbook Kernel Web site, through which Aaron Black would never have contacted me, and this book would never have come into existence.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my father, William McDaniel, who knew about this project, but never got the chance to see the final result.

How to Use This Book

Who This Book Is For

This book is for advanced computer users who want to take their knowledge of this particular technology or software application to the next level.

The Conventions in This Book

Steps

This book uses a step-by-step format to guide you easily through each task. Numbered steps are actions you must do; bulleted steps clarify a point, step, or optional feature; and indented steps give you the result.

Notes

Notes give additional information — special conditions that may occur during an operation, a situation that you want to avoid, or a cross reference to a related area of the book.

Icons and Buttons

Icons and buttons show you exactly what you need to click to perform a step.

Extra or Apply It

An Extra section provides additional information about the preceding task — insider information and tips for ease and efficiency. An Apply It section takes the code from the preceding task one step further and allows you to take full advantage of it.

Bold

Bold type shows text or numbers you must type.

Italics

Italic type introduces and defines a new term.

Courier Font

Courier font indicates the use of scripting language code such as statements, operators, or functions, and code such as objects, methods, or properties.

Chapter 1: Introducing Perl and Apache Web Site Development

Introducing Apache and Perl

Since the inception of the World Wide Web in 1989, users, academics, and professionals have been inspired by this new canvas to present information over the Internet. The jump from a text-based interface to a graphical interface would capture the world’s imagination on presenting information to the masses.

Content-owners can now store information in a series of files on a server, with end-users accessing that data at their convenience. In the earlier days of the Internet, the server-side information was stored as simple static text files and images, meaning that files were only changed when someone manually made a change and uploaded the new file to the server. As a result, most Web sites did not change very often. With the introduction of the Common Gateway Interface (CGI), Web sites could now use programs in place of static files to dynamically create on-demand content that was unique for every user.

Anyone wanting to participate on the graphical Internet requires a client-side program, called a Web browser. This program is installed onto a local workstation, and requires an outgoing connection to the public Internet. The browser establishes a communication link through the network to a server-side counterpart, called a Web server, submits a request, and waits for a response. It is the server’s job to interpret the request being made, assess the requester’s credentials, open the file or execute a program using CGI, and transmit the results back to the user. Once the browser receives the data, it must decode the transfer and render a graphical representation of the text and images so that the user can interpret the information.

Many Web browser programs are freely available for download, depending on the user’s choice of operating system. Popular options include Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Apple Safari. For the content-owner, a Web site is delivered to the user’s browser by various Web server programs, like Apache HTTP Server or Microsoft Internet Information Service (IIS). Again, the options available depend on the choice of operating system on the server.

The program that utilizes CGI typically runs on the same computer as the Web server. There are multiple languages available today that can interact with CGI, including PHP, Java, and even C and C++, but this book focuses on the Practical Extraction and Report Language, more commonly known as Perl.

The Apache HTTP Server

The Apache HTTP Server, widely viewed today as the de facto Web server for Unix and Windows platforms, handles more than 90percent of World Wide Web traffic.

A History of Apache

First released in 1995, Apache evolved from the remains of the now defunct NCSA HTTPd program, which was the first Web server created to support the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP.

Early Web servers were only capable of relaying static content directly from files stored on the Web server’s hard drive. Eventually, the CGI protocol was standardized and support was added to Apache.

Versions of Apache

Because Apache has been in development for many years, new versions are constantly being released as major version milestones. The latest major release, Apache 2.2, supports a wide range of configuration features, performance enhancements, and third-party modules.

Earlier releases, such as Apache 2.0 and 1.3, are still available and supported. However, you should only consider using an older version if you have a specific reason to do so. If you are just starting out with Apache, use the latest stable release available, Apache 2.2.

The End-User Experience

To provide a pleasurable and esthetically pleasing Web site, the Web site author composes HTML content that describes the site’s text, images, and layout. Early Web browsers lacked many of today’s client-side technologies that are used to create dynamic content, such as Flash, Java, and JavaScript. Instead, they relied on the Web server to provide the entire end-user experience.

Because today’s Internet has many options for dynamic content, a Web site author may choose any type of technology that is available: client-side, server-side, or even both. Intelligently mixing technologies that complement each other can create a memorable site that your users will want to visit again.