Dr Rich Boakes

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Web Server Programming Y2, 10cr

Overview

This unit introduces students to programming across the web by writing server-side scripts accessing server-side files and databases; the reasons for doing so; and the underlying theory.

Aims

  1. To develop an understanding of web server scripting technology and the underlying theory.
  2. To develop an ability to write and install simple web server scripts.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Design and implement simple server scripts in an industry-standard server-side language.
  2. Demonstrate the uses of programmable web servers.

Syllabus

  1. Web server architecture; the concepts of web-server scripting; the difference between scripting and servlets; review of server-side languages.
  2. Installation of a minimal web server and SQL server; and other support tools.
  3. The PHP language; invoking PHP by embedding scripts in HTML.
  4. Difficulties and techniques of debugging server-side scripts.
  5. Sending values to server-side scripts, both via URLs and from HTML forms.
  6. File-handling in PHP scripts; in particular, issues of concurrent access.
  7. Using SQL from PHP scripts.
  8. Using Cookies from PHP; Sessions.
  9. Review of other PHP library capabilities.