Writing Apache Modules With Perl And C

Apache is the most popular web server on the Internet because it is free, reliable, and extensible. The availability of the source code and the modular design of Apache makes it possible to extend web server functionality through the Apache API. For the most part, however, the Apache API has only been available to C programmers, and requires rebuilding the Apache server from source. mod_perl, the popular Apache module used primarily for enhanced CGI performance, changed all that by making the Apache API available to Perl programmers. With mod_perl, it becomes simple to develop Apache modules with Perl and install them without having to rebuild the web server. Writing Apache Modules with Perl and C shows how to extend web server capabilities regardless of whether the programming language is Perl or C. The book explains the design of Apache, mod_perl, and the Apache API. It then demonstrates how to use them to perform for tasks like the following: Rewriting CGI scripts as Apache modules to vastly improve performance Server-side filtering of HTML documents, to embed special markup or code (much like SSI) Enhancing server log functionality Converting file formats on the fly Implementing dynamic navigation bars Incorporating database access into CGI scripts Customizing access control and authorization to block robots or to use an external database for passwords The authors are Lincoln Stein and Doug MacEachern. Lincoln is the successful author of How to Set Up and Maintain a World Wide web Site and the developer of the widely used Perl CGI.pm module. Doug is a consultant and the creator of the innovative mod_perl Apache module.

A text focusing on the methods and alternatives for designed TCP/IP-based client/server systems and advanced techniques for specialized applications with Perl. A guide examining a collection of the best third party modules in the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network. Topics covered: Perl function libraries and techniques that allow programs to interact with resources over a network. IO: Socket library ; Net: FTP library -- Telnet library -- SMTP library ; Chat problems ; Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) issues ; Markup-language parsing ; Internet Protocol (IP) broadcasting and multicasting.

This book gives detailed instructions on how to use, optimize, and troubleshoot mod_perl. It shows how to get this Apache module running quickly and easily.

A task-based reference that will provide experienced developers with useful recipes and easy-to-follow solutions to common problems when using mod_perl in Web applications. The first mod_perl cookbook, containing valuable recipes that use mod_perl to extend the Apache API. with tricks, solutions, and idioms .

Explains the features of Mason, a Perl-based template for building Web sites, and discusses how to use Mason's components to streamline web site design and simplify maintenance.

mod_perl embeds the popular programming language Perl in the Apache web server, giving rise to a fast and powerful web programming environment. Practical mod_perl is the definitive book on how to use, optimize, and troubleshoot mod_perl. New mod_perl users will learn how to quickly and easily get mod_perl compiled and installed. But the primary purpose of this book is to show you how to take full advantage of mod_perl: how to make a mod_perl-enabled Web site as fast, flexible, and easily-maintainable as possible. The authors draw from their own personal experience in the field, as well as the combined experience of the mod_perl community, to present a rich and complete picture of how to set up and maintain a successful mod_perl site. This book is also the first book to cover the "next generation" of mod_perl: mod_perl 2.0, a completely rewritten version of mod_perl designed for integration with Apache 2.0, which for the first time supports threads. The book covers the following topics, and more: Configuring mod_perl optimally for your web site Porting and optimizing programs for a mod_perl environment Performance tuning: getting the very fastest performance from your site Controlling and monitoring the server to circumvent crashes and clogs Integrating with databases efficiently and painlessly Debugging tips and tricks Maximizing security Written for Perl web developers and web administrators, Practical mod_perl is an extensive guide to the nuts and bolts of the powerful and popular combination of Apache and mod_perl. From writing and debugging scripts to keeping your server running without failures, the techniques in this book will help you squeeze every ounce of power out of your server. True to its title, this is the practical guide to mod_perl.

Offers practical guidelines on how to use the popular open source language Perl to manage, monitor, and tune Oracle databases, describing such Oracle/Perl software modules as Oracle Call Interface and Perl DataBase Interface, and features more than one hundred ready-to-use programs for database administrators to use in a Linux or Windows system. Original. (Intermediate)

"Do you learn best by example and experimentation? This book is ideal. Have your favorite editor and compiler ready–you'll encounter example code you'll want to try right away. You've picked the right book–this is sure to become the de facto standard guide to writing Apache modules." –Rich Bowen, coauthor, Apache Administrators Handbook, Apache Cookbook, and The Definitive Guide to Apache mod_rewrite "A first-rate guide to getting the most out of Apache as a modular application platform–sure to become a must-read for any Apache programmer, from beginner to experienced professional. It builds up carefully and meticulously from the absolute basics, while including chapters on everything from the popular Apache DBD Framework to best practices, security, and debugging." –Noirin Plunkett, documentation committer to the Apache httpd project, and member of the ASF conference committee The Only Comprehensive Guide to Developing Apache 2.x Modules and Applications Apache is more than the world's most popular Web server–it's also an extraordinarily powerful and extensible development platform. Now, ApacheTutor.org's Nick Kew has written The Apache Modules Book, the first start-to-finish, example-rich guide for every developer who wants to make the most of Apache. Kew begins with detailed, accessible introductions to Apache's architecture and API, then illuminates all the techniques you'll need, from request processing through code security. He brings together the best of both worlds: powerful C-based techniques for accomplishing tasks Perl or PHP can't handle, implemented with tools that deliver all the productivity you'd expect from higher-level languages. Utilizing realistic code samples, Kew introduces techniques documented in no other book-and, often, nowhere else at all. Coverage includes Using Apache Portable Runtime (APR) to streamline C development and avoid its pitfalls Leveraging Apache DBD to build applications far more scalable than classic LAMP software Working with the latest Apache 2.x features: filter modules, XML support, and smart proxies Mastering best practices, from thread safety to multi-platform development Utilizing the Apache Authentication Framework Tracing and debugging problems in both Apache and your custom modules Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1 Applications Development with Apache Chapter 2 The Apache Platform and Architecture Chapter 3 The Apache Portable Runtime Chapter 4 Programming Techniques and Caveats Chapter 5 Writing a Content Generator Chapter 6 Request Processing Cycle and Metadata Handlers Chapter 7 AAA: Access, Authentication, and Authorization Chapter 8 Filter Modules Chapter 9 Configuration for Modules Chapter 10 Extending the API Chapter 11 The Apache Database Framework Chapter 12 Module Debugging Appendix A Apache License Appendix B Contributor License Agreements Appendix C Hypertext Transfer Protocol: HTTP/1.1 Index About the Web Site ApacheTutor.org contains code examples from the book, all designed for easy use and integration into existing applications.