Tips for Convenient CGI Scripting

By Eugene Logvinov
2005-04-28


Standard Modules of CGI::* Type
In addition to its primary uses, the CGI module also has a few other functions, among them an HTML writing feature which, according to the module's author, "should be discarded in favor of the CGI::* modules" (HTTP::* and HTML::* should also be added here). Many of the module's functions are not always convenient, which is why CGI.pm is often used instead, and the HTML writing functions are usually abandoned. CGI::Minimal and CGI_Lite modules work better for this purpose.

Complex CGI scripting sometimes requires Web-related modules. Their implementation often depends on a specific task or usual HTML writing techniques. The list of modules for this can be found on CPAN (see Resources), which is not only the Perl programming archive but also a hub of ideas. I highly suggest you visit CPAN before writing a complex script; it will be worth the effort.


Tutorial Pages:
» A Close Look at the CGI.pm Module
» The CGI module
» Displaying Script Errors in the Browser
» Displaying script errors in the browser
» CGI::LogCarp Usage and Shortcomings
» Standard Modules of CGI::* Type
» Resources


First published by IBM DeveloperWorks

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