Introduction To Perl / CGI Course

This 2-day course provides an in-depth understanding and hands-on knowledge of the capabilities of the de facto Internet client-server communications protocol: Common Gateway Interface (better known as CGI). In this course, you will learn about the specifications of the CGI protocol, details regarding its operation, and how to use the Perl programming language to perform common and powerful CGI communications and processing tasks on a Web server. To get the most from this course, you should have a thorough understanding of and experience with HTML 4.0. Experience with a programming language is not necessary, but will speed your progress.

A solid knowledge of HTML 4.0, including forms and form properties, is assumed. In addition, students should be familiar with the process of uploading files to a Web server via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Topics covered on the 2 day Introduction To Perl / CGI course

Introduction to CGI

• CGI: Beyond HTML
• How a Web Server Functions
• The CGI Protocol
• CGI Programming Languages

Introduction to Perl

• History of Perl
• Perl Advantages & Disadvantages
• The Perl Interpreter
• Perl File Conventions
• Using Perl on UNIX

How Perl Talks to the Browser

• Perl / Browser Communication
• Making a CGI Look Like a Web Page
• Print Using "qq"
• Printing Multiple Lines

Perl Variables

• Variables
• Scalars
• Arrays
• Hashes

Perl Loops & Logic

• Loops
• Logical Operations
• if
• Else & elsif

How the Browser Talks to Perl

• Environment Variables
• GET & POST
• Using CGI.PM
• Debugging CGIs

Storing & Retrieving Information

• Storing Data
• Appending Data
• Reading Data

REGEX: The Match Operator

• Introduction to Regexes
• The m// Operator
• i Modifier
• Special Characters
• Character Classes
• Parentheses

REGEX: The Substitute Operator

• s/// Operator
• More Modifiers
• Backreferences
• tr/// Operator

Subroutines

• Organizing Data
• Scoping
• Functions

CGI Techniques

• Outputting Graphics
• Outputting PDF
• Redirecting the Browser
• Using HTML Templates
• Cookies
• Sending E-mail Using CGI

CGI Security

• Web Server Security
• Writing Secure CGIs