Foundation Dynamic Web Pages with Python

Discover the concepts of creating dynamic web pages (HTML) with Python. This book reviews several methods available to serve up dynamic HTML including CGI, SSI, Django, and Flask.

You will start by covering HTML pages and CSS in general and then move on to creating pages via CGI. It is easy to use and can serve as a foundation for the more advanced services available for launching dynamic web pages. Next you'll explore the SSI (Server Side Interface) method. This is a slightly more advanced interface included in mots web servers that adds functionality to modify static HTML pages to add such things as the current date or time, include additional HTML, and other features to a static web page before it is delivered to the user.

The book also covers some of the key the Django module features, which must be added to the web server. These features include creating dynamic web pages and calling a database to provide additional information to the web page. Lastly you will explore the Flask module. While it has limited functionality on its own, it provides a very flexible environment to create a self designed system for delivery of dynamic web pages.

By the time you finish this book, you will be able to choose the appropriate methodology for delivering dynamic information using fast HTML creation services.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

* Use HTML pages and CSS together to control the style of your web site.
* Install and configure SSI, Django, and Flask for Apache.
* Create dynamic web pages using CGI and creating a library of partial HTML pages to use in this task.
* Build dynamic web pages using SSI and auxiliary Python programs to enhance the SSI functionality.
* Develop dynamic web pages using Django.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

Software Developers with basic Python programming skills interested in learning Web Development

W. David Ashley is a technical writer for SkillSoft where he specializes in open source, particularly Linux. As a member of the Linux Fedora documentation team he recently led the Libvert project documentation, and wrote the Python programs included with it. He has developed in 20 different programming languages during his 30 years as a software developer and IT consultant, including more than 18 years at IBM and 12 years with American Airlines. Chapter 1: Introduction to Web Servers

Chapter Goal: An introduction to web servers – specifically the Apache web server.

No. of Pages: 5

Sub-Topics:

Glossary of terms

Introduction to the Apache web server

Introduction to other web servers

Configuring your web server

Organizing your web server

Chapter 2: HTML Pages and CSS

Chapter Goal: Describes the main principles of web pages and style sheets

No. of Pages: 20

Sub-Topics:

HTML tags

Organizing HTML sections

Linking HTML pages to a style sheet

Creating a library of partial HTML pages

Ensuring coordination between the HTML page, the CSS stylesheet, and you library

Chapter 3: Using CGI and PythonChapter Goal: Using Python to create an HTML page

No. of Pages: 25

Sub-Topics:

Configure CGI for use by Python

Create a dummy page just for creating the layout of the page major elements

HTML sections

Using Python to create a dynamic HTML pageWhere to split a web page into multiple parts

Techniques for managing the web page for use by Python

The good and the bad of using CGI

Chapter 4: Using SSI and Python

Chapter Goal: Configure Apache for use by SSI and Python

No. of Pages: 45

Sub-Topics:

Configure SSI for use by Python

Create a dummy page just for creating the layout of the page major elements

HTML sections

Using SSI and Python to create a dynamic HTML page

Where to split a web page into multiple parts

Techniques for managing the web page for use by SSI and Python

The good and the bad of using SSI

Chapter 5: Using Django and Python

Chapter Goal: Using Django and Python to create an HTML page

No. of Pages: 40

Sub-Topics:

Configure Apache for use by Django and PythonCreate a dummy page just for creating the layout of the page major elements

HTML sections

Using Django and Python to create a dynamic HTML page

Where to split a web page into multiple parts

Techniques for managing the web page for use by Django and Python

The good and the bad of using Django

Chapter 6: Using Flask and Jinja

Chapter Goal: Using Flask and Python to create an HTML page

No. of Pages: 40

Sub-Topics:

Configure Apache for use by Flask and Python

Create a dummy page just for creating the layout of the page major elements

HTML sections

Using Flask and Python to create a dynamic HTML page

Where to split a web page into multiple parts

Techniques for managing the web page for use by Flask and Python

The good and the bad of using Flask

Chapter 7: Comparing CGI, SSI, Django, and Flask Chapter Goal: Choosing the correct dynamic page creation system

No. of Pages: 50

Sub-Topics:

List the advantages of each system

List the disadvantages of each system

Chapter 8: Usage Options - CGI, SSI, Django, and Flask

Chapter Goal: Choosing the correct dynamic page creation system

No. of Pages: 50

Sub-Topics:

Discuss options for using multiple systems

Some things to remember