Actually, this was not presented as a reusable solution in any way. It was presented as novelty code for entertainment purposes. No one would initiate a real web counter from the shell. Web counters run through CGI. The thought of a web counter which must be run from the shell is preposterous at best, thus I am amazed that everyone seems to have taken me so seriously. Perhaps I chose the wrong location to post my one-liner. I asked the advice of those in the chatterbox of where it should be posted, and they directed me to Snippets.

I respect each and every one of you as my teachers, my peers, and my colleagues; but you've taken what was meant to be a humorous bit and turned it into a ridiculous thread.

-Jerry
http://www.digilliance.net
http://www.jerryfowler.net