gaggio has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I saw the nodes called Perl IDEs and Perl Development Environments, but still, I think that a discussion can be open. Indeed, I would like to focus also about CGI development, which involves some sort of webserver. Both of the nodes cited above did not talk directly about the ability to develop CGI with Perl.

The table below shows some examples of solutions, including the one I am using, and new all-in-one solutions that just got released (less than a month).

Solution URLs Good Bad Other
ScriptWorks 4 *Homepage
*Download		 *Perl + Other Web Development languages
*Syntax Coloring
*Customizable Auto-Completion
*Integrated Browser for HTML code
*100% Free 		Some bugs
*Could have better interface 		*Browser uses IE dll
Codemagic + Tiny Webserver *Tiny Webserver
*Tiny dload
*Codemagic *Codemagic dload 		*Tiny is very simple to use
*Debugging with Tiny is easy (it writes the error in the HTML, "a la CGI-Carp".
*Codemagic is Perl + multiple languages
*Codemagic + Tiny is a 100% free solution 		*No HTML preview
*Two separated programs
 *This is my current choice to develop CGI/Perl under Win32.
DZSoft Perl Editor *DZSoft Homepage *Download *Integrated Browser
*Supports CGI output
*Supports Perl text output
 *Costs $49
*Shareware version limited to 6KB code length		 Small program.
Note: it seems like CodeMagic homepage is down, so I linked to ZDNet for the download.

Well, in my mind, DZSoft Perl editor is the most powerful of the three, since it is made of a single executable that is able to call the Perl executable and produce direclty inside the application either the HTML output produced by the CGI program or the text output of the Perl program.

I was wondering if some other Monks had any other good development solutions for quick and powerful CGI development, notably if somebody would know about something like DZSoft Perl Editor, but free.

I have heard about SolutionSoft Perl Builder, but never used it. I know it is also a shareware program.

We could maybe also discuss the need for DynamicSTATE (recently changed into IndigoSTAR) Perl distribution, which is nothing else than Active State distribution including Apache. Apache is powerful, but is it not too much to develop a CGI application quickly? Tiny is a single file and facilitates debugging so I don't see the need for Apache.

Thanks for every response.

Father Gaggio.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
RE: CGI Development Solutions for Win32
by davorg (Chancellor) on Jul 06, 2000 at 19:16 UTC

    Both Apache and Xemacs run fine under Windows. Those and a browser are all I need to develop CGI apps - what more do you need?

    Oh... possibly telnet - to debug HTTP transactions.

    --
    <http://www.dave.org.uk>

    European Perl Conference - Sept 22/24 2000, ICA, London
    <http://www.yapc.org/Europe/>
[reply]
RE: CGI Development Solutions for Win32
by BigJoe (Curate) on Jul 06, 2000 at 19:25 UTC
    I have used Perl Builder before to try different CGIs on a Windows box without having personal web server installed. It has a nice HTML form to enter you CGI variables into the script. Then it shows you the output through your code. It does require ActiveState's ActivePerl to be installed. It kinda has the feel of Front Page.

    But all you really need is telnet, Linux box(running Apache with mod_perl), and everyones favorite editor pico!!

    --BigJoe
[reply]
      Thanks for your answers, but I wanted to *try* to focus on Win32 systems. I know that I could develop on a Linux Box with Apache and mod perl, but my work machine runs WinNT so I have to develop with this.

      And I really do think that having an integrated output within the development application is a plus: it is faster, and suppresses some problems, like browser refreshing forms, etc.
[reply]
        So if you have to have the WinNT box, develop on a WinNT Box with Apache and mod_perl. 
        --
Casey
[reply]
        I found a really really nice looking editor for doing any type of CGIs. It doesn't have compile support for PERL or ASP but it keeps the code looking nice. It is called First Page and it is available for free on www.tucows.com if you have personal web server installed on your Win box and active Perl you should be in good shape.

        --BigJoe
[reply]

      Actually, my point was that you don't need to install Linux if you don't want to as both Apache and Xemacs run just fine under Windows.

      --
      <http://www.dave.org.uk>

      European Perl Conference - Sept 22/24 2000, ICA, London
      <http://www.yapc.org/Europe/>
[reply]
RE: CGI Development Solutions for Win32
by Ovid (Cardinal) on Jul 07, 2000 at 07:40 UTC
    For our production environment, we have a linux box running Apache. However, for developement at home using Win98 (yuck!), I use CodeMagic and Apache. Frankly, I prefer using Apache to Tiny because I prefer to develop in an environment as close to working conditions as possible (it's a long story why I don't run Linux @ home). I've been very happy with CodeMagic but I've had frustrations with it's poor documentation and a few minor bugs.

    Developing with Apache as a Web server has another significant advantage: the resumé! I'd elaborate, but I'm sure everyone understands my point.

    Incidentally, the CodeMagic site has been down for at least 3 weeks, so I am assuming that Pete's Place is gone for good :(

[reply]
RE: CGI Development Solutions for Win32
by toadi (Chaplain) on Jul 07, 2000 at 11:48 UTC
    Well,
    I tried Codemagic - I is nice but doesn't feel comfertable. (got still a version I think somewhere)
    But my favorite is textpad everything has shortcuts completely configurable. Syntax-highlighting for almost evry language, clipping-board, macro's, almost everything you could do with emacs is possible with textad.

    This is the best editor for windows I know!!!!!

    --
    My opinions may have changed,
    but not the fact that I am right

[reply]
RE: CGI Development Solutions for Win32
by Corion (Patriarch) on Jul 07, 2000 at 12:01 UTC

    My combination of choice for quick CGI development is the Xitami webserver (available free) and Proton, a small, german text editor with syntax highlighting for many languages and key combinations for about everything I would want.

    Xitami has its ups and downs, for example it has no modules, that means, no mod_perl development there. But on the other side, I've never had problems with moving my stuff from Xitami to Apache. The advantages of Xitami are the easy configuration (web interface) and the easy setup (just copy some files) - a definitive plus, since that allows me to keep an individual copy of Xitami for each project.

[reply]

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