Frequently, we see Monks asking for online CGI information. However, they're not just looking for a FAQ or a security bulletin. They want to learn how to use Perl with CGI and this implies a tutorial. Unfortunately, most online CGI tutorials suck. Does anyone know of a good online CGI course? Failing that, are there any good Perl/CGI books aimed at beginners?

My basic criteria would be the following:

Is this asking too much? I know that you get what you pay for when it comes to free courses, but for the Perl community it seems like someone would have come forward. If they have, I haven't found them (though that's not saying that they don't exist).

For those inclined to mention merlyn's excellent Web Techniques column, it fails the "aimed at beginner" criteria.

Cheers,
Ovid

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
RE: Online CGI Resources
by infinityandbeyond (Sexton) on Aug 01, 2000 at 21:54 UTC
    Books on "beginning Perl" and "CGI" do not usually include such wonderful advice like "-w" and "strict."

    Could maybe we convince vroom to post a Quest?
    #!/usr/bin/perl -w
#Perl and CGI for Beginners:
use strict;
use CGI;

    [download]

    - Infinityandbeyond
[reply]
[d/l]
      "do not usually include such wonderful advice like "-w" and "strict""

      Ah, but if they don't, they're not good Perl books. <grin>
      s/-w/-wT/
          cheers,
          ybiC

[reply]
RE: Online CGI Resources
by jjhorner (Hermit) on Aug 01, 2000 at 22:10 UTC

    This is not just a tutorial, but a whole course.

    If someone works on this, don't forget about "-T" and untainting data. Also, don't forget to discuss piping to system commands or all of that neat stuff. 

    J. J. Horner
Linux, Perl, Apache, Stronghold, Unix
jhorner@knoxlug.org http://www.knoxlug.org/
[reply]
RE: Online CGI Resources
by toadi (Chaplain) on Aug 02, 2000 at 12:55 UTC
    That's why you should buy some books.
    Most oline tutorials are aimed at truly beginners, with stuff I already know. And when using randal's webtechniques they can be challenging ...

    That's why I'm always on the look-out for a good book.

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

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RE: Online CGI Resources
by Ugly (Beadle) on Aug 02, 2000 at 13:28 UTC
    When people ask this sort of question on c.l.p.m I usually point them to Introduction to Perl & CGI Programming although I have to say that I've never read the whole thing myself.
    It's based on David Medinets' book, Perl 5 By Example, and from the little I've read it seems to be aimed at beginners.
    Use strict and -w don't seem to arrive until Chapter 15,16ish but are used in the examples.
    It's the only online tutorial I've found so far for CGI and Perl, if anyone knows of a better one I'd like to know.

    Ugly
    ... And then they asked me for a signature!

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RE: Online CGI Resources
by Macphisto (Hermit) on Aug 02, 2000 at 18:38 UTC
    I'm in the Washinton DC Area and for some reason the CGI Programming with PERL books hasn't come in yet ( due in the 15th ), but given O'Reillys reputation I would stake a lot in that book for CGI Programming.


    Nobody expects the The Spanish Inquisition
[reply]

      I'm just reading my copy (so my opinion may change later on) but it seems like a worthy replacement for the first edition and well worth the wait. I'm not sure, however, that it's really suitable for a beginner. It explains CGI and HTTP at a beginner level, but it assumes quite a knowledge of Perl.

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

      European Perl Conference - Sept 22/24 2000, ICA, London
      <http://www.yapc.org/Europe/>
[reply]
RE: Online CGI Resources
by Anonymous Monk on Aug 02, 2000 at 01:40 UTC
    Not to toot my own horn, but I will. The Teach Yourself Perl in 24 Hours (Not "21 Days"!) book has a very concise but thorough of all of the basic CGI techniques you need. It's only $20. An electronic edition will be available in the Linux Web Page Construction Kit when that's published in a few months. Sean Burke did a nice review of it on Amazon's site (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0672317737), it passes the Perl Book Litmus test with ease and is generally regarded as a decent source of clues. I use it as a textbook for teaching Perl and CGI programming. And if you have any questions about it, just write me. I stand behind every word written. Even the typos. :)
[reply]
      Doh! Forgot to log in before posting. :)
      clintp@geeksalad.org if you have questions.
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RE: Online CGI Resources
by arturo (Vicar) on Aug 02, 2000 at 19:21 UTC
    I don't think I learned much from specific CGI-oriented tutorials or books, which, looking back, kinda surprises me.

    I tend to be a "top down" kind of learner though, moving from theory to practice, so I got myself a bit of a basis in Perl first and then extended it to the CGI arena. I went with the Llama book (which is for some reason available under the title "Learning Perl" =) for both (I think the chapter on CGI in there is pretty good, actually) and an Apache book, now I can figure things out from my still limited theoretical knowledge.
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