mod_perl Developer's Cookbook

From Barnes & Noble

The authors begin with a careful, step-by-step look at mod_perl installation and configuration -- which has tripped up plenty of folks. Whether you want to install RPM binaries, use Debian apt-get, or compile from source (even on Windows or Mac OS X), you'll find specific instructions and commands. There's detailed coverage of configuration, from migrating legacy CGI scripts to optimizing performance.

Next, it's on to the mod_perl API, starting with the Apache Request Object. Using extensive sample code, you'll learn how to communicate with the Apache server; manipulate links and files, and create handlers that modify how Apache behaves at the server level, either adding new functionality or override default server behaviors. Since you're programming within Apache's framework -- not around it -- it's easy to achieve functionality that's difficult or impossible with, say, Java or ASP.

Gradually, the examples become deeper and more directly useful. Code for authentication, controlling MIME types, caching, sending mail, generating content, preventing scripting attacks, generating XML, accessing databases, and more. You'll find yourself lifting plenty of this code. Very, very useful. (Bill Camarda)

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer with nearly 20 years' experience in helping technology companies deploy and market advanced software, computing, and networking products and services. He served for nearly ten years as vice president of a New Jersey–based marketing company, where he supervised a wide range of graphics and web design projects. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks For Dummies®, Second Edition.