Open Source Database Driven Web Development: A Guide for Information Professionals

Abstract

The author's twin roles (as academic and practical programmer) are evident throughout this book, which can be used variously as: a primer on the growing importance of open source software; a rationale for deploying such tools as an alternative to offerings from commercial vendors such as Microsoft; and most practically of all, an introduction to the fundamentals of database driven web site design. The core content comprises a series of five building block chapters covering the key interlocking elements of cascading style sheets (CSS), practicalities of relational database design and normalisation, the SQL query language and how the globally pervasive combination of the MySQL database and PHP scripting language web platform can be harnessed to create a range of effective dynamic web applications in relatively short timescales. A final chapter provides multiple case studies from the author's home Western Illinois University Libraries environment (all built on the open source database backed web site model), as working examples intended to fire enthusiasm and provide the stimulus for readers to develop their own bigger web software and publishing projects.