Archive for August 4th, 2008

The Importance of Scripting Languages

In order to make your website truly stand out with dynamic content, you must possess at least a basic knowledge of programming languages. There are many different scripts available, some which have been designed for server-specific environments. While most have the same basic features, some are more complex and advanced, giving them capabilities others do not.

When deciding what script you want to work with, you should first consider how easy is it to learn. For instance, it would be pointless to train yourself on ASP programming if your web host only supports PHP and CGI scripts. External factors that impact your ability to program with a certain script should also be taken into consideration. An example would be the MSSQL database management system which can be converted to support PHP but is more suited for Microsoft technologies such as ASP. Another factor that needs to be considered is the amount of support that is available for a particular language. This is critical to the new webmaster who requires a bit of guidance. The good thing is that open-source languages such as PHP and Perl have a large community of developers and users who contribute to the code and post self-help resources on the web.

Features

It is important to consider the features a particular script offers before deciding on whether or not to use it. Some languages have been designed with features that will keep them more current with the latest technologies. Microsoft uses an AJAX toolkit for it’s ASP.NET server side scripts to ensure that developers have the ability to keep their sites up to date. Scripting languages can be enhanced with add-on components which can be used to create blogs, chat rooms, message forums, shopping carts and much more. When looking for a website provider, be sure to learn what scripts they provide so you will know exactly what can be done with them.

If you are totally new to the world of web hosting and development, choosing an open-source programming language may be your best option. These type of scripts have far more useful resources available which will enable you to learn the language much faster. This will come in handy when your traffic grows and the site requires expansion.

If you do choose to code your website with a commercial scripting language like ASP, expect to pay a much higher cost for service. The costs for these scripts are generally higher, meaning the web hosts pass fees down to the consumer to compensate. Many of these languages also lack the support system found with open-source scripts which may be costly in regard to training.

Programming scripts are a very important element of web designing. They are very powerful tools and can be used to enhance the functionality of your site. Programming scripts determine how the site can be managed in the way of databases as well as the level of interactivity your visitors will have. Aside from creating a dynamic content for your own website, the knowledge of web-based scripts may land you a job in IT where the most skilled designers are paid quite handsomely.