Dynamic DNS Basics

A machine on a DSL or cable line without a static IP is connected to the Internet, but only one way. People from the outside can't initiate communication with that machine except through an intermediary, because they simply can't find it! This makes hosting from home impossible ... except through trickery. For there is a solution, a clever one. It is called dynamic DNS.

Adams, Paul. Webmonkey (2003). Design>Web Design>Hosting

Generating Images on the Fly

Paul looks at how PHP, GIMP, or Generator can be used to churn out up-to-the-second charts and graphs, change your site's look and feel on demand, display newly created passwords as bot-defying GIFs, and more.

Adams, Paul. Webmonkey (2001). Design>Web Design>Server Side Includes>PHP

Making PDFs with PHP, PDQ

PHP can do a lot for your Web operation. You can generate nice-looking printable receipts, invoices, and brochures. Disc-Cover has a test site that looks up info about a CD automatically and then generates a PDF label for the CD box that you can print, cut out, and use. And there are literally one billion other possible uses for dynamically generated PDFs.

Adams, Paul. Webmonkey (2002). Design>Web Design>Server Side Includes>PHP

WML Overview

WAP is the Wireless Application Protocol, actually a suite of protocols and specifications designed to allow folks to receive Internet-type data on mobile devices. The often-heard catchphrase — used, for example, to explain WAP to your parents or your customers — is 'the Internet on your phone.' Unfortunately, that's a bit misleading because WAP services are available on an array of devices, not just phones, and because only a tiny subset of the Internet can be viewed via WAP. WAP has gotten its fair share of negative press (much of which is summarized here) and is generally considered to be not quite perfect — but, like it or not, it's been rolled out on a fairly large scale. WAP is best suited for small, concrete pieces of data; stock quotes, addresses, instant messaging, and such. It's much less well suited to things like huge threaded message boards or slideshows from our trip to wine country. To accommodate the limitations of a phone-sized platform — tiny screen, minimal input options, low bandwidth, and excruciating per-minute charges — a special markup language, part of the WAP specification, has been devised.

Adams, Paul. Webmonkey (2001). Design>Web Design>Wireless Web