Writing Apache Modules with Perl

Apache is the most popular web server on the Internet because it is reliable. This guide to Web programming teaches you how to extend the capabilities of the Apache Web server. The book explains the design of Apache, mod_perl, and the Apache API. It then demonstrates how to use them to perform tasks such as: using mod_perl to vastly improve the performance of Perl-based CGI scripts; rewriting CGI scripts as Apache modules to give them full access to the Apache API; server-side filtering of HTML documents to embed special markup or code (much like SSD); enhancing server log functionality; converting file formats on the fly; implementing dynamic navigation bars; incorporating database access into CGI scripts; customizign access control and authorization to block robots or to use an external database for passwords. Included with the book is a detachable mod_perl quick reference card for easy lookup of mod_perl syntax and functionality.