midriff: overview

dynamic content system
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## midriff overview

Have you ever wished that there was an open source tool for unix/linux that you could download, install (without root privileges), and begin building real dynamic web-based database applications in 10 minutes?`` A completely self-contained tool allowing you to deliver applications with no dependencies on other systems such as MySQL or PHP?`` A tool that requires no control over the web server, no special server modules or modifications, and has minimal administration requirements?``

If so, you may be interested in midriff...``

midriff is an open source scripting system for unix/linux.`` Although it can work as a command line filter, its primary use is as a CGI-based dynamic web content tool for implementing dynamic web forms, data views, and other content.`` midriff is usually configured with an embedded sql database and can also include an embedded charting package.`` The result is fast development of active, graphically rich web content, with low administrative burden.``

midriff makes it easy to implement web data-entry forms, database retrieval displays, database-driven single or multichoice option lists, getting and setting of cookies, handling arrays of checkboxes, etc.`` There's a flexible interface for issuing SQL commands, a safe and convenient interface for executing external commands and capturing the results, and a variety of functions for arithmetic, string manipulation, list processing, date and time manipulation, and so on.`` With the optional ploticus interface, dynamically generated graphical data displays are also readily available.`` The best way to begin is to check out the examples that are included with the distribution.``

midriff lets you develop complete, self-contained, dynamic web-based database-driven applications with no dependencies on other systems such as MySQL or PHP. midriff applications always run as plain CGIs, and require no control over a web server, and no special server modules or applications.`` midriff compiles in a few seconds and has a small code size and memory footprint.``

midriff is seen as a viable option for rapid prototyping situations, demos, exploratory work, one-developer projects and larger projects, where its simplicity and flexibility will allow a lot of app development to be done quickly, and where full-blown packages like MySQL, Oracle, or PHP aren't already available, or are unacceptable for whatever reason.``

Enjoy!``
dynamic content system
Copyright Steve Grubb

Markup created by unroff 1.0, `` `` March 12, 2003.