Here I collected some links that came my way during the past years and that were exceptionally useful, funny or strange, plus some references to my own works.
Apache
- !! .htaccess functions
This article describes a oot of things you can do in .htaccess files besides of just password protection..
- !! AWStats log file analyzer
There are two widely used http-logfile analyzer widely used.
I used the other one first and now I use this. I love it even though it had a bug in an older version that allowed some asshole to hack my server. The bug is now gone, it is stable and it gives you a lot of useful information..
- !! Client certificates with apache
Very nice step-by-step tutorial for creating client certificates.
Client certificates are extremely useful if you want to grant access to a limited number of users. Just send them a certificate and they won't even have to remember a password..
- !! mod_ssl: Example, Installation
A must for anybody installing mod_ssl for the first (and second, at least) time.
Step by step explanation that makes the whole process extremely painless.
- !! Apache Project
Your first stop on the way to apache wisdom.
The very complete guide to everything related to apache.
Not your first stop for easy tutorials though..
- Cgisecurity.com: Apache Security
Exhaustive link collection about this topic..
- IP Locator
This online tool lets you find out where your visitors come from.
Quite reliable information..
- Mod_Rewrite Tutorial
Since mod_rewrite is becoming a more common tool every day some of you might have become curious.
Here's a good tutorial covering all the basics to get you started. .
- Webalizer
The other HTTP log file parser.
I used that one before I switched to AwStats. It's good though and some people might prefer it..
- Apache URL Rewriting Guide
A very nice reference for mod_rewrite.
In case you dpon't know what mod_rewrite is, it's an Apache module that lets you redirect pages or whole directories dynamically on the server level, eliminating the need of ugly php-oneliners.
This site has examples for about anything you would want to do with this module. And it is written bey the module author so it must be true....
- Apache-SSL
Apache-SSL is in short an Apache with ssl built in.
As the site says, it is not mod_ssl, it's an alternative.
I couldn't figure what is better but since most people already have an apache up and running maybe mod_ssl is easier..
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HTML
- Dynamic Drive
A must for anybody who is seriously building websites.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript and even an online .htaccess file generator - this site has almost everything you need to start. Now just go and learn about design. .
- Dynamic HTML Central
Home of the famous CoolMenus.
Nice DHTML scripts here!.
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CSS
- !! CSS Praxis
If you happen to speak German don't miss out on this one!
If not learn it just for this site.
Lots of really carefully written tutorials, hints and tricks regarding CSS, HTML and JavaScript..
- CSS layout techniques
Article on common CSS problems and fixes.
- css Zen Garden
Interesting study on CSS layout technique..
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JavaScript
- CodeFoot.com: JavaScript
Some nice JavaScript apps for your site.
And I like the design of their website, reminds me of the Defender arcade game way back in the 80s.
- Javascript.com
Tutorials, tips, tricks and code snippets.
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Linux/Server
- !! APT HOWTO
APT is one of the strongest arguments pro Debian. That's what I think.
However, for the beginner it is not all as easy as the old veterans will make you believe. There this reference comes in handy. I couldn't live without it for the first 6 months when I started with Debian..
- !! backup2l - low maintenance backup tool
Very sophisticated tool that makes incremental backups which then can be recovered from any given time. And - easy to use as well!.
- !! rsync
Rsync is my favorite tool to mirror my websites.
Yes, it's not really intuitive but once you got the trick it's so fast, flexible and stable you won't want to miss it anymore.
Plus, you can write (PHP) scripts around it that will do your backups and such....
- !! Unix Command Line HOWTO
A MUST if you run your own server is this catalogue ull of explained commands. Sorted by command type. Extremely useful!.
- DNS documents
Very exhaustive link list about DNS configuration and operation.
Some links are a bit outdated but then again not sooo much has changed in this field..
- Everything Linux
Lots of guides for various linux-related topics.
I came across there when I was looking for an rsync tutorial. They have that as well...
- Ghostscript, Ghostview and GSview
While everubody will have these installed on his linux box there are also some helper apps that you might want plus FAQ, tutorials and so on....
- Graphics from the command line
Very well written and illustrated examples for what you can do with ImageMagick.
Since thi is installed on many servers it's interesting for php users too! .
- IPTABLES-quick HOWTO
One of the more complicated Linux admin tasks is this.
It is not really easy despite the title but I guess you must dig your way through it....
- Linux Tips & Tricks
A rather random but nonetheless very useful collection of linux commands.
Perfect for new to imntermediate linux users!.
- ntop - network top
Curious who's knocking on your server's door?
This program will tell you.
Easy to install, easy to use.
All you have to do is learn the networking basics to make some sense of it..
- SUSE LINUX
One of the major LINUX distributions.
I think it has its strength for newbie desktop systems but I prefer debian based systems for servers.
However, many providers offer root servers with SUSE installed..
- The CGI Resource Index
Tired of PHP?
There are still the good old CGI apps out there, PERL's not dead!
Other languages as well in this huge archive..
- The PartImage Handbook
A very powerful tool to mak eimages of your linux partitions.
- Type tools
Various programs that help you with your font collection.
- Wine HQ - Applications
Do you really have to run windows apps?
Then check here if you can do it with wine on linux.
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Mailserver
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Security
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Other Documentation
- !! Image Magick Examples
Lots of good working examples for the Image Magick utilities.
Unfortunately all on one huge page..
- !! ImageMagick - Commandline Utilities
The complete reference to all those tools that ImageMagick supplies.
I cannot live without this site and those of you who have access to them won't as well.
- !! MySQL Documentation
I guess you have already found this yourself.
If not, bookmark this!.
- ASCII character codes
Very nice overview of the standard and extended ASCII-table.
Useful for mastering those php -ord() and- chr() functions..
- Essentials Of Search Engine Submission
If you are into SEO then this is for you.
Partly it's non-free but the free parts tell you more in one hour than you would get in a week searching newsgroups..
- ID3v2 Developers Information
If you want to mess around with your mp3 IDv2 tags you must read these essentials. Believe me..
- Mozilla Plugin Java FAQ
Can't get the Java plugin to run with mozilla/firefox on your linux box?
You are not alone.
This one will help you..
- Regexp Tutorial
This gives you an overview over character classes. Useful..
- SQLite home page
Since PHP5 is coming with compiled SQLite support this is definitely worth checking.
However, in my opinion SQLite has its weakness when it comes to multi-user features and security. Easy and fine to use for small projects though - I guess 80% of the PHP apps out there don't really need Mysql....
- Web Client Programming with Perl
Want to write your own browser?
Then go for this.
Plus, it's never bad to keep in touch with the grandma of web app languages..
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PHP
- !! Weberdev.com
Very big collection of PHP articles, tutorials, code examples...
annoying popup ads but I guess they just want to survive like anybody else....
- PDFlib home page
Professional PDF library for PDF creation. You can install php with a pdflib module. It is painful but once you're done it works much faster than FPDF and produces better output as well..
- PHP-GTK Manual
The manual for PHP GTK.
You will see that there is still a lot to do on this end..
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Boards
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Projects
- !! Crypto Class
This is a nice, if a bit insecure - crypto class.
If you just want to prevent curious people from spying out your phone numbers in your address book app or what - this is for you.
I use it a lot in low-level-security projects.
Very easy to set up and work with..
- !! JpGraph - Graph library for PHP4
Beautiful php class that creates the most sophisticated graph images.
If you want to tweak the code you should have some PHP klnowledge but to output some graphs you normally won't have to.
Great piece of code!.
- !! k5n.us: WebCalendar
Yes, web calendar apps go by thousands but this one is really one of the most mature ones. Not too difficult to incorporate into your site as well..
- !! NuPusi, the integration
Nucleus CMS, Singapore gallery and punBB discussion board, all thrown together.
This will satisfy most users' needs so give it a try!.
- !! PunBB.org
For me the best BB system I found so far (I found and used quite a few....).
Light weight, easy to install for the beginner, easy to extend for the more advanced user..
- CMS Made Simple
As the name suggests, a quite simple CMS system. This doesn't mean that it can't do complex things, but it's lite weight compared to the big shots. Documentation is thin though.
- FPDF
FPDf is a free class to generate PDF files with PHP.
You don't need to mess with the painful PDFlib installation, you can set it up in your home dir without your host even knowing it's there.
unfortunately it produces really big PDF files when you have to include fonts.
- IP to Country Database
A mjust have for developers. This CSv file can be imported into any database and lets you assign Regiosn to the IP numbers of your visitors. Free..
- miniBB Bulletin Board
Very light weight BB system.
Works with php and mysql - or any php-compatible database they say..
- PHP-GTK:Applications
Applications people wrote using PHP and GTK.
GTK is a (more or less) cross-platform GUI set. So if you were wondering if it is possible to write desktop apps with php the answer is "Yes, but..".
Have a look yourself!.
- PHPproxy 0.6
A proxy written in PHP.
Most of us would use Squid but it's a good case study for things PHP can do besides serving web pages..
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Script Collections
- !! PHP Tools
A collection of useful and partly very sophisticated scripts.
Highly underestimated, this site!.
- !! PHP Classes Repository
As the name suggests, you will find PHP classes for any purpose, ready to incorporate into your site. .
- !! PX PHP Code exchange
Large code repositories for all purposes..
- !! SmartPHP.net
Home of SmartTemplate (NotSmarty!) and some other nice tools..
- !! The PHP Resource Index
Spin-off of cgi resource index.
Very big script archive with code for any purpose..
- Big Webmaster Directory
Growing collection of PHP scripts for any purpose.
- MetaCollection of CGI and PHP script archives
That says it all. Good starting point.
- PEAR
Home of the PEAR repository, examples, tutorials and so on.
You will find that many snippets you just wrote already exist here.....
- PHP Freaks
Tutorials, articles, scripts galore.
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Tutorials
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PYTHON
- !! Python Tutorials on Dev Shed
...and lots of them.
If you are like me and you'd rather go ahead and try something than reading books for weeks before typing the first line then this is a great source for you!.
- !! Python Programming Language
The home of Python.
.
- CherryPy
a pythonic, object-oriented web development framework.
Looks like the next big thing in web development, or maybe just another hype. Look for yourself.
.
- GUI programming with Python
Good overview about the various GUI interfaces with thir pros and cons and introduction on how to work with them..
- Introduction to Jython
DevShed article on Jython, something like a Python wrapper for Java (or was it the only way round?) Ayway, this allows to use Java classes in Python apps..
- MySQL Connectivity With Python
DevShed tutorial.
This is interesting because it allows a fair comparison between the way thigs are done in php and python.
- py2exe
This builds windows executables from your pythons scripts.
This way the user does not have to have python installed on his Windows system..
- Python on the Web
Dev Shed Introduction to Python CGI programming.
- Sockets in Python
Always wanted to write your own server program?
Always wanted to learn Python?
Then check this out..
- The Vaults of Parnassus: Python Resources
One of the few good python script resources on the net.
One of the few drawbacks with python anyway: Not so many scripts available to play with...yet..
- wxPython
Python interface to the wxWidgets GUI.
It is not easy but it's fun to play with, even if all you will ever get on your desktop is a calculator app....
- wxPython Wiki
Now that you think you know Python you want to go out and give useful desktop apps to the world? Then wxWidgets (former wxWindows) is an option. This site tries to get you started with wxWidgets and Python..
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