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Re: CGI Question

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"E.D.G." <edgrsprj@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message 
news:zN6dneyLzP8dvULNnZ2dnUVZ_radnZ2d@earthlink.com...

Posted by E.D.G. on December 31, 2012

       This post is a continuation of a CGI programming discussion that I 
started on the Perl Newsgroup a few days ago.

       - The first part of this post has to do with Internet Server CGI 
programs that can create picture files such as PNG files.

       - The second part of this post is a somewhat philosophical computer 
programming discussion that is intended for the people who are developing 
the Perl and Gnuplot languages.

       At the moment I am using ActiveState Perl (both older and newer 
versions), an older version of Gnuplot, and Xampp on my Windows XP and Vista 
PCs.  And I can create and run Perl language CGI programs on my Internet 
Server.

        On my PC, Perl sends Gnuplot plot information through files, and 
command information through Windows pipes.  Those pipes don't appear to be 
very good for sharing large blocks of plotting data.  Things tend to get 
lost.  But they are great for sending relatively small numbers of commands 
to Gnuplot.

CGI PICTURE FILE QUESTIONS

       After preparing for this for quite a few years I am now finally 
starting to create Perl programs for use as CGI programs that will run at my 
Web sites.  The first one that should be running within a few days will be a 
relatively simple variation of Matt Wright's Perl language WWWBoard program. 
It was selected largely because I was able to get it to run with the Xampp 
computer program that makes it possible for a Windows PC to look like an 
Internet Server and respond when an html file SUBMIT button is pressed for 
example.

Question:  What graphics program will work with Perl on an Internet Server 
computer and allow Perl to draw picture files such as charts with a PNG 
extension and store them at the site?

       If Gnuplot will run on an Internet Server and work with Perl then 
that might take care of the matter.  However, after visiting some Web sites 
and doing some reading on the subject I was not able to determine if this is 
actually possible.

Question:  If Gnuplot can be used for Internet Server applications, then can 
anyone point to a Web site where a discussion of that subject can be found 
that would be understandable to an intermediate level programmer?

Question:  If Gnuplot is not recommended for use with Perl for Internet 
Server CGI file work, then what graphics program should be used?

       The following is an indirect URL for the type of picture file work 
that is planned.  And I am not sending people to that Freewebs site to get 
points.  Indirect addresses like that are being used in part in the hopes of 
keeping as much spam mail etc. as possible away from E-mail addresses listed 
on my actual science research Web sites.

http://www.freewebs.com/eq-forecasting/Demo-Program.html


PHILOSOPHICAL PROGRAMMING DISCUSSION FOR PERL AND GNUPLOT DEVELOPERS

      This first part of the following discussion is intended to be 
humorous, not some type of scientific fact.  It has been my experience that 
if that humor statement is not added, some people who might be speaking 
English as a second or third language could get confused.

       When the Great Rain finally ended and his Arc neared land, Noah 
assembled all of the Arc animals on the top deck and said to them,

"Evolve or Perish!"

       Unfortunately, the dinosaurs had been out partying the night before. 
They missed the lecture.  And now they can be found only in Natural History 
museums and paleontological digs.

       Some time ago ago I asked the ActiveState people if they would be 
interested in developing a version of Gnuplot that could be used as a 
downloadable module for Perl and enable Perl programs to use the 
sophisticated Gnuplot chart drawing resources.

       If I remember correctly, they stated that they would rather focus on 
developing chart creation resources for their downloadable version of 
Python.

       What I have recommended in my posts in the past is that some 
combination of Perl and Gnuplot language development personnel create a 
module version of Gnuplot that can be downloaded and used with Perl.  It is 
my understanding that they are both written using one of the C languages. 
So such a module development effort shouldn't be too difficult.  And Gnuplot 
commands in the Perl programs could begin with "gnu" as in "gnuprint" to 
keep them from conflicting with similar Perl commands.

       There are modules that make it possible for Perl programs to interact 
with Gnuplot.  But from what I have seen, data still need to be sent to 
Gnuplot through files or some type of "pipe."  And I am not sure if this 
would work on an Internet Server computer.

       Some of the advantages of having a Perl module version of Gnuplot 
might be the following:

       - This could greatly enhance Perl's chart drawing capabilities.

       - It could greatly enhance Gnuplot's array manipulation and perhaps 
its string manipulation capabilities.

       - Both Perl and Gnuplot would become more attractive to prospective 
users because of their increased power.  And they would both become less 
likely to eventually join the dinosaurs in some museum.

Happy Holiday Season to all,

E.D.G.

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Re: CGI Question "E.D.G." <edgrsprj@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-12-31 06:47 -0600
  Re: CGI Question sfeam <sfeam@users.sourceforge.net> - 2012-12-31 12:38 -0800
    Re: CGI Question "E.D.G." <edgrsprj@ix.netcom.com> - 2013-01-01 09:16 -0600
    Re: CGI Question "E.D.G." <edgrsprj@ix.netcom.com> - 2013-01-01 23:21 -0600

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