Internet Support Service creates web sites that DO.

Q: What is a Server-Side Application?
A: Server-Side Applications are programs which run on the web hosts computer before sending information to the visitor's web browser. Usually they look at some information and make a decision about what to return based on that information. Information can come from a form filled out by the user, a database or file stored on (or uploaded to) the web server, or from the information exchanged between computers using the Internet.

Q: What is a Server-Side Include?
A: A Server-Side Include (often just called an include) is a request inserted inside a web page which runs a program. The web pages must have an extension which tells the web host the page must be compiled (put together from a couple programs/pages) before sending information to the site visitor. Some extensions which tell the server to compile the pages are .asp and .shtml. Includes are used when designers want to include some dynamic information in an otherwise static page - like a date stamp, a recognition of the visitor through cookies, or returning a table of data from a file on the web server.

Q: Do I need special hosting to have dynamic web pages?
A: Depending on what kind of dynamic web pages you want, you may need some special features on your server. A majority of our work is in Perl, which runs on every commercial web server in existance. If your host computer does not have Perl to run our scripts, it can be obtained for FREE. It is considered an open-source language.

Q: What is open-source?
A: Open-source means the code for making the language work is free to anyone. This differs from a proprietary product which is owned by a company. Many companies protect their source code (the language that makes the program work) through patents and copyrights. In open-source, the language is nearly always maintained and upgraded through the efforts of the programmers who use it. When changes (upgrades) occur, they are available, for free, to anyone who wants to have them, and thousands of people put their effort into making the language better.

Q: Why is open-source good for me?
A: Open-source is good for use on the Intnernet because you will not be stuck with one programmer or one web host. You usually do not have to spend a lot of money to update or move your programs. It is easier to find people who will work on your open-source code because they don't have to pay a lot of money to use proprietary licenses.

Q: I already have ASP/PHP/SQL on my site. Can you work on my site?

A: Internet Support Service has staff which specializes in Perl, ASP, PHP and most SQLs. If your site is currently run by Cold Fusion, we recommend finding another company to work with you, or we can convert your site to one of the technologies we specialize in.

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