Robert’s Rants & Rationalizations

The following is a generalization of how easy, fun, frustrating, rewarding and empowering to control your own space on the internet by using an ISP, DreamHost which I have used since 2004. This blog is hosted on DreamHost.

First, my tools are Safari and Firefox for browsing on the Mac. For the PC, I use Firefox and IE7.

Second, for text editing (mainly config files, etc.), I use TextMate and TextWrangler.

Third, for file transfers (FTP), I use Fetch on the Mac and FileZilla on the PC (I just found out that there is a Mac version! FileZilla is open-source while Fetch is a commercial application).

Next, I search for an open-source script, and in this case, I want it to be in the programming language of PHP. The database (not all scripts require a database!) is MySQL

Where do I find these scripts? I search through script respositories like Hotscripts. A good, small starter script could be a guestbook. A guestbook script is easy. Some need a database, and others don’t. You will have to determine which one will work on your hosted site based on the services in your hosted package.

While reviewing the script’s features, also look for the script’s requirements on the server it will reside! DreamHost is a co-hosting service which limits your ability to configure your environment! For security reasons, DreamHost doesn’t enable ‘allow_url_fopen‘ which can affect part or the entire function of the script. So, read the requirements.

I download the script to my download folder, and when the download is completed, Isimply double-click on the file to unzip the file (PC users need to ensure that PKUnZip is installed…the Mac has the utility already installed with the shipped OS.)

Now, I use my FTP software to log into my site and create a new directory within my domain’s web directory to store the script’s various files. I set the FTP software to ‘automatic’ transfer mode, a mode which will automatically detect the file type and use the ASCII or BINARY mode…THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Also, read the ‘readme.txt’ or similar file that is with the unziped, open-source software. It will tell you how to install the software package, or, at least, it will help you find out where things are so you can figure it out yourself!

Now, I have to create the database and account that can access the tables by the script. Dreamhost’s Web Panel makes this process VERY, VERY EASY! Log in and go to “Manage MySQL” and go to the bottom to “Create a new MySQL database.” I come up with information about the database (’eticket’ for the database name; ID and password for the script to gain authorized access to the database and its tables; and, which domain, if you have more than one, to assign the database to or on.) that only I and the script knows.

There are other issues that you need to pay attention to like the requirements which includes the minimum requirements of the PHP and MySQL, etc. Dreamhost allows you to alter your domain for these items, which is convenience.

Once all the files are uploaded, the readme document will usually tell you which directory and file to direct your browser towards to start the install process. Usually, the installer will have you provide the database name, ID, password, and the database’s hostname, commonly called ‘the connection information.’ Some scripts require you to edit the configuration (’config.php’) file with that information. There is no standard on how all these available scripts are installed.

When the installation is completed, the script is ready.

Now, you have to learn the program! I leave you to that!