E-Commerce The technical side

LAMP Linux Linux Apache Apache MySQL MySQL PHP PHP All Open Source and free packages. Can be installed and run on most computer systems.

Linux Operating system Operating system Similar to Unix Similar to Unix Command line Command line Requires some specialist knowledge and skill Requires some specialist knowledge and skill Many different versions – ‘Distributions’: CentOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva Many different versions – ‘Distributions’: CentOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva GUI included with some GUI included with some

Linux Powers the majority of webservers Powers the majority of webservers Secure Secure Reliable Reliable Low-cost Low-cost Small but increasing share of desktop/netbook market Small but increasing share of desktop/netbook market

Webserver HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol DNS – Domain Name Server DNS – Domain Name Server FTP – File Transfer Protocol FTP – File Transfer Protocol SQL – Database services SQL – Database services POP/SMTP – mail services POP/SMTP – mail services SSH – secure remote login SSH – secure remote login

Apache HTTP server with around 70% market share of busiest sites HTTP server with around 70% market share of busiest sites Very reliable with low demands on server power Very reliable with low demands on server power Answers requests from users/browsers Answers requests from users/browsers Can include Authentication, Security and many other features Can include Authentication, Security and many other features

MySQL Very powerful Relational Database Management System Very powerful Relational Database Management System Simple (ish) language – Structured Query Language Simple (ish) language – Structured Query Language Usually entered as text Usually entered as text Some GUI interfaces exist Some GUI interfaces exist Low processor demands Low processor demands Identical on many different platforms Identical on many different platforms

PHP Powerful and versatile computer language Powerful and versatile computer language Server-side scripting Server-side scripting Needs specialist skills Needs specialist skills Originally developed for producing dynamic web- pages Originally developed for producing dynamic web- pages Now developed into a versatile general purpose language Now developed into a versatile general purpose language

Working together Sent back to user using Apache Producing HTML which is Using data from MySQL database PHP processes the request Directs request to Apache Webserver receives HTTP request from user

Javascript Language included in browsers Language included in browsers Can provide effects such as pop-ups, lightboxes etc. Can provide effects such as pop-ups, lightboxes etc. Not always compatible with earlier versions of IE – but improving now Not always compatible with earlier versions of IE – but improving now A key element of AJAX A key element of AJAX

AJAX The new kid on the block Asynchronous Javascript, and XML Asynchronous Javascript, and XML Client-side scripting Client-side scripting Javascript is included in the code for the page sent from the server Javascript is included in the code for the page sent from the server ‘Page’ can then interact with server independently of user – pages update ‘invisibly’ ‘Page’ can then interact with server independently of user – pages update ‘invisibly’