CS 412/512: Web Programming

Catalog Description: Overview of the Internet. Markup languages: HTML, CSS, XML. Server-side programming languages: Perl/Python, PHP, Java. Other topics include: N-tier programming, security, database access, XML processing.

Objectives

• To learn some web programming techniques, particularly generating web pages dynamically using backend databases.
• Course threads:
• Develop programs in a professional manner.
• Software engineering, particularly reusable code, documentation, and testing.
• Security issues: SQL injection, cross-site scripting, Google hacking, etc.
• Efficient client-server programming.

What the Course is Not

• Not about building web pages or web sites, especially using site tools such as Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe CS3/CS4, etc.
• Not about images and other forms of multimedia on the web, including Flash, Spotlight, VRML.
• Not about installing and maintaining web servers, such as Apache.
• Not about client-side (browser-side) programming, eg, applets, JavaScript (Ajax -- OK).
• Not about Content Management Systems.

Notes

• You are encouraged to bring your laptop; beginning with the 2nd day of class, we will be using them.
• This is a medium workload programming course.
• Students may work on homeworks and projects in pairs (412 separate from 512).
• Pairs should follow the rules for pair programming.

Administrivia

• Email lists are setup automatically to use your W&M email account.
• Please set a forward on your CS email account; e.g.:

  echo  userid@wm.edu  > ~/.forward
  

  where userid is your W&M user id.
• If you have a disability that may affect your performance in this course and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible.