1. Database-Driven Websites Blogs, Wikis, Etc.

2. What is `The Web'? • A distributed document delivery service implemented using application-level protocols on the Internet • A tool for collaborative writing and community building • A framework of protocols that support e-commerce • A network of co-operating computers interoperating using HTTP and related protocols to form a sub-net of the Internet • A large, cyclical, directed graph made up of webpages and links

3. What is `The Web'? • A distributed document delivery service implemented using application-level protocols on the Internet • A tool for collaborative writing and community building • A framework of protocols that support e-commerce • A network of co-operating computers interoperating using HTTP and related protocols to form a sub-net of the Internet • A large, cyclical, directed graph made up of webpages and links

4. Databases and the WWW • B2B is important • Using the WWW as a distributed document delivery service • Using XML and XML-based tools to package and share data, place orders, maintain inventory, … • Self-organizing communities are another, but less obvious application of the WWW

5. Self Organizing Communities? The standard HTML model is • Author/designer makes a webpage or website • The author decides what the content is and where the links are • Links out of website • Link targets in the website • Reader uses the website but cannot change it • Only input is through forms (or hacking) • More like reading a magazine than using a ‘shared space’

6. Self Organizing Communities • Radical compared to HTML Model • People who come together to create a linked set of webpages • Could also be a MUD or a MOO (although much less frequent than before) • Types of communities • SparrowWeb – community shares templates • Wiki – multiple authors • Blog – author and commentators

7. Where is the Database? • It is hidden on the server-side • We infer its presence but it is not really needed • Type, schema, etc. are unimportant • It is not an interface component • The author might not even know about it

8. What is a Blog? • http://jilltxt.net/archives/blog_theorising/final_version_of_weblog_definition.html • http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2003/01/05/an_introduction_.php • Who cares? • Part of the societal changes brought about by the WWW • New applications of hypertext • Opportunity for study within (and outside of) CS

9. RSS • What is it? ‘Real Simple Syndication’ (aka ‘Rich Site Summary’) • What is it good for? • Pushing data to web clients • Originally for website and news updates • Now for sharing all types of information between websites, and for podcasting

10. How Does RSS Function? • Broadcast text to subscribers using a • simple and small XML-based language

11. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?> <rss version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Dalhousie CS4173 Examples</title> <link>http://www.cs.dal.ca/~jamie/…/examples/</link> <description>real WWW code</description> <item> <title>CGI in general</title> <link>http://…/#CGI</link> <description>What CGI is & How to use it</description> </item> <item> <title>Self-generating CGI forms</title> <link>http://…</link> <description>Way kool demos</description> </item> </channel> </rss> Adapted from W3schools example

12. Blog Characteristics

13. Wiki what’s that? • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki • StudleyCaps or MixedCapitalization • Indicates WikiWord (significant term) • Each WikiWord has its own webpage

14. Wiki Characteristics

15. What About Sparrow Web? • http://www2.parc.com/istl/projects/sparrow/