Do you know any free host where uploading .bat and .exe files is allowed?

15 years ago

Why do you want a free host with all the advertisements
that go with a free host site?

If you are just starting for about $10 you can have
a professional site and about $4.00 a month afterward.
Carey

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truckload-of-thoughts

15 years ago

Well, the thing is I don't really need a website. I only need
some space on some server that runs 24/7. I want to put some
script on it that would check contents of some web pages
periodically and store their html code in some files. I could
do it from my computer, but I can't do it all the time, so I
need a remote server to do it all the time automatically.

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Careygee 15 years ago

Here is a site that lists a truckload of free sites
which you can check out.

The Free Web Hosting Decision - Free Web Hosting Choices for Your Web Site

Carey
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- truckload-of-thoughts 15 years ago
  
  Thanks a lot!
  
  Thanks
  
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patfl

15 years ago

you probably need a dedicated server or at least a virtual private server to run your own processes on it...

You can probably do the same thing by using php and curl.

Patrice

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Gaby10

15 years ago

Well... a lot of them. Even some shared hosting.

See, CGI programs can be compiled (programmed) using C++. CGI programs are actually exe files (renamed).

I create CGI (exe files) with Visual C++ and then I just upload them (usually cgi-bin directory).

Exe/cgi execution is extremely FAST... CGI means power and speed, far beyond, lets say, PHP applications.

Languages like PHP or ASP will never have the power of a well designed EXE running on a virtual server. BUT you really need to think if you need this processing speed and power. If you are doing image processing, audio file conversion and 'heavy' stuff like that, then an exe is OK. But if you need standard server side operations... go for the path of least resistance: PHP or similar.

HTH,
Gaby

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truckload-of-thoughts 15 years ago

Hello Gaby10!!!

Thank you so much for your post! I was just happy to learn
that besides ASP and PHP there is another way!
Can you, please, tell me more about CGI programs that can be
compiled (programmed) using C++. You said you create CGI
(exe files) with Visual C++ and then you just upload them.
That's amazing! That's exactly what I am looking for! Which
hosts do you use for that? Could you recommend any?

Also, you mentioned cgi-bin directory. What is this directory
all about?

What I want to do is to create and run (on a remote server)
a script that would periodically copy some web pages (their
HTML code) and store them in some files that I would later
be able to download onto my computer. Do you think this
task could be carried out using your way?
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patfl

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Gaby10

Well... a lot of them. Even some shared hosting.

See, CGI programs can be compiled (programmed) using C++. CGI programs are actually exe files (renamed).

I create CGI (exe files) with Visual C++ and then I just upload them (usually cgi-bin directory).

Exe/cgi execution is extremely FAST... CGI means power and speed, far beyond, lets say, PHP applications.

Languages like PHP or ASP will never have the power of a well designed EXE running on a virtual server. BUT you really need to think if you need this processing speed and power. If you are doing image processing, audio file conversion and 'heavy' stuff like that, then an exe is OK. But if you need standard server side operations... go for the path of least resistance: PHP or similar.

HTH,
Gaby

That's not true, if CGI were so good, why they would have been disapeared? The truth is CGI is fast but only if you need to serve few users, after that, they don't scale well at all.

For speed and scalability, think dynamic language + caching on the server.

Patrice

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Gaby10

15 years ago

Originally Posted by techymarketer

That's not true, if CGI were so good, why they would have been disapeared? The truth is CGI is fast but only if you need to serve few users, after that, they don't scale well at all.

For speed and scalability, think dynamic language + caching on the server.

Patrice

"think dynamic language + caching on the server." Yes, that's what I am using in Joyent for my facebook programs.

But, since the question was directly about CGI. I just say that the common gateway interface was and still is a gate to powerful programs. Many custom made databases used by banks or websites that handles sensitive information use CGI.

If I create a complex routine in C++ that, for example, transcodifies a video file from divx to m4v or anything CPU intensive... then I would say hat C++ is more efficient by far than a "high level" language. PHP, Actionscript... ("High level" in programming sense, not talking about which programming language is the best because that's a Byzantine question).

A simple, load balanced, C++ program running on a server (or several servers), interacting with Web users will be as good as as you want it to make it, simply because it is written in one of the most powerful and flexible languages available.

On the other hand, as I said, PHP or ASP and many other languages offer faster developments for other kind of situations, naturally.

Since the topic is about CGI my answer remains the same:

Is CGI good? Yes and no. It depends on what are you trying to achieve, what are your resources, etc.-

By the way, what I love when I direct a web project that contains new and original components in C++ is the Freedom. You can create anything you want, and make it execute fast. One has complete control of its performance.

Just to make sure I'm being clear here: I love PHP, and I love C++ and I love to know there are efficient and creative solutions to every challenge.

Kindest regards,
Gaby

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Gaby10

15 years ago

Well, the thing is... a shared hosting service isn't the best ground for those server to server kind of developments. You should try to use buy a dedicated server. Shared hosting gives you too little CPU time.-

I don't know of any online course. But I can certainly recommend you this book: C++ How to Program (Deitel). Because it covers C++ basics, XHTML and CGI!

One of the best C++ books for that kind of developments.

HTH,
Gaby

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truckload-of-thoughts 15 years ago

Thank you very much!
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patfl

15 years ago

Beware of something, CGI are hosted (executed) into the web server environment, from your description you probably need a background process or service.

Don't think CGI as an application because CGI is nothing more than a software extension to the web server.

Not even mentionning that using C++ for that kind of job is unnecessary...

My humble 2 cents.

Patrice

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Gaby10 15 years ago

Originally Posted by techymarketer

Don't think CGI as an application because CGI is nothing more than a software extension to the web server.

You are right, CGI is the "gate", the "way" to make a C++ executable communicate with a server.

Love this thread,
Gaby
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truckload-of-thoughts 15 years ago

Originally Posted by techymarketer

...from your description you probably
need a background process or service.

Can you, please, tell me
what is a "background process"?

Originally Posted by techymarketer

Not even mentioning that using C++ for
that kind of job is unnecessary...

Why?
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- patfl 15 years ago
  
  Hi,
  
  Sure.
  
  A background process is a piece of software that runs silently on your computer or on a server. It usually starts automatically when the computer starts and shutdown only when the computer is turned off. It does its job with very few interactions with the users.
  
  For the kind of software you need, C++ is not the best choice, complexity, development time etc. Unless you're a C++ developer yourself of course.
  
  Patrice
  
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  Gaby10 15 years ago
  
  Patrice, by the way... do you know new Live Framework in depth?
  
  Because a few weeks ago I've received invitations to use of Microsoft servers (Windows Azure...) and have the intention to create something using the Windows Azure SDK.
  
  Drop me a line if you are interested in that stuff.
  
  Thanks!
  Gaby
  
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patfl

15 years ago

Gaby,

I agree on this, C++ is still the best language for coding high performance server process, even if dynamic compiled language (Java and .NET) are getting closer every day performance wise, thanks to the optimizations dynamic or Just-In-Time compilation allows.

However, C++ suffers from a lot of problems: it takes more time to develop because of the lack of a rich set of API like with the .NET framework or all the libs available in Java, it's harder to maintain and a C++ developer costs a lot more than their peers in .NET and Java.

Given all those factors, IMO, the only place where I think C++ should be used is in small devices, phone or PDA where memory and processing power is limited, or, and this is the exception, if you need to build an operating system.

Thanks for this interesting discussion!

Patrice

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Gaby10

15 years ago

"it's harder to maintain and a C++ developer costs a lot more than their peers in .NET and Java."

Amen. That's so true!

Back to work (in PHP btw

)

Gaby

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Gaby10

15 years ago

I agree with Patrice too. If you are interested in CGI or C++ because you want to learn about it, then go ahead and enjoy the ride.

Nevertheless, I was re-reading your first post, and as other forum members said (and myself) fo for the path of least resistance, an easier and quicker way to do what you want is, for example, PHP + CURL.

And, If you are going to start learning PHP, let me advice you this: Start with PHP version 5 (forget about version 4), and try to get an introductory basic book for Object Oriented Programming, which is a 'way' to program something (although these days is almost 'the' way).

Let's recap: If you want to learn about programming 'in general', like Windows Applications, Services, 3D games, and a very very long list... You have a wide range of options. Java, C++, C# and .net Framework.

If you just want to know how to do the specific task mentioned in your first post, then PHP + CURL will be enough (and efficient!).

Time to make choices...

Ask yourself, where do I want to go?

All the best!
Gaby