Web development is a broad term that covers all aspect of developing application for the World Wide Web. Web development can be sub-divide into three (3) major sections namely:
* Web Designing
* Middleware / Server Side Scripting
* Database Administration
Web Designing
People who work in this area are often referred to as web designers. A web designer is responsible for putting together those lovely web pages that you see in the internet. These web designers work with tools like Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Corel-Draw, and Photoshop etc.
If you are aiming to become a good web designer, then should not limit yourself to the use of HTML and Dreamweaver or FrontPage alone. You need to consider other advanced Web designing tools such as Corel Draw, Fireworks and Photoshop for rich graphics, Flash & other 3-D applications for animations and effects, etc. All these advance applications are commonly referred to as what you see is what you get applications (WYSIWYG). Competency in the use of this different applications make you stand a better chance in the Web designing arena.
Middleware/Server Side Scripting
Middleware / Server side scripting languages include: PHP, ASP, JSP, etc. Middleware is used to get and pass information from the Application server into the Database.
Hyper-text Pre-processor (PHP) - This is an Open Source Software which means that the software is free and can be copied and also redistributed.
Active Server Pages (ASP) - This on the other hand is a commercial middleware programming language From Microsoft. Being a commercial language means that, it comes with constraints of licensing. Therefore, to use this software, you will need to have the proper license for it and the software cannot be copied and redistributable.
Java Server Page (JSP) - is another server side scripting language from Sun Micro
system and it is also open source.
Note: JavaScript unlike PHP, JSP, and ASP is not a Middleware Application. It operates at the front end i.e Application Server level to validate forms before they get submitted into the database.
Database Administration
A database is a repository of information. A database differs from a Relational Database
Management System (RDBMS) in the sense that, a database is used for information storage while a relational database management system is responsible for managing the affairs of the database and other administrative issues. You can visualize the concept by using the analogy of a library and a Librarian. Books are stored and kept in the library - The library in this case can be visualised as a database. The librarian on the other hand manages the affairs of the library - The librarian in this case is an RDBMS.
There are a number of Relational Database Management software that you can choose from and these can range from Oracle, Microsoft, IBM db2, MYSQL and others. The relationship between these RDBMS is that they use the same STRUCTURED QUERIED LANGUAGE (SQL) syntax which each having its own proprietary differences e.g. Microsoft uses Transact SQL which can be used to differentiate it from other RDBMS etc. The differences that these RDBMS have include - Platform, Cost etc. There is no doubt that Oracle for instance provide a very solid and robust database but if you want to run oracle, then you have to be ready to shell out some thousands of ($,=N=,£,€,¥ = Money). The same is applicable to MS SQL while MYSQL is free and also scalable.
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Kazeem Adegboyega provides consulting services to companies. He also regularly instructs in workshops on courses such as CCNA, MCSE, Oracle and other technical courses. Feel free to drop him a line at kazman@theikons.com. |
