Internet World Guide to Maintaining and Updating Dynamic Web Sites

Citation

Wilcox, M. (1998), "Internet World Guide to Maintaining and Updating Dynamic Web Sites", Internet Research, Vol. 8 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/intr.1998.17208eaf.013

Internet World Guide to Maintaining and Updating Dynamic Web Sites

Internet World Guide to Maintaining and Updating Dynamic Web Sites

Jeannie Novak and Pete MarkiewiczJohn Wiley & Sons1998ISBN 047124273XUS$29.99365 pp.John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 605 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10158-0012, www.wiley.com

Keywords Design, Development, Internet

If you are looking for a hands-on tutorial for transforming your Web site from just a standard static document site to a database-driven one, then do not look here. If you take the authors' more liberal approach of dynamic (e.g. a site that is updated constantly by a variety of means) and can look elsewhere for supplemental hands-on materials, then this book might be for you.

The authors are the operators of a design shop and they provide a kind of global look at the overall design process. They cover operating systems, Web servers, development tools, site analysis, site design, site hosting, etc. They do touch on a variety of ways/means to increase the reliability of your site and to make it easier to update with techniques ranging from easier document creation to database backends.

There are not any code samples but there are plenty of URLs and screen shots.

The authors do a good job of covering the scope and breadth of what it takes to run a Web site, small, large or something in between. What I found remarkable (and a bit disappointing) was that there was no discussion of XML or LDAP. While XML was not anywhere near being ready for release when the book was written, it is the basis for Microsofts Channel Definition Format, which is discussed. While LDAP is not truly related to the Web, the authors do discuss groupware/workflow applications for site creation use and also directory information is a common request by users which is what LDAP provides.

There is not a CD-ROM included. While there is a Web site related to the book, I find that CD-ROMs are helpful because you do not have to wait for downloading software discussed in the book, an important consideration when many people only have a 28.8 modem. I feel that this book is targeted more to corporate/education developers who have relatively fast connections (an ISDN or better).

If you have been actively developing your own site(s), you probably will not find any surprises here, or if you like to see code samples in your reading material you will do better to look elsewhere. If you are new to the Web or realise that your site has turned into a ghost-town then this book might be able to give you the kick in the pants to get it updated. While I would have liked to seen a CD-ROM, the sticker-price is about half the normal price for a computer-related book, so that makes it a relatively safe buy. It is not likely to be a classic, but it definitely can help build a foundation for your own understanding.

Mark WilcoxWeb AdministratorUniversity of North Texas