Writing Apache Modules with Perl and C: The Apache API and mod_perl
by By Stein, Lincoln and Maceachern, Doug
Category: Computers , Programming Languages , Pascal

Apache is the most popular web server on the Internet because it is free, reliable, and extensible. The  availability of the source code and the modular design  of Apache makes it possible to extend web server  functionality through the Apache API.For the most part, however, the Apache API has only  been available to C programmers, and requires rebuilding the Apache server from source. mod_perl, the popular  Apache module used primarily for enhanced CGI performance,  changed all that by making the Apache API available to Perl programmers. With mod_perl, it becomes simple  to develop Apache modules with Perl and install them  without having to rebuild the web server.Writing Apache Modules with Perl and C shows how to extend  web server capabilities regardless of whether  the programming language is Perl or C. The  book explains the design of Apache, mod_perl, and the  Apache API. It then demonstrates how to use them to  perform for tasks like the following:Rewriting CGI scripts as Apache modules to  vastly improve performanceServer-side filtering of HTML documents, to embed special markup or code (much like SSI)Enhancing server log functionalityConverting file formats on the flyImplementing dynamic navigation barsIncorporating database access into CGI scriptsCustomizing access control and authorization to  block robots or to use an external database for passwordsThe authors are Lincoln Stein and Doug MacEachern. Lincoln is the successful author of How to Set Up and Maintain a World Wide web Site and the developer of the widely used Perl CGI.pm  module. Doug is a consultant and the creator of the innovative  mod_perl Apache module.