cgi script suggestions?

[LeafWind]

Okay, having gotten my very first cgi script installed and working, I want to do more! Still, I don't know enough yet to know just what I'm looking for. If anyone knows of any good, free (or really cheap), simple scripts to do the following, I would really appreciate recommendations . . .

1) a whois lookup, so that people can see if their domain name of choice is available or not. It would be cool if I could customize the output, like "Yes, www.whatever.com is available, *click here* to get us to build you a site under this name . . ." or something like that.

2) an organized links script, would like to have catagories defined by me, and would like to let people add information (telephone, street address) even if they don't have a URL. This is for a local directory for our city that I'd like to set up -- there's one here already, but you have to pay to get in it, and I think there should be a free one (though it would be cool if people would pay for banner adds space). I'd really like it to be searchable, too.

3) a simple banner rotation script. I've heard that this can be really resource-intensive, how do I find one that isn't? (Or should I learn how to do it with xSSI instead?)

4) How much space and resources does it take to run a virtual postcard service on your site?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions! I'm just brainstorming at this point, and wondering what's available.

Take care,

Bekariso

[Deb]

1. http://www.cdomain.com

2. There is a decent free one is at http://www.getcruising.com/crypt/_linkmat.html

3. http://www.purelybymagic.com/scripts/ Only server intensive when you are running things like link exchange... on the norm just rotating banners from and on your own site are not a problem.

4. It really depends on how busy it is... some are no problem some are massive... just depends on how far you go with it.. You may want to start with the card script on bignosebird.com

Enjoy!

Deb

[Justin]

I wrote (today) a simple banner rotation script that logs clicks, and it would take me 3.12 seconds to make it add logging of impressions (I didn't because I use my stats to figure that, and it uses less resources this way). Let me know if ya want it - just leave my copyright in tact http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif (That's a joke - do what you want with it)


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)
The individual formerly known as SFE Inc.

[Justin]

I'll write a readme for it and find somewhere to post it for free. Don't worry about having to put my hideous banner in the rotation, either http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif I'm still working on adding more features, and I never thought about the idea of limiting each banner by x number of impressions and / or clicks, and I like that. Should be easy.

Oh, and I'll write a readme when it's done http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)

[LeafWind]

Thanks!

Perhaps I have a good sense for this kind of thing -- I had already found cdomain-free *and* the bignosebird.com postcard script. http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif
That banner rotation script looks good, Deb -- and yes, all banners will be stored on our domain. I don't actually *have* any banners to rotate yet, though, so no rush on that script.

Justin, I'd be happy to consider your banner rotation script too, just have a good readme file -- I'm still very new at this cgi stuff. I like the idea of supporting other FQ community members -- are you going to offer your scripts publically? If you want, I'll put your banner in the rotation in return for the use of your script (and your help in getting it working). Though a random rotation will be find at first, it would also be nice to be able to sell x-number of banner impressions or click-thrus, and to be able to configure the script accordingly. But no hurry, as I don't even have banners yet.

The link indexing script looks good, but that's a hideously ugly button he wants me to display in return for using it. Perhaps a silly reason not to use the script, but there you go . . . wondering how it would affect my karma to use just a text link instead . . .

Right now I think I'll go try to get the domain look-up up and functioning -- it seems the simplest to start with, to see if I still remember how to do this.

Thank you both for your help and suggestions!

Bekariso


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www.LeafWind.com (http://www.LeafWind.com)
Growing web sites that thrive in the winds of change.