sumeiko — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 03:37:56 +0000

Thanks Abhishek!

Abhishek Reddy — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 09:24:08 +0000

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is a sort of server-side framework, similar to PHP or ASP, which allows a developer to build "dynamic" web sites. "Dynamic" meaning one with scripts and processes, instead of just static HTML pages. It is used to make such applications as shopping carts, user management, database interfaces and so on.

Just as with PHP or ASP or any server-side framework, the server that will host the web site would need certain services installed in it to handle the scripts. PHP, for instance, requires a PHP module to be installed alongside the web server software.

Server support for server-side scripting is commonly treated by web hosts as a premium feature -- that is, not something they give free. Most generic paid hosting packages include support for one language or another, potentially CGI. This is what the reader is referring to. It is correct.

It is worth noting, as a special case, that sometimes you do find hosts giving away free hosting -- now commonly for promotional purposes or limited-time offers -- which includes CGI or other server-side support. But anyone who finds and signs up for these things can be expected to be aware of the nature of CGI availability.

As well, some ISPs don't provide CGI even to paying customers -- some don't even offer any kind of web space. These are specialised packages, I suppose, so the reader must be generally correct on that, though.