| Linux hosting is an alternative to using | | | | a real estate company letting site visitors |
| Microsoft Windows-based technology for | | | | search for properties of a certain size and |
| operating a website. Linux is an open-source | | | | cost. It is used by popular sites such as |
| operating system, which means the code that | | | | Craigslist and LiveJournal. |
| makes it run is publicly available. This | | | | |
| means computer experts all over the world can | | | | * Python is a programming language which is |
| share ways of improving how the system works. | | | | well-regarded among many programmers. It is |
| Although it is more complicated to understand | | | | relatively sophisticated, but is easier to |
| than Windows, most computer experts say Linux | | | | understand than many programming languages. |
| is much more reliable and less likely to | | | | Python often uses common English words where |
| 'crash'. This makes it particularly useful | | | | other languages simply use symbols. Python |
| for running websites. | | | | also gives programmers the ability to make a |
| | | | draft alteration to a program and check the |
| Linux hosting makes use of several | | | | effects immediately without having to make |
| technologies: | | | | the change permanent. |
| | | | |
| * PHP is a programming language which | | | | * XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a more |
| produces dynamic web pages. These are pages | | | | flexible method of organizing the information |
| which can change in appearance and content in | | | | that makes up a website. With the old HTML |
| response to something the person viewing it | | | | system, each piece of information is labeled |
| does (such as filling in a form). PHP is a | | | | only for appearance (for example 'bold' or |
| server-side language, meaning the program | | | | 'italic'). With XML, any type of label can be |
| runs on the server (the computer that | | | | used. For example, in a page containing a |
| physically stores the website) rather than | | | | recipe, a piece of text could be labeled as |
| the computer being used to view the page. | | | | 'ingredient' or 'safety warning'. XML means |
| | | | that a website owner has much more control |
| * MySQL is a database system used for | | | | over the information on their site. |
| websites. It can be used for features such as | | | | |