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