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