+Note: this document is work-in-progress, and not tested. ++ +
MacPython allows you to use Python as a CGI scripting language +for your webserver. Moreover, there are some helper applications +that allow you to write your CGI scripts in the same way as for +Unix and Windows, i.e. obtaining their arguments from os.environ +and sending their results to stdout. MacPython also has +all the facilities to program CGI scripts in the Macintosh way, +through AppleEvents, but that falls outside the scope of this +document (reading the source code for the helper scripts will +give you an idea about how to do this).
+ +For the purpose of this document we will assume you are using +Apple's Personal Webserver 1.5, which comes standard with your +machine as of MacOS 9.
+ +The first step is to start the webserver, you will find it +in your control panels. Give it a folder to serve documents from, +and check that it is working by pointing your browser at it.
+ +The next step is to tell the webserver that documents with +a ".py" extension should be served through +the PythonCGISlave helper application. Open the webserver, +choose Preferences, tab Action, Add, Start on Extension, extension +".py", select application PythonCGISlave (which +lives in Python:Mac:Tools:CGI).
+ +The last step is to try it. Put the following script in Macintosh +HD:Webpages:hello.py (assuming your webserver has the default +settings for its document folder):
+ +++ +
print "Content-type: text/plain"
+ print "Hello world!"
+ import time
+ print "Local time is", time.ctime(time.time())
Point your webbrowser at http://localhost/hello.py
+and check whether it works.
+
+
+