CodeGeex

As we discussed back in our first CF_101 discussion, ColdFusion is all about causing HTML to dynamically change based on data provided to it. And while it is possible to supply this data manually each and every time you need it (like through forms, for example) it is far more reasonable to be able to store that data somewhere for later use. Large collections of stored data are called Databases, and they are incredibly useful for keeping data neat, organized, and easy to look up in the future. And in order to do this data lookup, we have to turn a scripting language called SQL.

SQL (most commonly pronounced "sequel") is the language of choice when it comes to communicating with most popular databases nowadays. While there are some minor variances between the two more commonly used flavors, MSSQL and MySQL, they are very similar for the most part - I will note differences as we come across them. But for the moment, we need to address the most common of database interactions, a group of procedures that we web developers lovingly refer to as CRUD.

You like CRUD, right?

Its time for an HTML Primer! Whether this is fresh material or age old review, it doesn't hurt to make sure we are all talking about the same thing. And that thing-of-the-moment is HTML, or Hyper Text Markup Language. Much how French is the language of love, HTML is the language of the World Wide Web, and the common verbiage that all the various web browsers translate for us into pretty layouts and colors and gradients and such.

Don't believe me? Go to pretty much any website, Right Click anywhere on the background of it and select View Source. Unless you happen to be on a particularly Flash or Silverlight heavy site, the odds are you will be greeted with a big block of plain black & white text peppered with lots of "<"s and ">"s. Welcome to the world of HTML source! Now the real question... what the hell does it mean? Time to go over the basics!

ColdFusion is a powerful engine for delivering dynamic web content and web based applications. The site you are currently reading is written mostly in ColdFusion (or CFML, Cold Fusion Markup Language) that has been enhanced with Javascript and styled with CSS. 

Just to dip your toe in the water, so to speak, here is a simple "Hello World" App in ColdFusion:

<cfset testMsg = "Hello World">
<cfoutput>
	#testMsg#
</cfoutput>

Pretty straightforward, eh? The first line is setting a variable (in this case a "string" of characters) and then the other three lines simply cause it to output. If this script was saved as a .cfm file and served from a CF server, viewing the page would result in:

Hello World

Very basic, I know, but you have to start somewhere! Lets get a little more in-depth here. After the jump, we can discuss the nitty-gritty of how the World Wide Web does it's thing, and how ColdFusion is a powerful tool in bringing that Web to life.