LAMP

Technology is a combination of software systems that are used to create and run Lariat. It consists of Linux, Apache, Middleware and PostgreSQL and are widely used packages deployed across networks around the world. Below is a list of software we use for Lariat.

Debian Linux

Debian is the server operating system of choice for Lariat. While we can use other flavors of Linux, Debian has proven to be the best choice for Lariat needs.

Apache Web Server

The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to simply as Apache, is a web server notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. Apache was the first viable web server alternative, and has since evolved to rival other Unix-based web servers in terms of functionality and performance. Released under the Apache License, Apache is characterized as free software and open source software. Simply put Apache has thousands of developers behind it and is it's free / open source software used world wide.

Apache supports a variety of features, many implemented as compiled modules which extend the core functionality. These can range from server-side programming language support to authentication schemes. Some common language interfaces support mod_perl, mod_python, Tcl, and PHP. Popular authentication modules include mod_access, mod_auth, and mod_digest. A sample of other features include SSL and TLS support (mod_ssl), a proxy module, a useful URL rewriter (also known as a rewrite engine, implemented under mod_rewrite), custom log files (mod_log_config), and filtering support (mod_include and mod_ext_filter).

Popular compression methods on Apache include the external extension module, mod_gzip, implemented to help with reduction of the size (weight) of web pages served over HTTP. Apache logs can be analyzed through a web browser using free scripts such as AWStats/W3Perl or Visitors.

Virtual hosting allows one Apache installation to serve many different actual websites. For example, one machine, with one Apache installation could simultaneously serve www.example.com, www.test.com, test47.test-server.test.com, etc.
Apache features configurable error messages, DBMS-based authentication databases, and content negotiation. It is also supported by several graphical user interfaces (GUIs) which permit easier, more intuitive configuration of the server.

Middleware

mod_perl, css, html, javascript, latex are all languages used for Lariat brings together the full power of the Perl programming language and the Apache HTTP server. You can use Perl to manage Apache, respond to requests for web pages and much more. mod_perl gives you a persistent Perl interpreter embedded in your web server. This lets you avoid the overhead of starting an external interpreter and avoids the penalty of Perl start-up time, giving you super-fast dynamic content. As you'd expect from the Perl community, there are hundreds of modules written for mod_perl, everything from persistent database connections, to templating systems, to complete XML content delivery systems. Web sites like Slashdot and Wired Magazine use mod_perl. mod_perl is an Apache Software Foundation project and is licensed under the Apache Software License.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

It's a format for writing Style Sheets that Cascade, meaning that it can put together from several sources with out conflicting. It can be used to add lay out and theming to several types of documents.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

The document format used on the Web. Web pages are built with HTML tags (codes) embedded in the text. HTML defines the page layout, fonts and graphic elements as well as the hypertext links to other documents on the Web. Each link contains the URL, or address, of a Web page residing on the same server or any server worldwide, hence "World Wide" Web.

JavaScript

A popular scripting language that is widely supported in Web browsers and other Web tools. It adds interactive functions to HTML pages, which are otherwise static, since HTML is a display language, not a programming language. JavaScript is easier to use than Java, but not as powerful and deals mainly with the elements on the Web page. On the client, JavaScript is maintained as source code embedded into an HTML page. On the server, it is compiled into bytecode (intermediate language), similar to Java programs.

Latex

(pronounced "lah-TEKH" and alternatively denoted as LaTeX), is a programming language that is used for typesetting technical data. It is popular among mathematicians, scientists, and engineers, because it facilitates the use of Mathematical Symbols and equations in text. LaTEX is a variant of the more general document preparation system known as TEX (pronounced "TEKH" and alternatively denoted as TeX). There are several variants, also called "flavors," of TEX other than LaTEX, but LaTEX is the most widely used. All variants of TEX allow the placement of characters, expressions, and illustrations to within a tiny fraction of a millimeter on a display or printed page. The positional tolerance can be modified to match the resolution of any display or printer.

PostgreSQL

A powerful, open source relational database system. It has more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness. It runs on all major operating systems, including Linux, UNIX (AIX, BSD, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, Mac OS X, Solaris, Tru64), and Windows. It is fully ACID compliant, has full support for foreign keys, joins, views, triggers, and stored procedures (in multiple languages). It includes most SQL92 and SQL99 data types, including INTEGER, NUMERIC, BOOLEAN, CHAR, VARCHAR, DATE, INTERVAL, and TIMESTAMP. It also supports storage of binary large objects, including pictures, sounds, or video. It has native programming interfaces for C/C++, Java, .Net, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, ODBC, among others, and exceptional documentation.

Information on this page is derived from several sources including:
Debian Linux
Apache Software Foundation
PostgreSQL
Wikipedia.org