CGI Mailing Software Installation

Can't install cgi software

[abstractofmylife]

I've been building website for a while now but I've soley relied on free hosts, sub domains and tools that are easy to understand. I still use free sites because I'm not sure how popular my page will be but I have a problem. According to the site, they use LINUX servers, I happen to use a Windows PC (because I'm lazy) and am having trouble trying to compile a CGI Form - to - Email program to upload to the site. I found a small program that emulates a Unix shell but after following their instructions and trying many different things, I still cant get the thing compiled! Is it possible that someone could do this for me and send me the final files, because I refuse to learn a new shell language just to compile one piece of software (for obvious reasons). Here is the site: cgiemail [web.mit.edu] And could someone tell me why you have to compile these things and not just download the preconfigured files?

[MrSpeed]

You are trying to download the source files. You should have been downloading the compiled binary files. But don't do it anyways. That program looks very harsh. I'm sure there are better scripts that are easier to install.

Others may chime in but the last time I used a CGI script for email I used Matt Wrights Formscript. Do a search for "Matt Wrights Formmail"

Using a free host because your not sure how popular your site will be is not a good enough reason. There are 100's of hosts available for less than $5/month that make it a breeze to set up a site. Many of these hosts use something called Cpanel/Fantastico to automate the installation of common scripts.

If you insist on free hosting there are free hosts that will meet your needs. Geocities let's you set up email forms and what not.

Also have you considered other options like blogger or xanga?

[abstractofmylife]

I'll look into the other script, thanks for that. But when I say I can't afford a real site... I mean I'm 15 and have no job. :) I have found a way to get a $10 a year domain and $50 single payment hosting but I'm not going to waste what little money I have on a blog as of right now. And as for Blogger, I'm using them for my main page and Fateback hosting for my other pages since Blogger doesn't support more than a homepage.

[MrSpeed]

Since it sounds like your just starting out I would lean towards a PHP based script. Perl has lost a lot of interest since PHP has become so popular.

There is a site called HotScripts where you can search for scripts, many of them are free.