Is this bbs,the bestbbs3.39 a cgi product?

[xain]

I have been using ASP, and amost learn nothing about CGI. I thought we don't use CGI now, because now there is few sites using CGI technology in China.

This Forum is new to me. It seems the forum creates a htm page for very topic. How can I do that?

[jatar_k]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld xain,

yes this forum software is a cgi product. Each page is actually a couple of files.

>> How can I do that?

it is essentially a 'flat file database'. all the data is stored in files instead of an actual database. The data is then assembled when it is served.

It uses filesystem functions, creating new files for a new thread and appending to files when someone answers a thread

[xain]

jatar_k

Thanks for your answer.

so this forum uses a "Flat File Database", but why?
We use SQL database. What are the pros and cons this database has? Is it faster, or better for SEO?

[jatar_k]

I don't think any system is better for seo, that really depends on the level of stupidity of the individual programmer. ;)

as to why flat file

straight up faster and uses less resources. Well it sure beats on the filesystem and makes searching difficult but it is quite a bit faster.

[lexipixel]

I see people use the term "flat file" and wonder if they are using the correct term:

FLAT - Fixed Length ASCII Text

Does Brett actually use FLAT file, or just plain ASCII text files for BestBBS?

Fixed length (ASCII) text files usually involve either wasted space (if the data does not occupy the total number of bytes allocated for the data), or requires you maintain an index of offset bytes into the data for binary reads...

This is not actaully anything I "need to know"... Just wondering if people still use "FLAT" the way it was originally intended.

[jatar_k]

good point

>> Just wondering if people still use "FLAT" the way it was originally intended

I don't think they do, the term is so often just used to denote text file instead of database anymore, which is how I meant it.

[runner]

So... in general, if you have a relatively low volume application (200 hits per day) would you say a flat file database would be better than a MySQL database? (In terms of using system resources)

[runner]

Let me clarify that question... instead of saying a "flat file database" substitute the phrase "ASCII text file"

[jatar_k]

personally I would choose a database unless something showed that another solution was needed