What is ColdFusion and ColdFusion
Web Hosting?
ColdFusion is a server scripting environment for creating powerful
Internet applications. ColdFusion combines intuitive scripting,
effortless connectivity to database information, and effective
built-in search and charting capabilities. ColdFusion enables
developers to easily build and deploy dynamic websites, content
publishing systems, self-service applications, commerce sites,
and more.
ColdFusion web hosting requires both a web server and ColdFusion
server, as explained below: How does ColdFusion
work?
When a web user requests a ColdFusion page, the web server
receives the request and then passes it on to the ColdFusion
server. ColdFusion then reads the data sent and processes
the ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) used in the page. Based
on the CFML, the ColdFusion server executes the logic and
interacts with the database(s) or other technologies requested.
ColdFusion then generates an HTML page, returns it to the
web server and the web server then passes the page back to
the user's web browser. As slow as this may sound, proper
ColdFusion web hosting allows all of this to happen with remarkable
speed and efficiency.
What is ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML)?
ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) is the tag-based server-scripting
language that allows rapid development of web sites powerful
enough to handle the most demanding web-application logic.
CFML is ideally suited to programming applications that use
HTML and XML as CFML syntax is closely related. This makes
programming easy for new developers while advanced developers
can easily extend CFML through custom tags, reusable components,
and user-defined functions.
Who should use ColdFusion?
ColdFusion is designed to build dynamic websites and Internet
applications. New developers will enjoy the short learning
curve of this intuitive server scripting environment. Advanced
developers will appreciate ColdFusion's more advanced features
and components, most of which are listed below:
Advantages of ColdFusion:
Simplicity and Power All Rolled Into One:
· ColdFusion comes with a rich set of built-in
capabilities that deliver high performance and scalability.
· Intuitive HTML-like tag-based language.
· Fewer lines of code are required by handling
low-level programming tasks automatically and reusing code.
· Custom tag libraries, reusable components,
Java/C++, and thousands of available third-party add-ons allow
advanced users to easily extend ColdFusion web capabilities.
· Cool, integrated ColdFusion web application
services for adding full-text search and dynamic charting.
· Macromedia Flash developers can now use the
same scripting language for both client and server logic.
· Dreamweaver MX fully supports ColdFusion MX
features allowing for powerful visual layout abilities, enhanced
code editing and development capabilities, and integrated
debugging.
· All the scalability, reliability, and power
of the Java platform in a less complex environment.
· Easy integration with your existing technology
infrastructure.
· Support for the leading server operating systems,
web server software, mail servers, directory servers, file
systems, and relational database management systems.
Disadvantages of ColdFusion:
· The biggest disadvantage of ColdFusion is that
it is a closed source technology and the development is handled
completely by one company. Therefore new features cannot be
added and bugs cannot be fixed nearly as
quickly as in a popular open source solutions.
· Another problem with ColdFusion is that it
is expensive. You are required to purchase a new copy of the
server (which costs hundreds to thousands
of dollars) to obtain features that have been added since
your original product purchase (which costs
hundreds to thousands of dollars).
· What's New in the Latest Version of
ColdFusion:
ColdFusion MX 7
· Rich Flash Forms
Using just a few ColdFusion tags, rich Flash
forms can be built in minutes.
· New Application Classes
Interfaces with mobile phones using SMS
text messaging, XMPP (the emerging IM standard), and other
Internet protocols.
· New Dreamweaver Extensions
Increase your productivity by using the
new ColdFusion Extensions for Dreamweaver MX to build applications
rapidly.
· Rich Charting Capabilities
Produce stylish, bold charts and graphs
with modifiable attributes that can control animation, colors,
labels, and more.
· Faster Deployment on J2EE
For quick and easy deployment on leading
J2EE servers, package an application and the ColdFusion runtime
into a single Java archive.
· Source Code Security
Make your source CFM files invisible by
compiling them into Java byte-code for distribution and execution.
· New Search Power
Enable highlighted search terms, searching
within a results set, spelling suggestions, and hierarchical
category searching with the latest Verity
technology.
· Structured Business Reports
Easily design and generate high-quality,
repeating group, structured business reports.
· Printable Web Content
Using just a single tag you can transform
web content into high-quality printable, portable documents
in PDF or FlashPaper 2 formats.
ColdFusion Web Hosting FAQs
* Does ColdFusion Web Hosting require the use of
any special tools?
Because ColdFusion integrates its code
(CFML) with standard HTML code, you can use any standard
Web development application or a text
editor to develop your templates.
* Which databases can I use when web hosting a ColdFusion
site?
ColdFusion MX 7 supports most major databases,
including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase,
and IBM Informix.
* Which web servers can I use when web hosting a
ColdFusion site?
ColdFusion MX 7 supports most major web
servers, including IIS, Apache, and Sun ONE (formerly iPlanet).
* Which operating systems are supported?
ColdFusion MX 7 supports most major operating
systems, including Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux, and
AIX.
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