Building web applications using Codeigniter (Installing Codeigniter)

Codeigniter is a powerful PHP framework which can be simply used to create full featured web applications.   This framework is based on the MVC Architecture. Here I am using Netbeans IDE as the editor. 

MVC Architecture

MVC or Model View Controller Architecture is a well known software designing pattern in creating web applications.One of the main advantage or a purpose of using MVC is to seperate business logic and the application data from the presentation layer. Model is the one who carries business logic and the application data. It handles data processing. Controller works as the mediator and converts input as commands for the model or the view. View is the interface shown to the user simply view is the presentation. Codeigniter is using this MVC architecture in it.

Get start with Codeigniter

Requirements

1.WAMP server

2. Netbeans IDE (as the editor)

Install codeigniter
1. Download Codeigniter. Latest version can be downloaded from Codigniter official website.
2. Unzip the package.
3. Upload the CodeIgniter folders and files to your server. (eg:- www folder of WAMP server. Create a folder with your project name and copy Codigniter files and folders into it).
4. Then, create a Netbeans project. Create a new PHP project with existing sources and select the folder you created.

 

5. Run the project. You will see the welcome message of Codeigniter in your browser.

6. Here are some important notices.

•  If you are using a database, edit application/config/database.php according to your database settings. 
•  Edit application/config/config.php to set your base URL. Location of your project folder. (eg:- if hosted in localhost,   http://localhost/ProjectName/)

taadaaa.... You have successfully installed codeigniter. Now you can create your own app...

DNSChanger Check up

Internet is one of the main sources for malwares which damage our computers. Since last few months 'DNSChanger' which is kind of a Trojan, has ruled the world of malwares. Thus, FBI, America has repeated the warning that as many as half a million computers still infected with the malware could lose their Internet connections on July 9 because the agency is shutting down an expensive workaround to the problem.
This DNSChanger virus affects the Windows and MAC systems and it was around the Internet since 2007. What it basically does is changing the DNS settings used by the system. DNS (Domain Name System) is an Internet service that converts user-friendly domain names (www.google.lk) into the numerical Internet protocol (IP) addresses (192.232.134.52) that computers use to talk to each other. First, DNSChanger changes the computer’s DNS server settings to replace the ISP’s good DNS servers with rogue DNS servers operated by the criminal. Second, it attempts to access devices on the victim’s small office/home office (SOHO) network that run a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server (eg. a router or home gateway). Further, this virus can spread itself into other machines if you are using a LAN by changing the settings of the router. Making it worse, this will block you from accessing anti virus softwares too.
The Bottnet network which was used to spread this DNSChanger was disabled in last November by FBI, USA through their special mission called 'Ghost Click'. Moreover, most of the anivirus software companies have updated their products against this malware. Even though several actions took placed, it was found that about half a million affected computers are still have access to internet as its users are not aware about this malicious software. Thus, FBI has announced that these computers will lose their Internet connection from July 9 onwards.

Fortunately, there are no infected computers reported from Sri Lanka yet. But still you can have a check up for your computer for this DNSChanger at http://dns-ok.us/. If you get DNS Resolution = GREEN in green, you are safe. Else, if you get  DNS Resolution = RED in red, it is better to have a complete system scan and remove DNSChanger via an updated antivirus software.

Source : http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911 

Installing Horde in WAMP

Here is a simple way to install Horde in WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) server.

1. Extract downloaded  tarball “horde-latest.tar” in WAMP “www” folder. (It can be downloaded from  http://www.horde.org/download/horde )

2. In order to create database tables go to /scripts/sql and open ‘create.mysql.sql’ by import mode in wamp server.

3. Test horde using this URL. http://your-server/horde/test.php