During testing of the code tagged for the 2.0.41 release a problem
was found in the mod_dav module which meant that the
server would segfault under certain circumstances when DAV was
enabled. After a fix had been checked in, a 2.0.42 tarball was
created for testing purposes.
The question of binary module compatibility was under discussion
this week; the Apache 2.0 interface is still undergoing steady change,
with the result that a module compiled against 2.0.40, for instance,
will not load in 2.0.42 without being re-compiled. Opinions were
divided on whether it is desirable to attain a stable module interface
for Apache; the majority appeared to favour the current approach that
the interface must continue to change as it is improved.
In other news, the rewrite of the authentication modules mentioned
in a previous issue has now
been checked in, and a few teething problems were quickly ironed out.
The documentation team continue to make large strides forward with the
new XML-based Apache 2.0 documentation, this week adding a quick
reference page for all the configuration directives available.
Registration for
the 2002 ApacheCon conference opened this week, and
is already proving to be popular. This year ApacheCon is being held
in Las Vegas, USA from the 19th-21th November 2002, with
an optional day of tutorials available on November 18th.
Sign up for the conference before the end of September and
you'll save a couple of hundred dollars on the registration fee -
perfect spending money for a night out at one of the many casinos or
nightclubs this unique city has to offer.
Apache Week will be on hand to report on the event, we wouldn't
want to miss it. Find out more at the conference web site, or
read our account of ApacheCon
2001 Santa Clara.
In this section we highlight some of the articles on the web that are of
interest to Apache users.
Last week we covered the
worm that exploits the recent OpenSSL security issues. It is now
known as 'Slapper' and is currently being
tracked by Internet Storm Center.
Here's a list of articles about the worm:
"Generate dynamic content with Tomcat and MySQL"
shows you how to create rotating banner advertisements using Apache
Tomcat, MySQL, and the MM MySQL JDBC driver. It is a step-by-step
guide on how to set up Tomcat and MySQL, install the MM MySQL JDBC
driver, and get Tomcat to communicate with MySQL using a Java
servlet .
UnixReview.com provides a
review
of the book "Web Programming in Python: Techniques for Integrating
Linux, Apache, and MySQL". Its conclusion is that if you are interested
in using Python, Apache, MySQL, and Linux to set up your e-commerce
web site then this is the book for you.
There are lots of books about PHP and there are lots of books about
XML, but there are very few books about PHP and XML. Wrox Press have
attempted to fill this niche in the market with "Professional PHP4
XML" and we've two copies to give away. We also kept a copy for ourselves and have
written a comprehensive review
of it.
Weighing in at very nearly a thousand pages this is not a book that
you'll lose down the side of the sofa, but the sheer size of its subject area
means that the priority is breadth rather than depth of coverage. And
that's no bad thing: after absorbing the core of the book you'll be in
a fine position to choose the correct tool for the job in hand.
You'll also have a head start in locating and understanding more
in-depth information on the techniques that you decide to use.
This book is targeted at people with some PHP experience and no XML
knowledge and it is well paced for its target audience; readers with
no PHP or XML experience will probably find it hard going. Although
the book is written like a tutorial it has a number of useful
appendices which will ensure that it remains a useful reference long
after you finish reading it. If you enjoyed other books in Wrox's
"Programmer to Programmer" series then you'll have no problems with
this one.
For a chance to get your hands a copy of the book, answer this simple
question:
What does the M in XML stand for?
A) Markup , B) Microsoft , or C) eMbedded
Send your answer to freebook@apacheweek.com
to reach us no later than September 26th 2002.
Your email address will not be used for
anything other than to let you know if you won. Two winners
will be drawn at random from all correct entries submitted, books
will be dispatched direct by Wrox Press.
One entry per person, no cash alternative, editors' decision
is final, so there.