Can a dynamic website run from a CD?

Carlitos · 07-12-2006, 01:58 AM

Hi there!
One of my clients asked me the possibility to have his web site (PHP/MySQL) on CD for marketing purposes (is an on-line magazine). I know several off-line browsers, but the website becames static. Do you know any solution to this? Any clue is very welcome.

Mrblogs · 07-12-2006, 02:36 AM

You want a dynamic website on CD? What kind of dynamics does it need?

Surely you can't expect it to be using a database?

Javascript can do some automation, as well as Java applets, otherwise I am unsure what exactly you need Dynamic sites for?

RandomCl · 07-12-2006, 01:31 PM

Carlitos,

OutSite-In (http://www.outsite-in.com) is a software that helps you get easily your website off-line and still dynamic even on CD. We call the offline site an "outersite". An outersite manages automatically your PHP and MySQL database on Windows without end-user installation. You can try it for free.

Greetings,

Claudia - OutSite-In Team

setec · 10-16-2006, 07:47 AM

OutSite-In violates MySQL AB Dual Licensing because it contains GPL covered code (MySQL engines) but it's a closed source software and the company doesn't own an OEM license as requested by MySQL Dual License (see http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/).

Searching on the net there are other better products that does the same, even for free (see http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=web+server+on+cd)

priyo · 10-18-2006, 02:24 AM

In my opinion it is not possible.

setec · 10-18-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

In my opinion it is not possible.

Why do you think it's not possible?

imaginemn · 10-18-2006, 08:25 AM

It would be easy enough to create a DLL/EXE file that would run PHP and MYSQL. However, you would probably violate all kinds of license agreements and in the end you would end up with a READONLY database. CD's are locked down so you wouldn't be able to store any data on the CD. If you connected to an external database (on a web server) then it would be more ideal and dynamic. But you would still have the license issue.

setec · 10-18-2006, 08:53 AM

For PHP there's no licensing problem. MySQL requires an OEM License for distribution in a closed source package.

If you check with google (see http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...b+server+on+cd) you will see that most of these products don't create a monolitic EXE/DLL and some provides read/write features for DBs even when started from CD/DVD (using authomatic copy to HD).

imaginemn · 10-18-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setec

For PHP there's no licensing problem. MySQL requires an OEM License for distribution in a closed source package.

If you check with google (see http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...b+server+on+cd) you will see that most of these products don't create a monolitic EXE/DLL and some provides read/write features for DBs even when started from CD/DVD (using authomatic copy to HD).

Well, that would defeat the purpose wouldn't it? If I run it on computer A and the data is stored on computer A than I take the CD to computer B the data would be lost.

setec · 10-18-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Well, that would defeat the purpose wouldn't it? If I run it on computer A and the data is stored on computer A than I take the CD to computer B the data would be lost.

Check the original request:

Quote:

One of my clients asked me the possibility to have his web site (PHP/MySQL) on CD for marketing purposes (is an on-line magazine).

In this situation I don't see the need to be able to move the changes on the DB from a PC to another. If the publisher needs such solution, there are various feasible ways to implement it (i.e. implementing a backup procedure as other kind of software do).

WillB · 10-18-2006, 02:40 PM

You want the user to visit your website, but you want them to put a CD in the drive first? An odd hoop to make the user jump through.

If you want them to go to the site.. direct them to the site! Don't try to put it on a CD!

CDs are for Flash presentations, slideshows and software. Not websites

setec · 10-18-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

You want the user to visit your website, but you want them to put a CD in the drive first? An odd hoop to make the user jump through.

I don't think you have understood the possible use of such applications.

Here is a list of possible use:

- Distribute dynamic catalogs on CD/DVD (i.e. at trade shows).
- Create demo of web application and web scripts (i.e. for trial purpose).
- Create e-Learning solutions to run on CD/DVD (or install on the end user system).
- Distribute on CD/DVD big archives of contents (i.e. encyclopedia).

The purpose of distributing a web site on a CD/DVD isn't to make "the user to visit your website", it's to let the user enjoy the web site without using Internet.

imaginemn · 10-19-2006, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setec

Check the original request:

In this situation I don't see the need to be able to move the changes on the DB from a PC to another. If the publisher needs such solution, there are various feasible ways to implement it (i.e. implementing a backup procedure as other kind of software do).

I did, did you?

Quote:

I know several off-line browsers, but the website becames static.

Where is the original poster.

Personally, If I got a "marketing CD" from a potential vendoer and I had to install ANYTHING on my machine. I would NOT install it and basically throw the disc away and move on to another vendor. I would expect some type of slideshow and in the end direct me to the website itself. That's the whole purpose of the internet. DYNAMIC CONTENT you can control.

setec · 10-19-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

I did, did you?

Please mention a solution that requires to move the data from a PC to another and that can't be achieved implementing a backup/restore procedure as other kind of software do.

Quote:

If I got a "marketing CD" from a potential vendoer and I had to install ANYTHING on my machine. I would NOT install it

Just for curiosity, have you ever tried one of the products are we talking about? I really don't think, otherwise you have probably seen that the end user doesn't need to install anything on his machine to use the CD/DVD.

Quote:

I would expect some type of slideshow and in the end direct me to the website itself.

If your marketing startegy is to provide you users only a slideshow, it's clear you don't need anything different from a Flash / Powerpoint animation.

If you want something a little bit more interactive (i.e. with database queries, dynamic generated charts/maps, shipping costs calculation, ...), maybe you should try one of these products.

imaginemn · 10-19-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setec

If your marketing startegy is to provide you users only a slideshow, it's clear you don't need anything different from a Flash / Powerpoint animation.

If you want something a little bit more interactive (i.e. with database queries, dynamic generated charts/maps, shipping costs calculation, ...), maybe you should try one of these products.

I've been in marketing for over 20 years now. My target audience is fortune 500 companies. High level execs who's laptops are so locked down you CD would not be able to copy anything to the local HD without going through some type of install mode or something to that nature.

All this can easily be done w/flash and XML and YES even PowerPoint. to do dynamic data and all that you mentioned.

To orginal QUESTION WAS:

Quote:

One of my clients asked me the possibility to have his web site (PHP/MySQL) on CD for marketing purposes (is an on-line magazine). I know several off-line browsers, but the website becames static. Do you know any solution to this? Any clue is very welcome

The fact is that there isn't one that is 100% the same as a website. Some of these products come close but it's not the same thing.

Quote:

Just for curiosity, have you ever tried one of the products are we talking about? I really don't think, otherwise you have probably seen that the end user doesn't need to install anything on his machine to use the CD/DVD.

No. Seen various demos. Not impressed. I am much better off creating an interactive DVD promoting my products or an interactive flash demo with XML for dynamic content. However, we are back to the readonly issue.

Quote:

Please mention a solution that requires to move the data from a PC to another and that can't be achieved implementing a backup/restore procedure as other kind of software do.

The ONLY way you can do this is by hosting the database on a webserver. But that would require internet access. At that point, you might as well direct the user to the website. Which has been my whole point to begin with.

setec · 10-19-2006, 09:14 AM

Quote:

High level execs who's laptops are so locked down you CD would not be able to copy anything to the local HD without going through some type of install mode or something to that nature.

If they can run Microsoft Word then they can run these application (using the user temporary folder as Microsoft Word does).

Quote:

All this can easily be done w/flash and XML and YES even PowerPoint. to do dynamic data and all that you mentioned.

Can you give me some link to Flash and Powerpoint scripts that can execute a full text searches? Or that can execute LEFT JOIN queries? Or that can GROUP BY records on 10K table elements?

Quote:

The fact is that there isn't one that is 100% the same as a website. Some of these products come close but it's not the same thing.

Most of these products are stand alone web servers, which is the difference between a web site hosted on an Internet web server and one hosted on a stand alone web server?

Quote:

The ONLY way you can do this is by hosting the database on a webserver. But that would require internet access. At that point, you might as well direct the user to the website. Which has been my whole point to begin with.

This only means that you can achieve what you have requested (move the data from a PC to another) using one of the products we are talking about and implementing a backup/restore feature (as lot of other kind of product does), nothing less, nothing more.

imaginemn · 10-19-2006, 09:27 AM

You must work for one of these companies. I'll drop off now because we are going in circles here and I've spent too much time on this topic. I've express my concerns and will now move on.. Maybe this will work for the poster but he/she has not replied for sometime now.

Oh, as far as computers being lockdown. That's not true. I know of a few companies that even the employees cannot visit websites that are not on the trusted list of websites and many of them can't use a USB memory stick or CD/DVD because the fear of their data being stolen.

setec · 10-19-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

I know of a few companies that even the employees cannot visit websites that are not on the trusted list of websites and many of them can't use a USB memory stick or CD/DVD because the fear of their data being stolen.

If they cannot use CD/DVD then they can't even see your Flash / PowerPoint presentation from CD/DVD, don't they?

imaginemn · 10-19-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setec

If they cannot use CD/DVD then they can't even see your Flash / PowerPoint presentation from CD/DVD, don't they?

Of course not, but then again my target audience is the execs? As a matter of fact, I do the demos face to face using my computer and walk them through it. It's much more effective because I am sure they see it. Anyways, this is so off topic and none of this is no longer productive.

It is interesting that you avoided my other comment about you working for one of these companies.

Carlitos, hope you and your client find what you are looking for.

setec · 11-01-2006, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imaginemn

It is interesting that you avoided my other comment about you working for one of these companies.

It is interesting that you avoided to answer to any of my technical questions. For instance:

Quote:

Can you give me some link to Flash and Powerpoint scripts that can execute a full text searches? Or that can execute LEFT JOIN queries? Or that can GROUP BY records on 10K table elements?

Quote:

Most of these products are stand alone web servers, which is the difference between a web site hosted on an Internet web server and one hosted on a stand alone web server?

The only thing you have been able to tell was:

Quote:

I do the demos face to face using my computer and walk them through it.

But the original questions was:

Quote:

One of my clients asked me the possibility to have his web site (PHP/MySQL) on CD for marketing purposes (is an on-line magazine).

I don't think that an on-line magazine will use such product for face to face demos.

You should not comment a technical choice if you don't have the technical skills required. You should not comment a marketing choice if you base your comment only on your own experience on a different marketing segment ("Fortune 500" companies are different from on-line magazines).