Four Solutions For Creating Searchable Web Databases

Peter Devereaux
by Peter Devereaux 22 Feb, 2008
Four Solutions For Creating Searchable Web Databases

A Website Magazine reader called in this morning and inquired about Web database solutions. It's always good to hear about the needs and wants of subscribers as it helps us understand what they are working on and how Website Magazine can help them be successful. I provided a few suggestions based on the explanation of the project and I thought I would share with our other readers.

The objective was to create a searchable database available on the Web. Sounds simple enough, right? Not really, depending on budgets and expectations for the finished product, there are a variety of possible solutions. Here are a few that I recommended:

1) Caspio Solution: The Caspio Bridge is an enterprise-grade platform for creating and deploying web database solutions that does note requir any programming expertise. I've tested Caspio and found it an intuitive, stable platform that would be an excellent choice for those thinking about launching their own Web application.

2) Open Source Solution: There's usually an open-source solution available that at least somewhat mirrors commercial, enterprise-level software. Sourceforge.net is a repository of such open-source solutions and contains hundreds of database offerings such as Simple Directory Listing, which with a few tweaks might render a workable database app.

3) Custom Software Solution: Open source solutions work fine for many as do hosted database creators like Caspio. There will come a time however when you want a little more control over the finished product. When that happens, developing a custom software solution will be the way to go. If you're looking for specialists in the Web programming industry, look no further than Website Magazine's Who's Who directory. A past issue of our magazine contained a Yahoo! Pipes or Microsoft's Popfly. Let's look at Pipes to see how we can create mashups for this purpose. The "Location Input" module is a module that accepts user-defined location strings. These values can be 'piped' in to other modules or pipes (such as the Yahoo! Local module) that accept a location as input. This module can also be used to let users enter their own location data on a Pipes run page.

 



I hope that helps readers looking for solutions to creating Web databases. Keep sending those questions, and we'll keep offering up answers to help you achieve Web success. If you're not yet a Website Magazine subscriber, sign up for free right now to the most popular print publication for those in pursuit of Web success.

 
Peter Devereaux
Peter Devereaux
As the Editor-in-Chief of Website Magazine and President of Website Services, Peter has established himself as a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Peter has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of digital marketing. His leadership in creating innovative and targeted marketing campaigns has helped numerous businesses achieve their revenue growth goals. Under his direction, Website Magazine has become a trusted source of information and insights for digital marketers worldwide. As President of Website Services, Peter oversees a team of talented professionals who specialize in SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising. Through his hands-on approach, he ensures that his team delivers exceptional results to their clients. With a passion for digital marketing, Peter is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, making him a sought-after thought leader in the field.