In a recent article, we saw how easy it is to get a web server up and running on Windows with PHP, IIS, and SQL Server Express using the Web Platform Installer. In this article, Akash explains how to use those tool together to build a simple web app.

Web development frameworks enable you to build highly functional applications very quickly, and are increasingly seen as a must for any new project. Python-based Django bills itself as “the Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines,” and after following along with Akash’s crash course, I think you’ll have to agree!

Google’s Social Graph API gives developers access to a wealth of public social data mined from the Web. In this tutorial, Louis extends a Ruby on Rails user registration form to query the API and suggest site URLs for users to add to their profiles.

Want to create a customized blog, without having to deal with the complexity of WordPress? Introducing Jekyll, a web site creation engine with a sophisticated templating system that’s dead simple to use. In this article, Simon Pascal Klein shows you how to use Jekyll to create a feature-rich blog quickly and easily.

Ever updated a web site’s markup and CSS only to have it render incorrectly when you load it in your browser? Perhaps you’ve had to tell a co-worker or client that they needed to refresh the site or empty their browser cache to view your updated site correctly? In this article, Zach shows us a few methods to avoid these headaches and turn the browser cache from a foe into an ally.

The new Web Platform Installer from Microsoft makes setting up PHP and PHP-based applications on Windows a breeze. Louis walks us through what’s available with this new tool and shows us how simple it is to start off with WordPress or Drupal on Windows with IIS.

One of the exciting new features in ColdFusion 9 is the addition of a web service layer wrapping several aspects of ColdFusion's functionality. Kai shows us how to access those services from an AIR app to manipulate images online.

Your readers want to have their say! In this article Kai shows you how to add a rating widget to your ColdFusion 9 app using a custom tag and some Ajax magic courtesy of the Adobe Spry JavaScript library.

Git represents the current state of the art in version control tools, but it’s surprisingly easy to use. In this article Alec Clews introduces Git and demonstrates why it’s your new best friend.

Tired of the same old URL shorteners like TinyURL, tr.im or bit.ly? Ever wished you could run your very own URL shortener? In ColdFusion, it’s probably easier than you think.