Have to write a paper...

[JesusFreak84]

About something I know nothing about:

Paper: Choosing an advanced Web development tool, subset, language or development environment and providing a detailed analysis of how it is used now and/or can be used to enhance a Web site (minimum 5 pages).

Err.....prof claims our papers are supposed to teach HIM something, but I know squat. I don't even have any ideas on what to Google here....

Anyone have any ideas for something I could write about for 5 pages and actually sound like I know what I'm talking about?

[CreatureArt]

I'm no expert, but perhaps one topic idea could be to look at Flash and how it aids in website interactivity....? ^^

[Puritan]

Flash, XML, Dreamweaver, and Java might be good things to look at. I don't know if you'll teach your professor anything, mind, but these are usually considered advanced tools for website construction. I know there are loads of things on Java, Dreamweaver was (and may still be) considered a premier web site building tool, XML is the advanced website language, and Flash is Flash (and allows you to make fun games online, most used by college students to kill time while ignoring professors in computerized lecture halls or between classes, from the number of people I saw using them like this...)

[Warrior4Christ]

XML is a generalised markup language that is not only for web pages.

I'd suggest PHP (Microsoft's version is called ASP). It's what makes web sites dynamic (ie. not just a page of text and an image, but can render the page depending on state, eg. adding something to a shopping cart on an online store.) This forum uses PHP (as you can see in the address bar). Also Ajax might be an interesting one to look at too. It loads parts of the page as you go, rather than explicitly hitting refresh. It's used in Gmail and flickr, as well as others.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Flash, PHP, and Java are certainly the more easier topics.

And wikipedia is your friend =D

[JesusFreak84]

I thought about Ajax...also considered PHP, but then he mentioned it in class as a potential topic, and I as a general rule try and avoid that because then the prof thinks you just took their idea and didn't care to think.

And yes, I know Wikipedia is my friend.

[Puritan]

XML is a generalised markup language that is not only for web pages.

Most certainly, one of the people in my research group at college was using it to facilitate nuclear simulations. However, it is still a major tool in website development...

And I'd recommend against using Wikipedia, for all the nice aspects of a free encyclopedia, it isn't exactly the most reliable thing in the world, and it makes a horrendous source in a paper. I know no better way to bring down the wrath of a technical writer than reference Wikipedia...

[Ryupower]

maybe web-designing software, Like NVU or Macromedia. ^^

[ClosetOtaku]

I'd suggest Cold Fusion. (http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/)

Web sites are just playthings until you realize just how powerful they are in the business environment. With minimal training needed to open and navigate through a browser, the next step is delivering content that means something.

I work professionally in software development as a program manager. We deal with a lot of front end software (Business Objects and Cognos, for example) that accesses some very heavy-duty databases (one of my apps has over 100 terabytes of online and near-line data). Cold Fusion is one of those applications we use to manage website content, and it provides a nifty and fast way to set up database-to-website delivery.

I suggest browsing through the website, maybe doing some online searches for reviews... I bet you'd come up with a lot of stuff. I can say that they aren't overstating their product.

[Slater]

Ajax is very interesting, actually. Extremely useful, and not too well known.