How to Create a Javascript Program: Difference between revisions
(A guide to creating and using javascript as a desktop tool running within a browser, brought to you by python.) |
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First, identify the directory or folder on your computer under which all of the javascript you want to access is stored. Then, at the top level of that directory, run this program | First, identify the directory or folder on your computer under which all of the javascript you want to access is stored. Then, at the top level of that directory, run this program | ||
python -m CGIHTTPServer 8000 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null & | |||
By using port 8000 the server is distinct from the one on port 80 used for web applications. The site would appear by putting | By using port 8000 the server is distinct from the one on port 80 used for web applications. The site would appear by putting | ||
http://localhost:8000 | |||
in a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser window running on the same user account on the same machine. Note the redirects for stdio and stderr to /dev/null keeps output from appearing in the console. The server may be killed by identifying its process ID in Linux with the command | in a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser window running on the same user account on the same machine. Note the redirects for stdio and stderr to /dev/null keeps output from appearing in the console. The server may be killed by identifying its process ID in Linux with the command | ||
ps -e | grep python | |||
followed by | followed by | ||
kill -s 9 pid | |||
where "pid" is the ID number found in the first line. Alternatively, if it is the only python process running you may kill it with | where "pid" is the ID number found in the first line. Alternatively, if it is the only python process running you may kill it with | ||
killall python | |||
Any file in the directory tree below the starting directory is now accessible in the browser, and html files will be parsed to run the included javascript. If here is a cgi-bin directory at the top level, the server will see it and use it. One use of this low level server is to create a virtual instrument that is accessible from the web, but not exposed to it directly. A remote web server on the same network that can access port 8000 on the instrument machine can run code and get response from the instrument by calling cgi-bin operations. | Any file in the directory tree below the starting directory is now accessible in the browser, and html files will be parsed to run the included javascript. If here is a cgi-bin directory at the top level, the server will see it and use it. One use of this low level server is to create a virtual instrument that is accessible from the web, but not exposed to it directly. A remote web server on the same network that can access port 8000 on the instrument machine can run code and get response from the instrument by calling cgi-bin operations. | ||
For programmers, however, this utility allows development and debugging of web software without the need for a large server. | For programmers, however, this utility allows development and debugging of web software without the need for a large server. | ||
Revision as of 18:05, 2 February 2017
The browser on your desktop is a computing engine with a well-designed user interface. Behind the interactive environment, it can read local HTML files and execute programs written in javascript. This page is a step-by-step guide to working in that enviroment, with examples and links to get you started with using it as a research tool.
Begin with Python
In order to get started you will need a local web server. Since most likely you will not have one running that is easily accessible, a simple solution is to use python to provide one for you. Python has a built-in module that will run a server and that can be started with one line of python code.
First, identify the directory or folder on your computer under which all of the javascript you want to access is stored. Then, at the top level of that directory, run this program
python -m CGIHTTPServer 8000 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null &
By using port 8000 the server is distinct from the one on port 80 used for web applications. The site would appear by putting
http://localhost:8000
in a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser window running on the same user account on the same machine. Note the redirects for stdio and stderr to /dev/null keeps output from appearing in the console. The server may be killed by identifying its process ID in Linux with the command
ps -e | grep python
followed by
kill -s 9 pid
where "pid" is the ID number found in the first line. Alternatively, if it is the only python process running you may kill it with
killall python
Any file in the directory tree below the starting directory is now accessible in the browser, and html files will be parsed to run the included javascript. If here is a cgi-bin directory at the top level, the server will see it and use it. One use of this low level server is to create a virtual instrument that is accessible from the web, but not exposed to it directly. A remote web server on the same network that can access port 8000 on the instrument machine can run code and get response from the instrument by calling cgi-bin operations.
For programmers, however, this utility allows development and debugging of web software without the need for a large server.