Blogging Techstacks

Top Posts of 2011

Here are the top 10 posts of 2011 for my blog, which were published during 2011.

1. Adding iTerm2 Themes

iTerm 2 is a great replacement to the built-in OS X Terminal.app and back in February 2011, iTerm 2 introduced support for themes. Initially, it was pretty tricky to figure out how to import themes, which was why I created this post.

2. OMG! A *JBoss* Worm!!

JBoss solidified its leadership over Glassfish in October 2011 when a nasty worm affecting JBoss was released.

3. Suppressing the X-Powered-By Header in JBoss

This post provides remediation instructions for one of the more commonly found Information Disclosure vulnerabilities on JBoss-powered sites.

4. Here's a Preliminary "Apache Killer" Test Script

Back in August, 2011, the Apache Range Header vunerability was announced with exploit code that allowed anyone to easily DoS an apache site. This script was an initial attempt to detect that vulnerability.

5. Tomcat 6 Directory Locations on Ubuntu Server 11.04

Many of us are accustomed to the directory layout provided with a stock Apache Software Foundation-provided Tomcat distribution. Ubuntu places files in alternate locations. This post was written so I could easily refer to it when working with Ubuntu and, apparently, it was useful to a few thousand people.

6. Verifying 'WebDAV HTTP Method PROPFIND Enabled' Remediation was Successful

Older IIS installations commonly suffer from this vulnerability and the script provided in this post provided a mechanism for safely displaying the problem while also verifying remediation was successful.

7. Update - Adding iTerm2 Themes

In July 2011, iTerm 2 theming support was overhauled making themes easier to manage.

8. Tomcat Crashes Soon After Successful Startup - Common Causes

This post documented common things that caused tomcat to crash after startup as well as the one that caused me problems.

9. Some Good HTML5 Articles

Dustin Marx posted a lot of useful and interesting HTML5 articles towards the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2011. I posted this article linking to them, which wound up getting posted to DZone. Hopefully, this provided his site some well-deserved, additional exposure.

10. Mitigating the Apache Range Header DoS on Ubuntu Apache 2.2

This post is fairly self-explanatory, providing remediation for the Apache Range Header vulnerability on Ubuntu.

Site Change: Removal of Amazon Product Preview Code

It's a small change to the blog that most people won't notice but it is one less piece of javascript code executing on this site.  The Amazon Product Preview code would pop up pricing information on Amazon-related product links on this blog whenever the mouse hovered over them.  To be honest, I think they're annoying when I find them on other sites and completely forgot that I had them on this site, so they are now gone.

The Convenience of Java Hosting

This is a guest post by Zoe Davis from Hosting Observer.

What is java hosting and a jsp server? Primarily, it’s an integrated form of web hosting whereby dynamic content can be seamlessly interwoven within a pre-existing or entirely new static HTML or XML framework. Much like PHP, Java allows web developers to integrate actions and forms within a web page without revealing their code; the jsp server performs the actions, and the page is read as a standard HTML document.

What are its uses?

A jsp server is especially useful for performing complex actions or animations in a web page environment. Common uses include allowing a client to securely access an HTTP address without having to go to a special page, as well as inputting information, such as that received from an e-commerce site, into a database. The Java server also makes it easy to incorporate vivid animation scripts, whether it's a sleeping cat or an arresting corporate graphic.

A convenient solution

Unlike PHP code, Java has far more in common with HTML in terms of how the code is put together and how actions are executed. While PHP is coded using brackets. The programmer must specify an insertion using the ‘int’ code and the % sign. When the insertion of the specific servlet is specified into the HMTL code, the jsp server will generate the necessary detailed code and activate the servlet.

Those individuals who load the page in their browser will be treated to a complex and in many cases interactive experience. The JSP Server allows web designers to quickly insert and update content into their web sites without significantly altering the code of their HTML pages. This is wonderful for long standing websites that wish to update their pages without alienating their core audiences.

Pros and Cons

In PHP, a separate inclusion file is required, and a secured password file that allows the file to access the database. In Java, the servlet lives on the server, and the code needed to activate it is simple enough that no additional backdoors or separate files are required. In essence, Java streamlines the process of coding an interactive and visually active web page, putting complex functionality within the grasp of virtually any dedicated or novice programmer.

The only con to the Java server and Java hosting is its relative paucity with mainstream providers. Because PHP and other languages have long dominated the server environment, cheap web hosting plans have not incorporated the JSP server as frequently. However, its smooth functionality and accessibility have raised its profile in many providers minds. Instead of being purely a high-end hosting option, many providers are now recognizing that Java has enormous potential as a hosting language, and are increasingly changing their policies.

Another potential con: programmers who have never tackled Java may initially be frightened by the variety of terminology involved in executing and creating a servlet, but will quickly discover that the language is very fluid and easy to learn. Overall, Java code is much cleaner and easier to write than other forms of interactive code; it also allows for much more compact files than PHP, which maximizes page load times. Those individuals who are already familiar with Java should place a call to their provider to find out if the service is offered. If not, there are numerous JSP specific hosting server on the web who provide the serving environment for a very affordable rate.

Different Types of Java Hosting

For those who are keen to implement a JSP environment, www.hostingobserver.com is an excellent place to start. The website is a compendium of different web hosting servers from around the internet. The site offers a clear breakdown of benefits, services, and even links to user ratings to provide you with a clear sense of what you’re getting when you sign up.

About the Author

Zoe Davis works as a copywriter for Hosting Observer -an online guide to find the best website host for your hosting needs. She is passionate about writing about the latest emerging technologies. While she is not writing, she enjoys travelling around the world and taking pictures.