As you progress through learning about CallXML, you will eventually want to integrate some form of server side language as a backend, to increase the power and flexibility of your application. The Lessons that follow will give you a taste of how you can supercharge your application and add dynamic features that CallXML doesn't come with 'out of the box'. In addition, adding a backend to your application can greatly reduce maintenance to the application itself, thus, giving it a longer 'shelf life'.
When To Use A Server Side Language?
Good question, folks. If your application has a fixed set of parameters, and requires no changes to be made to it on the fly, then chances are, you will not really need to integrate a backend with your existing application. But, if you find that you will need to access a database of information within your app, or if you simply want to have the ability to add dynamic content, then you probably have already thought about adding your favorite flavor of serverside markup into the fray. Coding an application with straight CallXML is just fine and dandy, thankyouverymuch, but the *real* potential of CallXML is harnessed when we add some ASP, PHP or JSP into the mix.
Which One Should I Use?
It really doesn't matter. Some people prefer the simplicity of using the relatively easy ColdFusion markup, while other diehards are adamant about sticking with the more complex 'write once run anywhere' Java language. Whichever flavor of language that you are comfy with that can output CallXML is just peachy by us. As long as you have a hosting server set up to dish out the content, and have a working knowledge of the markup, then it makes absolutely no difference which one to use.
Hosting
Be aware that the Voxeo webhosting service does not have provisions for any file extensions other than .xml, .gsl, and .grammar files. Attempting to run any of the following tutorials when the files live at webhosting.voxeo.net simply won't work. If you do wish to run these tutorials, then you will need to find a host that supports the appropriate markup language. If you do not have a webserver in-house to accomadate this, then a simple Google search for '(PHP/JSP/whatever) hosting' should turn up dozens of possible candidates for you to mull over.
Server Side Tutorials -- An Overview
You will find the following section of the Voxeo CallXML Guide chock full of samples and techniques that demonstrate using CallXML with several different brands of backend languages. If you think that you have got The Right Stuff, and have some wisdom (and sample code!), that you would like to share with the developer community, share it! We will be happy to add your cool tricks of the trade to our documentation, and put Your Name up in Big Lights, thus showing all your friends, family and the Girl Back Home that you are much, much smarter than they thought you were.
'Stick with me, kid, and I'll make you a Star......'
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