[smartydebater]

Hi, I'm starting to make a Perl script that will authenticate users for my website (every page that a user tries to access.)(I do have full CGI access on my server.) Basically this is what I want the Perl script to do:

1. Check a database of users compare username and password to one entered in login form.

2 Also check account level. (Make sure that the user has access to the directories he/she is trying to access.)

3. Keep the user logged into the website using cookies

My problem is that I really don't want to use HTTP Authentication to get the job done. (Should I? Or do I have to use HTTP Auth?) I believe in my case I would want to use cookies and Perl because I have extremely specific things I want to do, but I don't understand how Perl can read cookies to authenticate a user and stop it once it was authenticated from accessing a private directory.

So if anyone would help outline what I need to do or give me a website that will help me that'd be great.

Yes, I am a begginer (if even that) to Perl.
If you need anything more specific just ask!
Thanks!

[penfold]

Why perl? I've found that php is MUCH easier to use than perl. I've done both and much prefer php.

[smartydebater]

Well, I've done a small amount of work in each and what I don't like about php is how it actually goes into your html page's coding. I know that it gets executed on the server before it reaches the client but I find it annoying when writing my html. And I just like the sheer power of perl.