http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=1011740


in reply to HTML as GUI for Perl program

Is this possible without the inclusion of a web server or container to handle the HTTP POST?

No, magic is impossible. HTTP (POST or anything) requires HTTP server, always.

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Re^2: HTML as GUI for Perl program
by tale103108 (Novice) on Jan 06, 2013 at 04:48 UTC

    I don't have to literally do a HTTP POST. All I want is a way to use my browser as a GUI front-end to accept my input to a subsequent Perl script that is then called (when the user hits 'Submit' e.g.) and does its thing. I just was hoping that it would be easier to build a GUI front-end using my browser as opposed to say Tk. And the browser/GUI would make my application friendly to use -- as opposed to command-line arguments or prompts.

      In theory you could try XUL. See also Perl and XUL app for a discussion.

      Practically it's far from being "easier than TK" and if you wanna use "my browser" you need to install "your browser" on the users machine.

      So you can't take any technology for granted when using HTML, with the exception of interacting with HTTP-requests which consequently makes your script a local server.

      Additionally you would need an extra layer of JS for mimicking a dynamic GUI like TK is.

      And all of this won't change the fact that HTTP has no mean to make the frontend react on the server pushing actions. The browser needs to poll for any dynamic changes like e.g progress infos.

      Cheers Rolf

      I don't have to literally do a HTTP POST....

      :) your question wasn't unclear :) browsers are all about TCP/IP, HTTP and them