Writing web pages in Perl with sessions

fx has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello,

A search for 'session' and 'sessions' on this site has, suprisingly, revealed nothing.

I am trying to find the 'best' way to handle user sessions on the websites I have written in Perl. The current methods involve storing a session ID (20 characters, or something like that) in a database/file and retrieving at the start of every page.

This does not seem efficient.

Are there any better ways to do this? Can I store sessions in memory?

I am not using mod_perl if that matters.

Cheers,

fx Edited by boo_radley : closed <b> tag

Comment on Writing web pages in Perl with sessions

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by broquaint (Abbot) on Sep 12, 2001 at 16:37 UTC
I'm no web perl guru, but I've heard on the grapevine that the Apache::Session module could be just you're ticket. It should work even if your not running Apache or mod_perl. HTH broquaint	[reply]
Re: Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by ducky (Scribe) on Sep 12, 2001 at 22:41 UTC
I, too, must advocate the use of Apache::Session. According to a history of the module I read, it has little to do with Apache or Sessions itself and is called "Apache::Session" purely for historical reasons. Apache::Session is the underlying framework to implement your own session system. It's basically an interface to an object store. You tie a hash to, lets say Apache::Session::DBI, use your hash as you like, then when you come back with an id of some sort (from a cookie perhaps, or a session url like http://example.com/session/3F48dfj12578w), your hash will be restored. The nice thing is that storage methods for files and numerous databases are available. Check out the perldoc on it for some examples. As one who rolled his own session management system before discovering this, I highly recommend using this before reinventing another wheel. =) -Ducky	[reply]
Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by fx (Pilgrim) on Sep 13, 2001 at 01:26 UTC
So, Apache::Session is perhaps the way to go - I shall look at that. However, I am still wondering, is there a way to use memory? Surely this would provide quicker storage/access? I seem to remember a particular web-based e-mail client (IMP perhaps?...) using shared memory as a session store... fx	[reply]
Re: Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by ducky (Scribe) on Sep 13, 2001 at 02:05 UTC
Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by arashi (Priest) on Sep 12, 2001 at 17:37 UTC
I've asked a similar question about user sessions a while back, located at this node. Please take a look at one of merlyn's columns (Web Techniques Column 61 - May 2001) in his The Web Techniques Perl Columns. You may also want to look at this node. Hope this helps. Arashi I'm sure Edison turned himself a lot of colors before he	[reply]
Re: Writing web pages in Perl with sessions by blakem (Monsignor) on Sep 12, 2001 at 16:07 UTC
Retry your query at Super Search. The regular search is currently a bit buggy.... -Blake	[reply]

Back to Seekers of Perl Wisdom