Benefits of Using Web<ToolKit>

Web<ToolKit> simplifies writing Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs or other HTML applications in C++. The benefits of using Web<ToolKit> include:

Reuse - Using Web<ToolKit>, you can write CGI programs in C++. This allows reuse of all existing C++ libraries and interfaces. Using Web<ToolKit> also eliminates the need to wrap existing interfaces to implement CGI programs in a scripting language.
Simplicity - Using Web<ToolKit>, there is no need to worry about special characters in HTML text or in form data. There also is no need to learn any of the HTML syntax, including cumbersome start and end tag rules. Web<ToolKit> reduces common mistakes and allows you to focus on the tasks, rather than the tools.
Maintenance - Using Web<ToolKit>, programmers can use familiar object-oriented techniques, such as encapsulation, to manage large and complex CGI programs. This feature reduces the cost of extending and modifying CGI programs. Without Web<ToolKit>, HTML must be embedded in scripts that have few facilities for managing complexity.
Error Detection - With constraints enabled, Web<ToolKit> provides helpful diagnostic output to troubleshoot invalid Web page composition.
Standards Compatibility - Web<ToolKit> utilizes the ANSI/ISO Standard Template Library (STL) and string class. This compatibility positions code for portability and reduced long-term maintenance.

As shown in the following figure, Web<ToolKit> is a layer on top of an ANSI/ISO-compliant Standard Template Library (STL) and ANSI/ISO string. Although Recursion Software provides an ANSI/ISO STL and string, Web<ToolKit> will work with most implementations of the ANSI/ISO-compliant STL and string.