Very useful information for Windows users that want to try some web-programming.

Just a few extra things to add:
  • Regarding the last point about 'free redirects', if you want your web server accessible to the Internet with a host name (as opposed to a ever-changing IP address), first go to one of these sites (or Google for "dynamic dns"):

    [url]http://www.no-ip.com/[/url]
    [url]http://dyndns.com/[/url]

    They provide information on how to register and use their service, so no need to explain here.

    One important part of setting up a host name for your server is making sure the server itself is accessible to the Internet. Check that no firewalls are preventing outside access, and add necessary settings in your router to forward requests on port 80 to your internal machine.

  • For those that don't have XP or want an OSS server, there is Apache. It's available on all platforms, but the ********* setup process can be discouraging for new users.