C/C++ Programming

C is a well established programming language that allows development of applications that can be executed with no additional files required except the executable file. C can be compiled on most operating systems and all major ones, the resulting binary can also be executable or a linkable library. C++ ("C Plus Plus") is a newer and more powerful version of C, it has the same multiple operating system uses.

Java Programming

Java is an extensive language built from many small packages each of which contain various types of tools. Java will execute on many different operating systems at several different levels making it very versatile. Execution time with Java is a little slower than C/C++ but this is not always an issue, Java also requires a 'Java Virtual Machine' to be installed onto the operating system.

Visual Basic Programming

Visual Basic is not a basic language - it is powerful enough for most applications and is extensible using C/C++ link libraries. Visual Basic was designed to build applications with graphical interfaces quickly and reliably although it is limited to Microsoft operating systems and requires the Visual Basic libraries to be installed onto the operating system. The speed of execution is medium, somewhere between C/C++ and Java.

Perl / PHP

Perl and PHP are scripting languages that are relatively powerful, they will execute on most operating systems and perform tasks on servers around the world all day long. PHP is commonly used to provide dynamic web sites, digi-masters.com use PHP for most web sites, but it is also powerful as a scripting language. Perl is mostly used as a scripting language although a web server can be configured to provide dynamic Perl content.

Linux / UNIX / BSD

Linux, UNIX and BSD are operating systems commonly used for servers, often they will have no graphical interface or even a monitor and are instead connected to remotely. These operating systems are very powerful and reliable and are available free of charge and also commercial versions for a small charge, the operating system is usually completly open-source which allows anybody to view and compile the operating system and its tools.

SQL / Database

Databases are essential to the modern world and are used in many formats to store many different types of data. Databases store records containing a set of fields within tables of records, a programmer can then use a query language such as SQL to insert, update, delete and retrieve records as required. Because a database is simply a list of well organised data operations can be executed very quickly and the programmer can affect the results by using many different options to filter, sort, organise, etc.

Flash

Adobe Flash (previously Macromedia) is an animation tool designed for the Internet and portable media, it uses sophisticated compression techniques and vector graphics to minimise the total file size and therefore the speed at which it loads. Flash is a powerful graphics tool but it also contains a scripting language allowing complete interactivity and near limitless application possiblities.

Virus / Trojan

Many people are familiar with the term Virus but the risks and effects of a Virus on a users computer is often unknown, a Virus can infect a computer in many ways but the most common is via email or web browsers. A Virus will often not identify itself and without adequate anti-virus software can lie undetected indefinately, the Virus could be sending spam emails from your computer, it could be retrieving and recording personal data or it could be malicous and deleting random files from the computer eventually rendering it unusable. A Trojan is similar to a virus however it opens your computer to connections from the Internet from which a malicous user can control your computer from anywhere in the world, the effect is similar to a Virus but often much worse. An example of a Trojan's use is for a hacker to control thousands of computers infected with a particular Trojan and simulatenously command them to attack a web server causing the web server to overload and cease functioning, reasons can be for personal gain, extortion and many other reasons.

At the time of writing this there are some free anti-virus applications but we recommend AVG Anti-Virus.

Spyware / Malware

Spyware and Malware are similar, usually installed on a computer without the users knowledge via web browsers or downloads from the Internet (such as free screensavers), the Spyware/Malware software will spy on the users activities recording information such as websites viewed, passwords entered, instant messaging conversations, etc.. The Spyware/Malware will record this information and periodically send it to the creator of the malicous software thus informing them of your personal tastes and login details for sites like eBay or Amazon, often stolen goods may be sold using your account or false credit card details used to purchase items using your account.

At the time of writing this there are several anti-spyware applications that are free to use, we recommend SpyBot Search & Destroy and A² (A-Squared).