Simple Web Application for Embedded Device

Question

I have an embedded device running a full version of Debian. I need to create a web accessible application that resides on the device which manages the entries in my application's configuration file on the device. Think of it as a UI for my console application.

Since the device runs Debian I can use the Apache server along with Python, Perl, PHP, etc. However, I am fairly new to the Apache/Linux world and was wondering what the best way to design this application would be.

For instance, if I am hosting a website on the device should the web app just call a CGI running on the device that goes off onto the Linux OS and updates my settings. I know there's probably not one right way to do it. I just don't want to do it the wrong way.

Answer 1

It's an uncommon problem (in web development circles) so there's no real 'wrong way'. I've done it in the past with thttpd and a custom CGI script (written in C); this was a great solution as it took very little flash space.

It sounds like you've got a lot of resources (memory and disk) to play with, so something like Webmin may save you some dev time.