I decided to scrap the Java weblog program I was working on and instead write a PHP script similar to the one that didn't quite work the way I wanted it to. The old script's problem was that it tried to read and write files directly through the filesystem. In order for this to work, I would have had to make all my archive files world-writable which would have left them open to hackers (I'm looking at you, Brett G). Obviously, I didn't want to do that. The latest program uses a more secure FTP connection to update the files. Also, I don't have to go through all the nonesense of uploading local archive files while I'm here at home.
O how much easier things would be if Purdue's servers supported . I've about had my fill of flat files.