A high-level overview of web architecture geared specifically towards storytellers. (www.storycode.org)

1. March 6, 2012
Tech Immersion 1

2. AGENDA
• Web Architecture Overview - 45 Minutes
• Quick Break
• Social Samba - Saga Writer Deep-Dive: 1 Hour
www.socialsamba.com

3. OVERVIEW
• Domains / Domain Registrar (Go Daddy, Register.com)
• IP Address - Think of it as a Phone Number (it's a unique
identifier "103.22.11.24")
• DNS - (points the domain name to the server IP Address)
• Good overall reference link: http://
computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm

4. SERVERS
• Servers - can be a machines and/or an applications
(Apache)
• Protocols - Mail, FTP, HTTP (FTP is what is used to load
files to a server)
• Hosting - Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Mail and/or Web
Shared or Dedicated

5. WEBSITES / WEB APPS
• Static (index.html) vs. Dynamic Pages (index.php)
• Dynamic pages are driven by a database
• Databases - Like a spreadsheet (MySQL, Oracle, Etc.)
• Languages - PHP, C#, Python, Javascript, Ruby on Rails
• Common Web Applications (Blogs/CMS Tools):
Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal

6. COMMON TERMS
• Cloud - ability to expand/extend capacity without
investing in new infrastructure
• Linux / Unix / Microsoft - web server operating systems
• SSL - Secure Socket Layer "https" - needed for Facebook
“apps”
• API - Application Protocol Interface. How you interface
with a third-party technology (like Twitter or Facebook).

7. CUSTOM vs. OFF-THE-SHELF
• Skinned or Themed Blogs vs. Content Management
System
• When Creating Custom Software Consider:
• Creative Technologist or Designer/CTO Combo
• Process: Information Architecture/Requirements (Use
Cases, Wireframes), Design, Development, Testing,
Launch
• Developer Resources: Front-End vs. Back-End - these are
often different people

8. ADVICE
• Reduce functionality and prototype heavily
• Release early and ongoing (continuous process)
• "Agile" development
• Procedural stories work well with technology - create the
rules then let the technology construct the story.
[User] watched [favorite movie] and really liked it.
[John] watched [American Beauty] and really liked it.

9. CONTACT
mike@storycode.org
www.storycode.org
@storycodeorg