--- /dev/null
+[[!meta title="MIT SIPB Web Script Service"]]
+The web script service allows individuals and groups to put CGI
+scripts (Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, Scheme, etc) on the web using
+nothing more than an
+[Athena](http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/athena/) account. Although
+this service has been designed with reliability in mind, it should
+not be used to run critical applications that cannot tolerate
+downtime.
+
+Your scripts will automatically be accessible at URLs starting with
+http://lockername.**scripts**.mit.edu/.
+
+If, at some point, your group would like to make some-name.mit.edu
+point to your scripts.mit.edu website, you can request such a
+hostname using our
+[hostname management interface](http://scripts.mit.edu/faq/14).
+
+#### **To sign up for the service:**
+
+If you just want to get started with a pre-made application,
+consider trying our [Quick Start installers](../start/) instead.
+Otherwise, you can sign up for the service by logging into an
+Athena workstation and running:
+
+athena% add scripts
+athena% signup-web
+
+The command will ask you whether you would like to sign up your own
+account, or a locker that you control.
+
+(If you are confused about how to run the above commands on Athena,
+e-mail scripts@mit.edu for assistance. You must have an
+[Athena account](http://web.mit.edu/olh/Register/) and understand
+the
+[MITnet rules of use](http://web.mit.edu/olh/Welcome/rules.html) in
+order to use the service. You should also understand that if you
+install software from the web in your account, you are responsible
+for keeping that software up-to-date so that it is secure.)
+
+This signup process will create a **web\_scripts** directory. You
+may now put scripts in this directory and have them served to the
+web. Your scripts’ filenames must end in one of the following file
+extensions: .pl, .php, .py, or .cgi
+
+Files whose name end with “.php” will be executed with the PHP
+interpreter. Otherwise, each file must be marked executable (chmod
++x filename.py) and have a
+[shebang line](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shebang_(Unix))
+corresponding to its interpreter. This should be the first line of
+the file. You can determine the path of an interpreter by
+[ssh-ing to the scripts server](/faq/41). You are most likely to
+want one of:
+
+- \#!/usr/bin/perl
+- \#!/usr/bin/python
+- \#!/usr/bin/php-cgi
+
+Finally, add yourself to the
+[scripts-announce mailing list](https://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/scripts-announce)
+if you would like to receive announcements of major service changes
+and outages. This list receives less than one e-mail per month on
+average.
+
+For more information, see our list of
+[Frequently Asked Questions](../faq/).
+
+#### Example Scripts
+
+Looking at some basic examples may help you if you are having
+trouble:
+Perl example:
+[see code](http://web.mit.edu/~jbarnold/web_scripts/demo/demo.pl.html)
+| [see output](http://jbarnold.scripts.mit.edu/demo/demo.pl)
+PHP example:
+[see code](http://web.mit.edu/~jbarnold/web_scripts/demo/demo.php.html)
+| [see output](http://jbarnold.scripts.mit.edu/demo/demo.php)
+Python example:
+[see code](http://web.mit.edu/~jbarnold/web_scripts/demo/demo.py.html)
+| [see output](http://jbarnold.scripts.mit.edu/demo/demo.py)
+
+