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Primetime FAQ

What is Primetime?

Primetime is a web application development and production environment for schools and offices that extends the functionality of their web sites. The service is provided in response to requests for dynamic web application and database support. It is not intended and should not be used as a replacement venue for an entire school, office, or department web site.

Who may use the service?

The Primetime service is available to MCPS schools and offices. Developers should have:

What is an appropriate use of Primetime?

Primetime is intended to serve schools and offices that have a specific project that needs database and web application support. Requests for accounts must be for projects that have a communications or educational purpose that speaks to the public and/or a broad MCPS audience. Account requests must be signed by the developer's principal or supervisor, who is ultimately responsible for the content in the database and the web application.

What is not an appropriate use of Primetime?

  • Serving an entire office or school web site dynamically.
  • As a development environment for novices. Beginners who need a space to learn to program can use their personal computer or an authorized development environment at their schools.
  • As a private or personal space for applications or data. Applications and data on Primetime are intended to serve a public or broad internal purpose.

What should I know about Primetime accounts?

A Primetime account is valid for one year. All accounts will be disabled at the end of each school year. Developers who need to continue their work can apply at the end of the school year to renew their account for the summer and the upcoming school year.

What tools are available on Primetime?

The programming environment is powered by PHP 4 and MySQL 3. Primetime is not a dedicated development machine. It is designed for tested and debugged web applications only. It is not an alternative for a primary web site. Your primary web site should reside on www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and any application developed on Primetime should be viewed as a sub site of your primary site. An example would be a school web site built in HTML while having the database of athletics scores hosted on Primetime.

Why is PHP the only programming option?

The built-in functionality of PHP makes it easy to develop a powerful application in a short period with a minimal level of expertise. It is a widely-used web programming language powering millions of web sites around the world. PHP learning materials are also readily available.

Why can't I move my entire site to Primetime?

Good question. Most MCPS webmasters are staff members and parents updating their location's web sites on a volunteer basis. Most do not construct web sites or develop web applications as an occupation. Most also will hand off their webmaster responsibilities as they change schools, as their children graduate, as they move on to other endeavors, or as budget needs change. When someone with a high level of skill constructs a fully dynamic and complex web site and then leaves, the location is left with a site which becomes out-of-date or unusable quickly and has no one to call on for updates or to fix problems. Finally, as easy as PHP is to learn and use, it is just as easy to create an application which will bring down a server or consume resources to the point where other applications will not run. Your primary site should be in HTML and reside on a web server where there is no question of downtime due to erroneous programming logic or an inefficient database.

How will Web Services support Primetime?

Web Services will:

  • Create developer accounts and secure areas for each user group.
  • Configure data sources
  • Provide a stable environment for development

What are my responsibilities?

You should:

How do I request access?

You and your supervisor should fill out and submit the Primetime Account Request Form (PDF) to Web Services. Web Services will review the request and may contact you with questions about the project.

Modified January 20, 2006 by the Primetime Webmaster