u can easily link to an external website via S-Control, URL links, VF pages etc.. so that is a seperate pop-up window or inline via iframe
if u are programatically trying to access your external db then thats a bit hard and u need 2 know how your db is 'exposted' (rest, soap etc..) U can access that data and pull back into SF via HTTP access, SOAP call etc.. but need more info on how your ext db is setup
You cannot run a cgi script in SF but you can run Apex/S-Control code within SF (via triggers, workflow, called from VF/S-Controls etc.) that "calls out" to an external web service.
This ext web service (running Python cgi code on your/hosted server) can then 'service' that call coming in from SF (from your org), process it, read your db (reading params passed etc.) and send results back up. Your SF appl then 'reads' in the results from that call and saves 2 your objects, executes other code (Apex classes) etc..
If you want VisualForce (VF) (which is just a front-end replacment giving you more control) then it has access to data and methods on back-end Apex code which can do whatever u need.
so that is a seperate pop-up window or inline via iframe
if u are programatically trying to access your external db then thats a bit hard and u need 2 know how your db is 'exposted' (rest, soap etc..)
U can access that data and pull back into SF via HTTP access, SOAP call etc.. but need more info on how your ext db is setup
Lal
This ext web service (running Python cgi code on your/hosted server) can then 'service' that call coming in from SF (from your org), process it, read your db (reading params passed etc.) and send results back up.
Your SF appl then 'reads' in the results from that call and saves 2 your objects, executes other code (Apex classes) etc..
If you want VisualForce (VF) (which is just a front-end replacment giving you more control) then it has access to data and methods on back-end Apex code which can do whatever u need.
Here's an example of calling ext web services and passing parms - https://na5.salesforce.com/help/doc/user_ed.jsp?section=help&target=useful_advanced_formulas.htm&loc=help&hash=AppAPILink
Mashup examples - http://wiki.apexdevnet.com/index.php/Mashups:_The_What_and_Why
Calling via a button - http://community.salesforce.com/sforce/board/message?board.id=general_development&message.id=21705
Calling via Apex to .Net - http://community.salesforce.com/sforce/board/message?board.id=NET_development&thread.id=6098
Calling into SF via API - http://wiki.apexdevnet.com/index.php/API
Python dev is in here - http://community.salesforce.com/sforce/board?board.id=PerlDevelopment
Lal