Simple Website Date Collector

**_Summary_** The goal of this project is to check a number of airline websites to find out what the latest date they are selling seats for. This information will then be recorded for each one in either a text file or a database. Anytime the program is run, it will check the stored date and compare it against what is found on the website. If it determines that the dates are different, it will send an email with the relevant information to a specified address. **_Notes_** I am aware that if the destination websites change their format that the program will most likely no longer work. I am OK with this limitation. Also note that additional websites may be added in the future, so anyting you can do to make it modular will be helpful if I request enhancements in the future. ## Deliverables **_Detailed Requirements_** 1. The application can be written in any language the user chooses. 2. Application settings can be stored in an ini file or a database. 3. The application should not have any user interface. 4. The application should launch from the command line, run and then exit immediately. 5. Each time the application runs, it will query each of the websites specified below for the latest date that they are currently selling seats for. This information will be stored either in a text file or a database (developer’s choice). 6. The application needs to query the following websites Airline: JetBlue Likely URL to retrieve data: <[login to view URL]> Notes: There is a section of the source on the page above that begins with “All flights are currently scheduled for…?? that you can probably parse to get the latest sales date. Site: Southwest Likely URL to retrieve data: <[login to view URL]> Notes: There is a section of the source on the page above that begins with “We are currently accepting reservations through…?? that you can probably parse to get the latest sales date. Site: Allegiant Likely URL to retrieve data: [[login to view URL]][1] Notes: There is a section of the source on the page above that begins with “Accepting reservations through…?? that you can probably parse to get the latest sales date. 7. The current latest date will be compared against the most recently retrieved latest date in the text file or database. 8. If the stored latest date is different than the current latest date, the new latest date should be stored and an email notification generated. 9. The email should have a subject line of “Airline Date Alert!??. The body of the email should contain the name of the airline, the previous latest date and the new latest date. If more than one airline website has been updated, then the email should contain details for each. The exact syntax of the email is not important??"it just needs to contain the pertinent information. 10. The first time the program runs, it should report on each of the websites since there is no data recorded yet for them. Ths will let me know the program is working correctly. 11. If the program cannot parse the HTML source (possibly because the site changed their format), it should trap the error and report it via email. It SHOULD NOT crash. **_Deliverables_** 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables): a) For web sites or other server-side deliverables intended to only ever exist in one place in the Buyer's environment--Deliverables must be installed by the Seller in ready-to-run condition in the Buyer's environment. b) For all others including desktop software or software the buyer intends to distribute: A software installation package that will install the software in ready-to-run condition on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 3) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement). ## Platform Windows 32 or 64 bit