Reading data from a web server

[TheNoobie]

I want my program to open a new TCP connection to my web server and pull some "#define" lines from it. How could I go about doing this?

[Athar]

If you want to get a file from a HTTP server, cURL is the easiest way.
If not, you can use sockets (using Boost.Asio, for example).

Also, you say you want to pull #define lines. I'm not sure what for, but you should realize you cannot change the program behavior via defines after the program has been compiled.

[TheNoobie]

I don't want to get a file and I don't necessarily want to load a define. I made a program and I'm trying to keep it secure from leaking. I want the program to load specific variables from my website so that, for example, if I took my site down then the program would no longer work.

[Athar]

Ah, alright. However, someone could still get the program to work by providing the necessary data on a local server.

[TheNoobie]

Yes, I completely understand that but that doesn't quite answer my question. I am trying to figure out how to load variables directly from a web server. I don't even know how to Google this because I'm not entirely sure what it is called (if it has a specific name.) Could you point me in the right direction please?

I am thinking of doing something along these lines..
-Create an SQL database
-Load the variables I want into the SQL database
-Have my program connect to the SQL database
-Have my program load variables form the SQL database

Example..

int main()
{
	SQL.Connect("127.0.0.1", "User", "Pass", "Database");
	unsigned long Variable = SQL.Get("Table", "Variable");

	return 0;
}

[Athar]

I already answered your question in the first reply.
Using a database server might be a bit of overkill, but it would work using mysql++ or similar.

Edit:

I am trying to figure out how to load variables directly from a web server.

You can just have all the variables in a file and serve it using a HTTP server.
Alternatively, you can write a server that uses some protocol of your own creation or one that just dumps the variables into the stream upon a client connecting. See Boost.Asio for that.