Final answer:
The first server-side programming technology was the Common Gateway Interface (CGI), primarily programmed using PERL. CGI was pivotal in dynamically serving content on early websites.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first server-side programming technology was named Common Gateway Interface (CGI); and it was programmed using primarily PERL as the scripting language. CGI is a protocol for interfacing external applications with information servers, such as HTTP or web servers. The use of CGI allowed for server-side automation and the execution of dynamic web applications, which was a significant step in the evolution of the web, marking a transition from static to dynamic content.