Knowledge Sharing » CMS

Improved Performance on the Release of Joomla 2.5

Dagu — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:14:12 +0000

Joomla, one of the world’s most popular open source content management systems (CMS) used for everything from websites to blogs to Intranets, announces the immediate availability of Joomla 2.5 on Tuesday, 24 January 2011. It’s a good news for Joomla fans of course. There’s a major step in development of this new Joomla version, it’s now can use Microsoft SQL Server or PostGreSQL, in addition to MySQL.

“Multi-database support is a huge step forward for Joomla, which is already powering more than 1.6 million websites worldwide. It ensures companies and organization, both large and small, will save even more money and time by adopting Joomla,” said Ryan Ozimek, president of Open Source Matters, a non-profit created to provide organization, legal and financial support to the Joomla project. “No longer will Joomla developers be tied down to a particular database or have to spend more money and time integrating other software to get Joomla to communicate with their database. This enhances Joomla’s scalability immensely.”

Not only that, other key features in Joomla 2.5 includes:

Automatic notification when a Joomla or extension update is available. When logged into the control panel, site administrators will instantly have access to new notification buttons that allows them to see and act on the latest updates. In addition to updates for the Joomla CMS, a second button offers third party extension notification updates.
A better natural language search engine to the Joomla core. Complete with auto-completion and stemming (for example if you type “running” in a search field you also see run), it is faster and more versatile than the standard search.

But, it’s not finished. There are the other features in Joomla 2.5. Check ‘em out at http://joom.la/25features.

What a great improvement! I can’t wait to try it! But how? Joomla 2.5 is available at http://www.joomla.org/download.html.

Joomla in the Future

Dagu — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:42:56 +0000

As we know, Joomla is one of the best CMS in the world. It often uses to make websites. You can make a great website fast. You don’t need to know PHP or HTML to use it. You only need to understand Joomla.

I started using Joomla from version 1.13. The Joomla is very great, although it still has many drawbacks. After that, Joomla changed the core. Joomla released version 1.5, a version that is not compatible with previous version. Yes, that’s right, it’s a brand new Joomla. Although it is not backward compatible, but some Joomla 1.13 extensions and templates can run in Joomla1 1.5 by condition you need to turn on system legacy plugin. For Joomla 1.13 lovers, don’t stay there, move to Joomla 1.5 because Joomla stops the development of version 1.3. They no longer support it.

For web programmer, understanding Joomla is not enough. We need to understand more to extend or build template for Joomla. Now, Joomla releases version 1.6alpha. In general, alpha version is not recommended for production. It’s only for developer or hobbyist. What’s new in Joomla 1.6alpha? Take a look at the list below:

ACL: access management for global permissions as well as content item specific permissions, variable usergroups, users member of more than one usergroup, permissions are inherited, really fast (it’s the main feature I expect for a long time ago)
Extendable user profile, profile view in frontend, extendable user parameters
Tableless com_content layouts
Improved com_content modules (mod_articles_archive, mod_articles_latest, mod_articles_popular)
Article linker plugin for editors (Nice!)
New frontend template (atomic)
New backend template (bluestork)
New uploader for media manager

Other Joomla 1.6 improvements that existed in alpha 1:

Mootools 1.2
Refactored backend
JForm
Nested Categories and category parameters
New views in frontend: categories, category
Lots of small code improvements, almost cut the code size in half while adding to the functionality
PHP 5.2 required, huge performance improvements, partially eaten up by new features => 1.6 will be faster than 1.5

What’s next?
After alpha 2, the Joomla community can expect a beta release. There are no intentions for a 3rd alpha release. Hmm.. the stable version is coming up! Can’t wait to try it!

Future improvements will be developed by Joomla Team:

Commenting solution is going to be added (At last.. :D)
Additional DB drivers
Lots of small performance/UI/code improvements

Great! Hope they will win Best Open Source PHP CMS.

eduCommons, a Free CMS for Open Course Ware

Dagu — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:02 +0000

Logo eduCommons

eduCommons is a content management system designed specifically to support OpenCourseWare projects like Notre Dame OCW and OCW Universidad de Cantabria. eduCommons will help you develop and manage an open access collection of course materials. It is built around a workflow process that guides content developers through the process of publishing materials in an openly accessible format.

What can it do?
eduCommons is built around a workflow process that guides users through the process of publishing materials in an openly accessible format. This includes uploading materials into a repository, dealing with copyright, reassembling materials into courses, providing quality assurance, and publication of materials.

Wanna try? Here is the eduCommons demo.

What universities use eduCommons? Here is the list of eduCommons adopters.

Who develop it?
The Center for Open and Sustainable Learning (COSL,), at Utah State University is dedicated to increasing access to educational opportunity worldwide. At the Center, we believe that all humans beings are endowed with a capacity to learn, improve, and progress. Educational opportunity is the mechanism by which we fulfill that capacity. Therefore, free and open access to educational opportunity is a basic human right. When educational materials can be electronically copied and transferred around the world at almost no cost, we have a greater ethical obligation than ever before to increase the reach of opportunity. When people can connect with others nearby or in distant lands at almost no cost to ask questions, give answers, and exchange ideas, the moral imperative to meaningfully enable these opportunities weighs profoundly. We cannot in good conscience allow this poverty of educational opportunity to continue when educational provisions are so plentiful, and when their duplication and distribution costs so little.

The Center is doing what we can through a of mix research, development, and teaching. COSL is part of the Department of Instructional Technology at Utah State University in Logan, UT.

Press Coverage: What folks are saying about COSL
Partners: Partners and Organizations Supporting COSL
Giving to COSL: Giving to COSL
Visit COSL: Directions to COSL

Joomla 1.5.13 Security Release

Dagu — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:11:05 +0000

If you are a Joomla user, please upgrade your web immediately. From Joomla Official website: This is a security release and users are strongly encouraged to upgrade immediately.

Joomla! Developer Vulnerability News

[20090722] – Core – Missing JEXEC Check

Posted: 22 Jul 2009 04:36 PM PDT

Project: Joomla!
SubProject: Framework
Severity: Moderate
Versions: 1.5.12 and all previous 1.5 releases
Exploit type: XSS
Reported Date: 2009-July-21
Fixed Date: 2009-July-22

Description

Some files were missing the check for JEXEC. These scripts will then expose internal path information of the host.

Affected Installs

All 1.5.x installs prior to and including 1.5.12 are affected.

Solution

Upgrade to latest Joomla! version (1.5.13 or newer).

Reported by Juan Galiana Lara (Internet Security Auditors)

Contact

The JSST at the Joomla! Security Center.

[20090722] – Core – File Upload

Posted: 22 Jul 2009 04:17 PM PDT

Project: Joomla!
SubProject: TinyMCE editor
Severity: Critical
Versions: 1.5.12
Exploit type: Image File upload
Reported Date: 2009-July-22
Fixed Date: 2009-July-22

Description

Tiny browser included with TinyMCE 3.0 editor allowed files to be uploaded and removed without logging in.

Affected Installs

Version 1.5.12 only

Solution

Upgrade to latest Joomla! version (1.5.13 or newer).

Reported by Patrice Lazareff.

Contact

The JSST at the Joomla! Security Center.

Download here

Click here to download Joomla 1.5.13 (Full package)
Click here to find an update package

New Release of Joomla 1.5.12

Dagu — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:38:36 +0000

From the Joomla Security newsletter, I know that there’s a new version of Joomla. But, my email provider sent it to spam folder. I just don’t know why.. huff.. :(

From the official Joomla website:

The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Joomla 1.5.12 [Wojmamni Ama Woi]. This release contains a number of bug fixes and three moderate-level security fixes. It has been less than a month since Joomla 1.5.11 was released on June 3, 2009.

This release marks an important milestone for the Joomla Project due to the upgrade of the PEAR library to the new BSD licensed version, which brings the codebase into full compliance with the GPL. In addition, this release contains an important upgrade to TinyMCE v 3.2.4.1.

The Production Working Group’s goal is to continue to provide regular, frequent updates to the Joomla community.

Download Joomla 1.5.12 (Full package)
Download Joomla 1.5.11 > 1.5.12 update package
All 1.5.12 Packages

Joomla! Runner-up Packt Publishing Award

Dagu — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:11:24 +0000

Every year, Packt Publishing awards best CMS chosen by the Internet user. A year ago, Joomla achieved “Best PHP Open Source Content Management System”. Unfortunately, this year Joomla can’t defend their position after having the first place twice. For this year Joomla developer should be satisfied with the second position for “Best Overall Open Source CMS” and “Best PHP Open Source CMS”. For the first place in category “Best Overall Open Source CMS” was achieved by Drupal. Total prize won by Joomla project is $3500.

Besides CMS award, there’s a new category, that is “Open Source MVP 2008″. This category was won by one of Joomla developer, Johan Janssens. He achieved this award because of his outstanding contribution for Joomla development.