Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » open source

Top 5 Sources to Download Free Software

Art — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:09:04 +0000

Several years back a computer was enough to keep up with the latest technological trends, however, today, a working internet connection is compulsory if you don’t want to be left behind. Things have been progressing pretty fast, and not only in terms of hardware innovations and high speed connections (by the way, did you know more and more internet service providers are making the new IPv6 protocol available for testing?). But let’s focus on the software element for now.

Here are a few things you need to be aware of before we proceed with the top five free software download sources.

Why isn’t all software free of charge?

Hardware performance also asks for improvements in software development. A computer would be practically useless without the necessary software and visual interface to facilitate the communication between users and processors (even if you spoke binary, you still wouldn’t be able to read your mail or watch movies!). But software involves writing thousands of code lines, which takes time, effort and, obviously, human resources. Economically speaking, it is still an investment. Something you can sell. This is why users usually have to pay for software.

Shareware is something in between free and paid software. Shareware will offer you a free, limited license you can take advantage of to test the product. After the trial period expires, you will be prompted to buy the software if you are satisfied with it.

How about open source?

Some companies and software developers have other ways of obtaining the financial support they need to continue their software development activity. They might have sponsors or other sources of income besides selling their own work, or they can simply afford to release free versions from time to time. Besides, the program can be too simple to require an extraordinary effort or intricate coding, so it would be a little exaggerated to ask money for it. Therefore, the web is packed with software that end users can obtain without paying.

Most software developers usually release two versions of the same program:

- The “lite” version, which includes basic features and is free of charge
- The “pro” or “full” version, which comes with extra features and functionality. These extra features are a bit harder to implement, and this is why the user will have to pay in order to benefit from them.

How to tell the difference between open source and piracy?

When we talk about free downloads, we can’t keep ourselves from thinking about the pirate software temptation. Writing code for an original piece of software is just like writing a book. It was your idea, so you are the only one who has the right to decide what to do with it. You are also the only one to decide if others will have to pay in order to make use of your work. Since it really is a mad world out there, let’s talk about the way developers protect their work from unauthorized use.

Developers include security measures (such as unique codes, certificates, seals, holograms etc.) to prove the user has made a payment to receive the software. These codes activate the software copy after purchase. However, hackers always find ways to crack executable files and delete the sequences responsible for security checks. They are also able to find the pattern used to generate unique codes and trick the security algorithms.

Open source software (freeware) will never ask you for a CD key or any other proof of purchase. You will be able to install the software as is. However, if your software comes in a package and there is no sign of seals, holograms or certificates, then you have a reason to suspect it is not genuine. Contacting the vendor is the best way to set things straight.

Also, if you download software and you find any folders named “Crack” or files containing CD keys you know you didn’t pay for, then you can rest assured that you are breaking the law by installing and using the package – assuming it is virus free…

Get free software – Legally!

Not all software downloads are illegal. “Open source” literally means the software code (source) can be used by anyone (open) free of charge. However, this doesn’t mean it can be also reproduced! For your own safety, take note of these five trusted websites you can use to download free software legally:

CNET is one of the largest software databases out there – it has even outgrown Softpedia! Their software is scanned regularly using a powerful antivirus, so you shouldn’t worry about security. Their database includes about 100,000 free applications for all operating systems. Moreover, if you are in doubt, users’ ratings and reviews will help you make a decision!

Unlike CNET, ZDNet Downloads doesn’t have any user feedback options, but it is 101% safe and has a wide range of both free and paid software to choose from. And it’s been around for about twenty years!

Tucow’s Butterscotch proposes a completely different approach to free software downloading. It has a very warm and friendly interface. Butterscotch is the perfect place to be if you wish to safely and legally download the most popular applications (unlike CNET and ZDNet, popularity seems to be a priority over performance). Delicious downloads!

Brothersoft is very similar to CNET and ZDNet. If you wish to be up to date with the latest software news, feel free to check out the Editor’s Blog. They also have a large software library, either paid, shareware or freeware.

The Freeware Files library contains free software only. If you are looking for freeware, you won’t have to waste your time sorting or refining your search results.

In conclusion

Here they are! Your top five trusted download sources. Hopefully, you are now aware of the dark side of piracy. Besides breaking the law, you also risk damaging your computer, as you might get into viruses, spyware and all sorts of nasty things! So keep an eye on your downloads!

The Resurgence of Apache

Art — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:20:45 +0000

Evolution occurs at such a lightning-fast pace on the World Wide Web that almost nothing maintains dominance for very long. Things like Google as a search engine and Flash as a primary video streaming service are the exception rather than the rule. Even then, Flash just took a severe body blow, as support for it is suddenly being abandoned in the wake of HTML 5′s emergence.

To have any sort of dominance on the World Wide Web for just a year or two is amazing. That is what makes the run that the Apache Web Server has had all the more breathtaking. They first hit the top spot in web server technology in early 1996. They haven’t given it up since.

They did come close recently, though. Microsoft finally took their gloves off and put real effort into their web server technology. This resulted in a surge in Microsoft web hosting that, at its peak, gave it a third of all web hosting serve technologies in 2008, just a step behind Apache.

So close, yet…

That surge ran out of fuel, though. By the time of its November 2011 web server survey, Netcraft showed that Apache’s share of web server software was back up to a dominant 65% of all web sites. Microsoft had fallen back down to just over 15%, and even Google so far is stuck in low also-ran single digits. Relative newcomer nginx was third with about 8%.

So why is this dominance so pervasive? What is it about the Apache web server that gives it such an unshakable place in the web hosting world? Is there any indication that this will change any time soon?

The flexibility of modules – especially open source modules

Through the use of modules, which are essentially plugins to the Apache web server, the web host is able to configure Apache to their specifications. These modules allow smooth cooperation with other applications, including other web hosting software packages. Several dozen modules have been released by the Apache Software Foundation, and several dozen more have been developed independently.

This hints at the thing that gives these modules that bit of extra power: Apache is open-source. This leads to the usual benefits that attend all open-source packages: individual flexibility, expansiveness of user support, rapid development and bug tracking and fixing, high efficiency, and so forth.

High portability

Another benefit to Apache’s open source nature is that it has been developed for a wide variety of operating systems. Naturally it works on just about every major UNIX and Linux variant. But it has also been ported over to Windows, Mac OS, AmigaOS, OS/2, and a few others that you’ve probably never even heard of. This alone should make it clear why, until they change their philosophy, Windows Server 2008 and whatever variants follow won’t even have a prayer at competing. It is even available in 10 spoken languages.

Other advantages

Cost: We could have probably put this into the list of open-source advantages above, but it deserves reiteration in its own right. In addition to all of the obvious advantages that this entails, consider this also: this makes the barrier to entry so low that anyone so dedicated can run a web hosting service from their basement (Indeed, a lot of people do. Well, some of them probably use other rooms as well).
Specific features: There are a few nicely built-in advantages to the Apache web server that only adds to the above list. Load balancing is one, which is why most Apache web hosts guarantee such high uptime percentages. Virtual hosts, meaning the ability to create subdomain.domain.com, is another, and a very popular one.
Security: Again, this almost goes without saying. It bears asking though: 20 years into the World Wide Web, how many major Apache security incidents can you name? Can anyone name any at all? With some software packages and operating systems all but assuming that break-ins will happen, this is no mean feat.

What are the competitors up to?

All of this said, all empires eventually end. One can certainly not expect either Microsoft or Google to just roll over and play dead. So what are they doing instead?

Microsoft released this year Windows Home Server 2011, the latest in its own attempts to bring web hosting server technologies to home PCs (reference the basement web host above). Unfortunately, they shot themselves in the foot right from the start. Microsoft’s Home Server technology, starting from 2007, had included a feature called “Drive Extender”. This enabled a few key server abilities, namely multi-disk redundancy, a single folder name space, and the ability to extend storage to any type of hard disk in any combination.

Thus, it was with astonished incredulity from its user base that Microsoft suddenly removed this service, as it was considered one of the server’s main selling points. The outcry resulted in Microsoft promising to utilize RAID technology instead. This, however, has not much placated the masses, and third parties have worked to fill the vacuum. In short: don’t look to Microsoft’s fortunes in this area turning around any time soon.

And the others?

Google, to put it shortly, doesn’t look yet to be really putting that much effort into this yet. Their focus seems to be using web server technology to serve its own needs. Granted, these needs are growing with leaps and bounds, but it doesn’t look to be that of all-purpose web hosting anytime soon.

Nginx is the more interesting case. Most of its market share has been achieved in the last 3 years. There are specific reasons for this. nginx can support up to 10,000 simultaneous connections and MP4 streaming.

A hardening monopoly

Nginx has still not yet achieved the broad respect that Apache has. Then again, it itself is an Apache fork, meaning that most of the former’s advantages are already built into it. Though that being the case, some would say there’s no point really considering it a “competitor” so much. Combined, these two own ¾ of the market share, and growing.

In short, as amazing as it may seem, it appears that one of the main parameters of what makes the World Wide Web function, the underlying web hosting technology, is something that is not only not going to change anytime soon but, unless some really meteor of a competitor comes in out of nowhere, is going to solidify even harder. In a world where technologies change on an almost hourly basis, this is an astounding statement.

Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?

Art — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:47:50 +0000

Linux Web Hosting is appropriately named. Websites built using the Linux operating systems are said to be hosed on Linux, as simple as that! Some features of Linux web hosting make it a great choice for people looking to develop web sited to establish their presence in the expansive online markets. Linux allows users access to some really useful technologies such as PHP, MySQL, Python and XML, all of which are open source.

Linux hosting derives a lot from the Unix system. Over the past few years Linux has grown to be recognized as an attractive budget hosting platform. Users get ample breathing space to experiment and expand the scope of their online businesses through Linux web hosting packages. The subsequent part of this article discusses a couple of the differentiating features associated with Linux Web Hosting.

Open Source

Linux based web hosts rely on the open source Linux OS to power their servers. An integrated structure defines the Linux web hosting plans, and this is generally referred to as LAMP which signifies the coming together of the Linux operating system, Apache server software, MySQL database and PHP scripting into a unified constructive backbone. Linux based hosts connect you to scores of wonderful open source applications and scripts that let you literally expand in all dimensions as far as the utility of your web pages goes. Some of the more popular open source technologies you would find interesting and useful include CGI, Perl and PHP. Bugs and glitches are not nightmares any more with Linux web hosting, as the open source community often has solutions ready promptly.

Great Services At Affordable Price

Another factor is the affordable costs of Linux based web hosting packages, making the proposition sounds a lot more worthwhile than an ordinary Windows based hosting package. Linux hosts outrun their Windows based counterparts on many grounds. For instance, Linux servers allow you the flexibility to work with Telnet whereas Windows servers would leave you high and dry if such a need arrives. And then, there is concrete evidence that Linux web hosting makes your website a lot more agile. Add to it the fact that there are applications such as Evolution, GNOME Desktop and Open Office to complement your web business with Linux hosting, and there is hardly anything that would inhibit you from trying it out.

Is Linux Overtaking Windows Web Hosting?

Art — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:30:45 +0000

Web hosting has become an integral part of online businesses. Adding to the significant role that a good web hosting provider plays in one’s online success, it becomes very important to be smart and opt for the best possible web hosting option. The two most appealing web-hosting operating systems are Windows and Linux. Although Windows has been around for many years and is pretty prominent among clients, Linux has come up and made rapid leaps on the popularity charts in recent years. Due to the striking competition between the two, it has become a debatable subject whether Linux has overtaken Windows Web Hosting. The following article will discuss the pros and cons of both, so that you may choose among the two, according to your needs and requirements.

Benefits of Linux and Windows Web Hosting

A solid .NET framework is vital in getting your website hosted. This is a major advantage of Windows web hosting. On the other hand, Linux is an open source system, which is beneficial for the website owners. Native Windows technologies can only be run on Windows web hosting. Static HTML pages work precisely well with both versions. Linux hosting is believed to be stable and can support online shopping websites. The uptime with Linux website is also commendable. Contrary to this, Linux doesn’t work hand in hand with Microsoft technologies.

A Comparison between Both

If we talk about the security aspect, Linux is perceived to be more reliable than Windows. All crucial website details need to be kept secured. In this regard, Windows web hosting is perceived to have more vulnerability. It is susceptible to hacking attacks.

Linux holds an upper hand in the price aspect as well. It is cheaper than Windows. In fact, you get it free in most cases. However, several complex applications are involved in Linux and this makes learning it more challenging and exciting.

The fact is that website developers have equally liked both the operating systems. The decision to choose between the two depends completely on your budget, preferences and website type. If you are new in the field of website development, Linux is recommended. This is because of the ease with which it uploads and runs. On the other hand, experienced developers are likely to go for Windows web hosting. Therefore, take in consideration the above factors and you are bound to make the right choice.

Linux Hosting – From Corporation to Consumer

Art — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:57:10 +0000

Every web site on the internet is hosted on a web server that is managed through the use of an operating system, similar to how you control your computer through the operating system. This aspect of web hosting is quite often overlooked, and a lot of novice webmasters don’t even know what kind of operating system their hosting plan uses. Nowadays, if you don’t know what operating system your hosting plan uses, there is a very good chance that it runs on Linux. This is because the Linux operating system is the default choice for nearly every web hosting provider.

The cheapest and most reliable web hosting plans usually have Linux as their operating system because it is a free open source software that is easy to service and install. However, Linux wasn’t always so convenient or popular, and at one point it was only used by corporations with IT departments and in-house residents. Over the years, Linux developed into many flavors that are friendly to even the most novice user. The following are some of the most cited reasons for using Linux hosting instead of Windows.

Open Source Compatibility

As an open source software, Linux is compatible with virtually any programming platform other than those that are native to Windows or Microsoft technology. Some of the programming languages that Linux is compatible with that are incredibly popular are the three Ps - PHP, Perl and Python. Since the operating system is open source, new programming languages can be developed around the Linux base to ensure future compatibility, and existing languages can be amended to accommodate the Linux software. This allows hosting companies to provide instant support and continue expanding their technological capabilities within an open source platform. With a Windows server, hosting companies have to wait on updates from Microsoft, and they cannot add custom developments to the operating system.

Stability and Security

Surprisingly, even though the operating system is free, it is generally much more reliable than the Windows operating system because anyone can perform maintenance on the software without waiting for the operating systems manufacturer. This makes Linux a stable solution that can be maintained by anyone with the knowledge and willpower to do so. Linux is also one of the most secure operating systems, which is another reason why so many people use it for web hosting in an industry which security is of the utmost concern. The Linux operating system effectively keeps your web site free from worms, intrusion and third party viruses that can compromise the safety of your online business. This reliable protection minimizes downtime and keeps your site up and running without any problems more than 99.9 percent of the time.

Limited Limitations

The Linux operating system is not without its limitations however, as it is not compatible with some Microsoft based software that are commonly used by bigger businesses. For example, Microsoft Sharepoint could not be installed on a Linux server without virtualization software. Fortunately, if you’re experienced enough, you can install a visualization software and urn Windows within the Linux operating system, completely eliminating such limitations. Thus, there are very few limitations within the Linux operating system, and it is easy to see why it has progressed from a private to a public solution in the past two decades.

How Content Management Systems affect Web Designers

Art — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:15:43 +0000

Content Management Systems (CMS) are growing extensively around the internet. They allow a vast amount of storage with the addition of tremendous functionality and customization. CMS is the next step in separating design from structure. The system began with cascading style sheets (CSS) and advanced further as a result of XML. In the years ahead billions of dollars are expected to be spent on the implementation of CMS into businesses.

Excellent Customization

A CMS are available in small or large and simple or complicated depending on business need. The price runs from very expensive (in the millions) to free with open-source CMS. Regardless, they are all based on the idea that content management allows web designers to focus on design. In the meantime, subject professionals built in a completely separate environment. The server then acquires the content, inserts it into a template and transfers it to the user.

CMS Workflow

The typical content management workflow by a web design consists of a designer creating something in whatever environment they feel comfortable with. Once the wrinkles are ironed out, it is sent to the server. If there are issues, notes are sent back in the content management environment. Concurrently, on the content side, the same process occurs. In the end, there are strict controls to prevent issues and ensure it goes to the server.

Web Designers and Content Experts

Designers are given the freedom to specialize within the content management environment. As content professionals add websites in a WYSIWYG platform, designers do what they do best: design. Content experts can add the content in a simplified manner, not using FrontPage or other website creation programs.

The good news for designers is content management systems remove most of the non-design tasks found in the standard process. Designers spend their time building templates building templates for various parts of the website. Due to the template-based environment of a CMS, changes can be made and seen by end-users almost instantly. All changes go through the typical workflow process and end in a publishing.

Content Management Systems were built to make everyone’s lives easier. Designers and content experts now have the ability to focus on their specialization and not have to concern themselves with non-value added tasks. This increases productivity while releasing various websites in a timely fashion. As content management systems become easier to use, the result will be an improved experience by the end user.

Reasons to Choose Open Source CMS Software

Art — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:20:36 +0000

As content management systems (CMS) continue to grow in popularity, many webmasters and website owners are moving toward open-source software. This type of software offers a great deal of opportunity for improvement, expansion and customization. The CMS world is no different and this should be taken full advantage of by the open-source CMS community, especially in these financially difficult times.

There are many reasons to choose open source CMS software over competing business systems. These advantages include:

Cost
Stability/performance
Safety
Support

The main reason user’s switch to open-source software of any kind is cost. Open-source is a free version of code created by a community of programmers and developers. In these difficult times, the most economical type of software is those that are free. To cut costs, many businesses are transferring to open source solutions while continuing to maintain the same quality and consistency offered by commercial systems.

The second advantage is the stability and performance provided by this type of software. Since open source CMS solutions tend to have a broader installation, they are more extensively tested and improved through those experiences in a professional environment. There are no target ship dates for open source CMS software because it is constantly being updated and expanded to ensure consistency and robustness.

The third benefit is safety in the code. Commercial software systems are all closed source meaning the code is hidden. Therefore, gaps, bugs and harmful code cannot be identified in advance, thus it cannot be corrected upstream. Finally, support is always a major factor in all software systems. With open source CMS solutions, there are extensive forums and emailing lists to contact experts for support, all of which is free.

When searching for a CMS, it is important to find one that is right for the needs of your business, be it commercial or open source. Each offer their own advantages and disadvantages, however, if it comes down to cost, open source may turn out to be the most efficient solution.

Although commercial systems will never replace open-source alternatives, they do provide excellent competition will their many appealing advantages, especially cost. The software industry as a whole is turning more toward extensively supported software compared to commercial options. Companies continue to switch to open source CMS solutions each day because it fits their business model best and improves their online presence.

Web-cp – Free and Open Source Control Panel for Developers

Art — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:12:19 +0000

If you’re a web developer than you’re probably aspiring to make a significant contribution to the online community. One of the easiest ways to build a custom software without having to devote an exuberant amount of temporal dedication to the project is to use a pre-designed open source platform as your starting point.

Control panels are great projects for novice and intermediate web developers because they provide a productive and useful service to the developer and their clients. Although many people have heard of cPanel, vDeck and other popular control panels, there are many custom solutions currently being implemented by independent developers and their clients. Web-cp provides the perfect base platform for such a custom solution, and the following review outlines the reasons why.

Open Source/Full Featured

One of the most appealing aspects about the Web-cp control panel is the fact that it already includes all of the basic features one would expect from a quality control panel, and it comes in various ‘flavors’.

The Web-cp selection actually consists of 4 different control panels – personal, reseller, domain, and server. Each of these solutions is geared towards a different type of user, and therefore provides a different level of functionality. By providing access to personalized and customizable control panel solutions, Web-cp offers the perfect starting platform for any control panel developer. Each version of the software is specifically designed to create the ideal user interface for the targeted user.

Web-cp Versions

The ‘personal’ control panel lets users perform tasks like editing personal information, changing passwords, and adjust spam control settings. The ‘domain’ version of Web-cp is geared towards domain owners, and lets webmasters add new users, sub domains, domains, aliases, databases, and domain pointers. The ‘resellers’ control panel lets hosting resellers efficiently control the domain accounts of their clients, and the ‘server’ control panel, lets server administrators add and/or modify resellers, monitor and control server usage, edit DNS and VirtualHost templates, and restarts server services. Having this diverse functionality at your fingertips will help you create a perfect control panel solution for your clients, without having to start from scratch.

Development Support

Another aspect of Web-cp that makes it perfect for aspiring control panel developers is the extensive development support offered on the software’s web site. There users can find information about recent Web-cp releases, and research detailed documentation, including information about recently added features, software compatibility, and error reports. The site also provides access to discussion forums, live chat, commercial support, a regularly updated bug tracker, and of course a Frequently Asked Questions section. All of these resources help you create the best control panel solution possible, with minimal experience and web development skills.

Although Web-cp is not currently offered by major hosting providers, and its popularity pales in comparison to that of a cPanel’s, it provides the perfect learning and development environment for those looking to create the next big control panel that will be offered by web hosting companies

Static HTML Pages vs CMS Generated Sites

Art — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:53:42 +0000

Web development is an essential aspect of the internet industry, being directly responsible for the origin of user-friendly interfaces that we enjoy on a daily basis. There are many ways to design a site, from advanced programming platforms to simple site builders that are included with eCommerce hosting plans, each one accommodating the needs of various webmaster skill levels. A type of web development that has become incredibly popular in the last few years has been CMS site creation.

A CMS (Content Management System) is essentially a web based application included with most hosting plans that let you design, organize, and manage your web sites with ease. In essence, webmasters that use CMS to create their sites are considered new school, while those that still utilize static HTML pages are considered to be old school. In this articles we’ll discuss some of the differences between the two so that you can make an informed decision for your own web sites.

Simplicity

As a developer, using static HTML pages gives you limited functionality unless you’re highly proficient with various programming languages that can be utilized within certain frameworks. Basically, it is much more difficult to express yourself as a developer using static HTML pages because it requires a great amount of skill to match the quality of a CMS generated page. With a CMS you can utilize templates that give you a head start in the development process, and you can also add, delete, or edit content on your pages through the convenient user interface. Creating a web site consisting of HTML pages requires you to create each page individually, whereas CMS templates apply to the entire web site.

Functionality

Content management systems can be improved and expanded upon infinitely because they are open source software. As a result, there are hundreds of plugins available for popular CMS like WordPress, all of which enhance the functionality of the software allowing you to perform tasks that were previously impossible, or simplifying tasks that are currently mundane. Some content management systems even have SEO plugins that will improve your search engine ranking. Instead of designing a page from scratch you use predesigned templates, and then simply edit the CSS/Style sheet of the template to change colors, font, borders, and various other aspects of the site’s formatting.

Conclusion

If you want to continuously maintain your page without having to edit HTML coding repeatedly then you should strongly considered the superior functionality of a good content management system. On the other hand, if you want to improve your skills as a developer and create completely original pages from scratch then it may be advantageous to learn some HTML. Learning HTML is certainly beneficial for most web developers, as it enhances their ability to edit or even create new CMS themes. However, if you decide to use content management system templates then the only programming language that you really need to understand is CSS.

The Advantages of a Custom CMS

Art — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:55:23 +0000

Content management systems are one of the most important tools for any webmaster, especially if you need to maximize your productivity while staying organized in the management of your site. Surprisingly, most content management systems are free, open source software that are included automatically with your web hosting plan. However, creating a custom content management system is often the best option for web site owners that are in need of a more robust solution. Open source software can be changed by any developer with the interest and capability to do so. If you’re looking for a custom solution for your site management tasks then you may want to consider the following recommendations and advantages of custom content management systems.

Multiple Site Management

The most coveted feature of any custom CMS is by far the ability to manage several web sites simultaneously. Most open source CMS do not support this feature by default, however it is not too difficult to add this functionality with a bit of programming experience. If you do not have the skills to do it yourself or the money to hire a developer, you may want to consider a CMS that includes this functionality by default, such as SilverStripe. Many people choose to amend WordPress Multi-User to create a main hub through which they can manage hundreds of web sites.

Unique Site Design

Having a custom content management system will also give you the ability to create web site that are unparalleled by your competition. With an amended CSM you can add new modules to your site and experiment with unique navigational concepts. If you;re getting tired of the same old mundane look of the themes your CMS is compatible with, then you may want to consider having your CMS developed into a custom solution that supports more complex templating and unique site deign capabilities. If you want the best looking web site then you will need to have access to the best administrative interface possible within your CMS.

Client Satisfaction and Requirements

If you are a web developer with a healthy base of clients then you may want to consider the personalization benefits of being able to customize a content management system. When a client comes to you with a requirement you’ll no longer have to scramble for a solution because you’ll be able to amend their current CMS to include features that will satisfy all of their needs and preferences.

Custom Plugins

Plugins are by far the best aspect of a CMS, as they can drastically improve the functionality of the software in many cases. In fact, WordPress is known for having the largest plugin database, and this attribute is often accredited for the continuously growing popularity of WordPress. If you want the best CMS available then you will need to consider the overlooked advantages of custom plugins. Most CMS customizations will come in the form of a plugin or additional module, so if you are looking for a specific feature in your CMS you may want to enlist the help of a plugin developer before trying to change the entire interface of the CMS.

Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » open source

Top 5 Sources to Download Free Software

Why isn’t all software free of charge?

How about open source?

How to tell the difference between open source and piracy?

Get free software – Legally!

In conclusion

Related posts:

The Resurgence of Apache

Related posts:

Linux Web Hosting – What Makes it Click?

Related posts:

Is Linux Overtaking Windows Web Hosting?

Related posts:

Linux Hosting – From Corporation to Consumer

Related posts:

How Content Management Systems affect Web Designers

Related posts:

Reasons to Choose Open Source CMS Software

Related posts:

Web-cp – Free and Open Source Control Panel for Developers

Related posts:

Static HTML Pages vs CMS Generated Sites

Related posts:

The Advantages of a Custom CMS

Related posts: