Exponent CMS
Encyclopedia
Exponent CMS is a free
, open source
, open standard
s modular enterprise software
framework
and content management system
(CMS) written in the programming language PHP
.
Exponent uses an intuitive and flexible content editing system that allows website content to be edited right on the page as it appears - without back-end administration.
The default installation includes a complete set of modules for managing a typical website. Additional modules are developed by a community of open source
developers and can be installed via a web browser.
Exponent CMS can be installed in a Linux
, Unix
, Mac OS X
or Windows
environment, or any platform that supports the Apache
web server and the PHP
language (version 5.2.1+). Exponent CMS currently requires a MySQL
(4.1+, 5+ Recommended) to store content and settings.
During the summer of 2007 OIC hired Phillip Ball who was an active member of the Exponent CMS Open Source community. With Phillip on board OIC was able to quickly get version 0.97 out the door that same summer.
While trying to get the 0.97 release out the door Adam started planning out a new MVC framework for Exponent and Phillip was getting heavily involved with YUI Javascript Library. The two different research path converged in the fall of 2007 as together Adam and Phillip started on new version of Exponent CMS. Adam wrote the new Exponent Framework and Phillip went to work cleaning up and moderninzing the interface and trying to tightly integrate the YUI
Javascript library. The result was Exponent 2 or Exponent MVC. Exponent 2 was released in the summer of 2011 following a series of pre-release versions.
This release of the code is targeted towards developers and community members wishing to get more involved in documentation and bug testing. Over the last month, us here at Online Innovative Creations have shifted our focus towards getting the systems and guidelines in place to allow for more community involvement in the development process.
OIC doesn't want to miss out on the valuable input and help we stand to gain from the community who's itching to get their hands on the code.
You can download a copy of the current MVC codeline on https://github.com/exponentcms/exponent-cms. The 'master' branch contains the current release, with the bleeding edge code slated for the next release being found in the 'develop' branch.
The core functionality of Exponent CMS and Exponent Framework is still managed by OIC Group with a community of open source
developers making module, translation and theme contributions.
and css
to create an Exponent CMS theme. Themes for Exponent CMS are written using html
/xhtml
and css
. You just have to place a some hooks in your theme file to integrate Exponent CMS into your theme. That makes Exponent CMS highly flexible for designers. Any html based design can be easily converted into an Exponent theme.
In Exponent CMS content and presentation have been separated. To accomplish this the Smarty
template engine was used for creation of views. Views allow the same content to be displayed in different looks and customized to match a sites theme.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
, open standard
Open standard
An open standard is a standard that is publicly available and has various rights to use associated with it, and may also have various properties of how it was designed . There is no single definition and interpretations vary with usage....
s modular enterprise software
Enterprise software
Enterprise software, also known as enterprise application software , is software used in organizations, such as in a business or government, contrary to software chosen by individuals...
framework
Software framework
In computer programming, a software framework is an abstraction in which software providing generic functionality can be selectively changed by user code, thus providing application specific software...
and content management system
Content management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
(CMS) written in the programming language PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
.
Exponent uses an intuitive and flexible content editing system that allows website content to be edited right on the page as it appears - without back-end administration.
The default installation includes a complete set of modules for managing a typical website. Additional modules are developed by a community of open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
developers and can be installed via a web browser.
Exponent CMS can be installed in a Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
or Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
environment, or any platform that supports the Apache
Apache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache , is web server software notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 it became the first web server software to surpass the 100 million website milestone...
web server and the PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
language (version 5.2.1+). Exponent CMS currently requires a MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
(4.1+, 5+ Recommended) to store content and settings.
History
Exponent CMS was originally written and designed by James Hunt of OIC Group, Inc, starting in 2001. Minor contributions were made by other OIC members, Fred Dirkse, Greg Otte and Adam Kessler, but most of the original work was done by James. In 2005 James left the OIC Group. Not much besides bug fixes were done on Exponent from 2005 - 2006 as Fred tried to man the ship by himself. In 2006 Adam came back to OIC Group and together he and Fred started trying to revitalize the Exponent Project. The release of version 96.6 followed shortly thereafter.During the summer of 2007 OIC hired Phillip Ball who was an active member of the Exponent CMS Open Source community. With Phillip on board OIC was able to quickly get version 0.97 out the door that same summer.
While trying to get the 0.97 release out the door Adam started planning out a new MVC framework for Exponent and Phillip was getting heavily involved with YUI Javascript Library. The two different research path converged in the fall of 2007 as together Adam and Phillip started on new version of Exponent CMS. Adam wrote the new Exponent Framework and Phillip went to work cleaning up and moderninzing the interface and trying to tightly integrate the YUI
YUI
, stylized as YUI, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, and radio personality. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan when she was 17 and released her debut single months later...
Javascript library. The result was Exponent 2 or Exponent MVC. Exponent 2 was released in the summer of 2011 following a series of pre-release versions.
Exponent 2.0 Release
The Exponent 2.0 codeline has now become Open Source and available for download.This release of the code is targeted towards developers and community members wishing to get more involved in documentation and bug testing. Over the last month, us here at Online Innovative Creations have shifted our focus towards getting the systems and guidelines in place to allow for more community involvement in the development process.
OIC doesn't want to miss out on the valuable input and help we stand to gain from the community who's itching to get their hands on the code.
You can download a copy of the current MVC codeline on https://github.com/exponentcms/exponent-cms. The 'master' branch contains the current release, with the bleeding edge code slated for the next release being found in the 'develop' branch.
The core functionality of Exponent CMS and Exponent Framework is still managed by OIC Group with a community of open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
developers making module, translation and theme contributions.
Themes
The Exponent CMS was designed from the ground up with designers in mind. As such, it is incredibly simple for someone with a little knowledge of htmlHTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
and css
CSS
-Computing:*Cascading Style Sheets, a language used to describe the style of document presentations in web development*Central Structure Store in the PHIGS 3D API*Closed source software, software that is not distributed with source code...
to create an Exponent CMS theme. Themes for Exponent CMS are written using html
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
/xhtml
XHTML
XHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
and css
CSS
-Computing:*Cascading Style Sheets, a language used to describe the style of document presentations in web development*Central Structure Store in the PHIGS 3D API*Closed source software, software that is not distributed with source code...
. You just have to place a some hooks in your theme file to integrate Exponent CMS into your theme. That makes Exponent CMS highly flexible for designers. Any html based design can be easily converted into an Exponent theme.
In Exponent CMS content and presentation have been separated. To accomplish this the Smarty
Smarty
Smarty is a web template system written in PHP. Smarty is primarily promoted as a tool for separation of concerns.Smarty is intended to simplify compartmentalization, allowing the presentation of a web page to change separately from the back-end...
template engine was used for creation of views. Views allow the same content to be displayed in different looks and customized to match a sites theme.
Translations
Translations for Exponent CMS's 0.9x interface are available in 3 languages: English US (the default), Danish (Dansk) and German (Deutsch). The English source is managed by OIC Group, Inc. The Danish translation is managed by Elund Christensen, Jens Thomsen and Thomas B. Nielsen. The German translation is managed by Gerhard Starrermayr. Exponent 2.0 is currently only available in English, but is ready for easy translation into other languages.See also
- Content management systemContent management systemA content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
- List of content management systems