Nucleus Web Hosting

Nucleus Web Hosting

Nucleus CMS is an open-source blog management software package written in PHP, with a MySQL backend and is primarily written and maintained by Wouter Demuynck. It is considered to be a light content management system, and does not offer any file uploading features except for graphic files that are meant to be displayed within the blog pages.

Nucleus offers a robust set of features. An overview of its key features is as follows:

• Maintenance of one or more web logs/news-sites: Users can have multiple web logs and if desired; the multiple web logs can also be displayed on the same page.
• Multiple Authors: Each blog has its designated team of authors. While some authors have access only to posting rights; others are allowed to modify or change the settings of the blog as well.
• Categories: Multiple categories can be created within a web log for a more organized blog.
• Built-in commenting System: The built-in commenting system obviates the need for an external commenting tool.
• Fancy Urls available: Nucleus can provide URLs optimized for both readers and search engines, like: http://example.org/item/1234, http://example.org/archives/1.
• It runs on your own Server: Users wield complete control, as Nucleus runs on your own server. Therefore network outages of centralized web log tools won’t prevent users from posting.
• Drafts and future Posts: Items can marked and saved as drafts for later modifications or postings. If users want a certain item to be displayed for a later date, items can be marked as a future item.
• Tweakable features: Users can tweak around and customize the website to their preferences and tastes. Skins and templates, and multiple CSS files can all be modified and the language used by the Nucleus admin area can easily be changed through language-files.
• Plug-ins: Additional features can be programmed in so called plug-ins and be installed on Nucleus. This way, users can have the specific features they need to meet their blog requirements.
• Bookmarklet and right-click blogging: If users would like to comment or make suggestions about a website for example, they just need to open the bookmarklet or use the right-click context menu option and an add-item window will popup.
• Archives and Search: Nucleus has the ability to automatically manage the archives of web logs and the search feature is also offered for easy access to old items. Nucleus also features highlighting search terms, both in articles, and in comments.
• RSS and Atom Syndication: Nucleus provides RSS and Atom feeds and extra feed types can also added without any hassles.
• XML-RPC interface: Blogger, meta Weblog and Movable Type APIs: Nucleus offers implementations of the Blogger, metaWeblog and MovableType APIs. In other words, Nucleus can be used with tools like w.Bloggar, Ecto, Zempt etc.
• File or Image upload: No FTP program is required to upload files manually. If users wish to upload an image for example, they need to open the media popup, select the file to be uploaded and you are done in minutes.
• IP-ban list: For users whom you think are denigrating your blog or causing nuisance, their IP addresses, IP range r nick names can be banned for further comments or votes or any other related activity.
• Backup/Restore: A simple click allows users to create a back up version of the database contents.

The following minimum requirements need to met, for nucleus to run smoothly:

• A server running PHP 4.0.6 or higher (4.2+ is recommended)
• Access to a MySQL database (MySQL 3.23.x or above)

To keep Nucleus from becoming unnecessarily tumefied, a few features were not included in the nucleus core. That’s where the role of plug-ins comes in. Plug-ins can extend Nucleus to any length to suit the user’s preferences and needs. While some users prefer a certain set of features, others would prefer another set. Therefore, Nucleus provides a lightweight tool that can be used for different purposes, by simply plugging in the needed plug-ins. A few examples of plug-ins include:

• WYSIWYG item editing
• Statistics
• Comments/Item RSS feeds
• Calendar
• Chat (shout box)
• CSS style switcher
• “Email/Print this article”
• Fulltext-search of local, related, articles
• Fully integrated google.com search (using Google API, SOAP) of related outside articles
• Fully integrated amazon.com search
• GZip your website, saving bandwidth
• Run polls, even with multiple questions
• Track back
• Weather forecast / current weather plug-in for all major cities in the world and many others.

Users need to make that minimum requirements are being met prior to installing Nucleus. A utility program is required to open .zip files, such as 7-Zip (opensource), WinRAR (shareware) or WinZip (shareware). Users can easily download the CMS v3.23 basic user guide to guide them through the entire process of handling Nucleus.
The Nucleus member and administration structure is fairly organized and simple to understand. Superadmins can access all blogs and change system configurations. Only they have the access to change the codes of skins and templates. Admins can access only the blogs they belong to and change configurations of these blogs only. Members that belong to a (blog) team can just post and edit theirs posts and normal members can just comment and edit their comments.
Using Nucleus CMS does not require ample technical expertise, and is flexible and expandable enough to build just about any website. It allows users to integrate text, images, and user comments in a seamless package, making your web presence felt, the way users want their web logs to be exposed; be it in a personal, professional or with fine nuances of fun tones.
Users have the option of distributing copies of the free software adhering to the GPL specifications.