Siteframe Web Hosting

SiteFrame Web Hosting

SiteFrame is a light CMS (Content Management System), created by Glen Campbell and is used for a variety of websites including weblogs and community driven websites. The system allows various functionalities like sharing stories, pictures/photographs, create blogs, send emails, and also participate in various group activities. This web based content management enables flexible content creation and eliminates the need to learn HTML. It stores information in a MySQL database, and is scripted using PHP. It is an open source, free software and is licensed under the Creative Commons License.

The more advanced released versions of SiteFrame provide support for tagging and photo sharing. SiteFrame also supports user profiling and folder management, where users can create “folders” much like categories and store content in those folders. The following software is required to install SiteFrame an also ensures that it functions smoothly:

• Web Server: Siteframe has been installed under Apache 2.0.53. Although it may work just as well with the previous versions of Apache, this remains unverified. It may also work under any web server that supports PHP5; but Apache 2.0 remains the only tested and confirmed platform.
• PHP5: Siteframe requires PHP5; it uses features of the PHP5 language that are incompatible with prior versions of PHP. The development and subsequent testings have been performed on using PHP 5.0.3; however, it will just as well on the later released versions of PHP5 as well. It requires the PHP5 mysqli module for database access. It also uses the SimpleXML module, which is typically installed by default with PHP5. It also requires the gd extension for image support.
• Smarty: Smarty is a PHP-based template library available from http://smarty.php.net. Siteframe uses Smarty to display all content.
• MySQL: The development and testing of MySQL was done using MySQL 4.1; and may also work with the later versions of MySQL. There are certain features of Siteframe that utilize functionality of MySQL that was not available until 4.1; the software may operate properly under older versions of MySQL, but certain features (access control lists, full-text searching) will not be available. MySQL uses InnoDB tables (except for the FULLTEXT search function) and thus will not install properly on MySQL installations that are configured without InnoDB access.

The recommended or optional components comprise of:

• PHP5-exif: the EXIF module will permit the retrieval of image information from digital photographs.
• PEAR-XML/RPC: this PHP module is used by the “ping” plug-in to send XML-RPC messages to certain websites and it is only required if that plug-in is enabled.
• PHP5-curl: the CURL module is used for outbound Trackbacks
• Apache mod_rewrite: use of this Apache module will permit shorter, “friendlier” URLs; which are easier to remember or input.

The software comes equipped with the README.txt file and comprises of complete, precise and current information. For text entry and editing; SiteFrame utilizes a simple text box by default. Users may want to integrate a rich-text editor into their systems. The FCK Editor and widgEditor are most common and reliable ones used.
Before the installation of the software, users need to ensure that the most basic requirements besides the above mentioned are equally met:

• An account with an ISP or web hosting provider
• Users to know the final URL of their website as well as the physical directory in which the website files are stored (the web root directory)
• Users need to have ftp access to the hosting provider, but not shell access
• Users need to have an access to a MySQL server instance and know the host name, database name, user name, and password to access that instance.
• First time installation is not an upgrade.

The Siteframe Beaumont is the 5.0 release of Siteframe. It is a complete rewrite of the underlying Siteframe codebase, and includes a number of innovative, enhanced and advanced features enhancing its functionality and reliability. Its key features include:

• Simple Registration as well as an Invitation Interface: If a new user is invited by an existing user of SiteFrame; the registration process is fairly smooth and well contoured as the new user’s email address gets validated in advance.
• Social Networking: The Beaumont version allows users to assign certain users as “favorites” and keep them updated on their posts/comments.
• Security Enhancements: Siteframe 5.0 includes features to prevent automated scripts from registering and uploading spam.
• Smarty Template Engine: This is the most commonly used and efficient templating engine in the PHP community used by most webmasters.
• User-centered, community-oriented user interface: Users are allowed to create folders, which are effectively mini-sites or blogs within the context of the larger site. In each of the folders, the more recent items are displayed while the older ones can be accessed through navigation. Users can also choose a custom template set (“theme”) for their pages and folders.
• Automated Image Handling: The Beaumont version automatically creates thumbnails of images as well as create dynamically create thumbnails of any size as preferred by the webmaster. This enhances user flexibility; an essential feature required for page designing.
• Simplified Content Model: Folders and Pages are the two essentials and the main focus of the Beaumont version. Once the user has created a folder, then a Page is really the only new object that is manipulated by the user.
• Tags: Keyword tagging lets users group similar items together; any user can tag a page with one or more keywords.
• RSS Support: The content from other websites can be integrated into the user’s websites via RSS. This content is easily searchable and is made available through the user’s primary website. Moreover; Siteframe 5.0 allows users to create RSS feeds per site, per folder, for tags, and for search results, allowing enhanced flexibility in sharing their content.
• Ad Hoc Pages: This feature allows he site administrator to create “meta-content” that is not included in the regular user-contributed content; for example the help pages or legal statements.
• Automatic Database Updates: Using the Administrator’s Control Panel; the database can be automatically updated to the newer version.
• Administrator Functions: Using the Administrator’s Control Panel; the site administrator can view reports, browse and edit files, and perform routine maintenance tasks conveniently.

The website contains a comprehensive knowledge base i.e. HowTo and the Q&A section to resolve any isues or queries related to SiteFrame.