All About Xoops

XOOPS is a web content management system written in PHP for the MySQL database. An object-oriented system, it is easy to get the grasp of and can be used for both small and large sites. It is easily expandable and makes a good base for community websites, portals, news sites and multi-purpose sites.

Using Xoops modules and add-ons, you can create a feature-rich site with minimal knowledge of CSS and HTML.

Because it is Open Source, it is free to download and free to use. You can download it to your own personal server, download it to your PC and upload it to your hosted web site, or in many cases your web hosting company will have it as a web program offering and you can opt to have your web provider install it for you (the best option for a quick and clean install).

Xoops has been around for a long time and has been developed by programmers from around the world. Development is an ongoing process and new modules and themes are constantly being introduced. Easy to use and fairly intuitive to understand, Xoop offers the following features and benefits :

• Database-Driven
• Fully Modular
• Easy to Personalize for Users
• Built-in User Management System
• Supported worldwide in multiple languages
• Supports multi-byte languages like Japanese, Chinese and others
• Versatile Permission Settings for Various Groups
• Theme-Based Skinnable Interface
• Hundreds of Free Templates and Addons Available

One of the things I like about Xoops is the fact that you can easily move between the administration panel and the various support sites for Xoops with just a click on a tab. Additionally, it is written in fairly plain English which makes it easier for non-techies to get the hang of it.

I personally like the styles offered for Xoops themes and the fact that Xoops has been around for a while means that a majority of the optional modules as well as the base program and core modules are relatively stable.

Xoops installation is easy, particularly if you have a web host that will do it for you. Once you have installed it you can log in as the Administrator and select your settings and options from the Administration Panel. You will need to install most of the modules yourself as the base package only comes with a few modules. If you do decide to install Xoops yourself, you can choose between four pre-configured module packs to add functionality to your site or select modules individually. Either way, you need to:

Install Xoops

Download the module or module pack.

Unzip it on your computer.

Upload the files to the appropriate directory in Xoops on your site - add modules one at a time so that if one blows up your system you know what caused it and can delete it.

Activate and enable the module and choose your options in the Xooms administration menu under System, Modules on the left side of your admin panel.

Find a template for your site.

Download the template, unzip it and upload it to the templates file in your Xoom directory.

Activate and enable your template in the Xooms administration menu under System, Templates, on the left side of your administration panel.

Select and set up your system preferences under System, Preferences on the left side of your administration panel.