MODX

MODX

200px The new logo created in 2014.
Original author(s)	Raymond Irving Ryan Thrash
Developer(s)	MODX LLC
Initial release	2004
Stable release	2.5.0-pl (MODX Revolution) / 21 April 2016 (2016-04-21)
Written in	PHP
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Content Management System
License	GPL
Website	modx.com

MODX (originally MODx) is a free, open source content management system and web application framework for publishing content on the world wide web and intranets. MODX is licensed under the GPL, is written in the PHP programming language, and supports MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server as the database. It was awarded Packt Publishing's Most Promising Open Source Content Management System in 2007.

History

The developers Raymond Irving and Ryan Thrash began the MODX CMS project in 2004 as a mashup of DocVars for Etomite and Raymond's web user add-on. In March 2005, all references to "MODX" were removed from the Etomite forums, coupled with a request from its founder to cease MODX support activities there. At this point, MODX became a fork of Etomite.

By May 2005, the MODX forums were online and Jason Coward joined the project leadership team. In 2007, Raymond left the project on amicable terms. The following year, Shaun McCormick joined the project leadership team.

In 2008, MODX users created a new logo and branding for the project.

In 2010, the first version of MODX Revolution, a complete rewrite of the CMS, was released. MODX LLC was founded in May 2010. May 2010 also saw the first official MODX conference, MODXpo Dallas. The event's main sponsor was Microsoft.

In October 2012, MODX LLC launched MODX Cloud, a cloud-based hosting service for MODX sites.

In March 2013, MODX LLC split MODX Cloud into another company, SiphonLabs. The venture also offered WordPress hosting. This separation was short-lived, and MODX Cloud was re-integrated into the parent company in July 2013.

In June 2013, Mark Hamstra—a well-known developer in the MODX community—launched modmore. modmore is the first major source of premium add-ons for MODX. In November of that year the second official MODXpo was held in Cologne, Germany.

In January 2014, MODX was added to the BitNami installer library.

In July 2014, MODX 2.3 was released to the public. The release—the biggest for several years—features a significantly updated manager interface and various minor feature improvements. In September of that year modmore hosted the first MODX Weekend in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

In November 2015 the MODXpo Conference was hosted by Kochan & Partner in Munich, Germany, with speakers from across Europe and the United States engaging in a 3-day exposition of MODX and the future of the platform.

Future

MODX 3, expected to be a major overhaul of the CMS, is currently in the planning stages. In 2013, it was announced that MODX 3 would be released by the end of the year. This has now been pushed back to an indefinite date, with MODX 2.3 acting as a major interim step.

Features

MODX allows for full segregation of content (plain HTML), appearance and behavior (standards compliant CSS and JavaScript), and logic (PHP snippets).

Additional MODX features include:

• Graphical web-based installer.
• Supports PHP 5.1.1 and above.
• Supports WYSIWYG rich-text editors.
• The Manager application works cross-browser and cross-platform, including Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer on Windows, Mac OS X (Firefox and Safari), and Linux (Firefox).
• Can be installed under IIS, Apache, Lighttpd, Hiawatha, Cherokee, nginx, and Zeus web servers.
• Supports any Ajax library, including jQuery, MooTools, ExtJS, and Prototype.
• Recursive parser for nested functionality.
• Complete control of all metadata and URL structure for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) purposes.
• Object-oriented, MVC compliant core code.
• Role-based permissions for the Manager.
• Ability to customize the Manager on a per-deployment basis.
• Ability to install add-ons right from the Manager.
• Ecommerce integration via Foxy Cart.

Extensions and Modules

Additional extensions or modules for MODX (installed to enhance the CMS or add additional features) are called "Extras". These extras are installed within the manager as "Packages", delivered by package providers. Out of the box MODX comes with one "Provider", which is MODX's own core package platform.

Additional package providers can be added by administrators, and a number of providers are found on the MODX forums.

Translations and community

MODX has active, global end-user and developer communities. These communities have translated MODX into their native languages, including: Alsatian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Other active communities reside in India and the United Kingdom.

Recognition, awards, and publications

Packt Publishing

In July 2007, MODX was awarded Packt Publishing's Most Promising Open Source Content Management System award.

CMS Critic

In 2012, MODX won CMS Critic's Best Open Source CMS (Critic's Choice) award.

In 2013, it won Best Open Source CMS (People's Choice).

Reviews

Linux.com reviewed MODX on January 14, 2008. Its author concluded that "MODX is an easy-to-use, standards-compliant, search-engine-friendly, functional, and extensible CMS…".

Publications

Several MODX books have been published, including:

• Bob Ray - MODX: The Official Guide
• W. Shawn Wilkerson - MODX Revolution: Building The Web Your Way
• Antono Solar John - MODX Web Development

External links

• Official website