Xoops: A CMS Review
Xoops has started to make a push to get back into the mix of elite content management systems. Xoops has recently (February 1, 2010) released version 2.5 alpha just a few days after releasing the final stable version of Xoops 2.4.4. With the increase in popularity once again, Xoops has been able to release updates almost every month, which has gone a long way to help get Xoops back on the map. While Xoops proved to be an extremely quality CMS just shy of a decade ago, its support started to taper starting in 2005 and is only now getting back on track. This is evident because many of the best module/extensions date back to 2005 and 2006.
What Is Xoops?
Xoops was founded in 2002 and quickly emerged as a leading open source CMS. Its overall design focuses on ease of use as well as modularization. It started to rack up awards on a consistent basis in 2008 and rode the wave to more success in 2009. It is a permission based system where both the administration and users can change the appearance of the entire website. Xoops is database driven, has a user-friendly interface, and excellent community support.
The latest Alpha Xoops release is considered to be the biggest redesign of the Administration module and has made Xoops much easier to use for the non-tech savvy and first time users. It features an easy drag and drop system that makes designing the website a snap. New features of Xoops 2.5 include the visual placement blocks, central support for jQuery, better installer, themable Admin area, critical security updates, new system license key, and added support to PHP 5.3.
The Best Reasons to Use Xoops
Easy to Learn
Xoops has one of the smallest learning curves available, especially when compared to a larger CMS like Joomla or Drupal. The back end is very easy to use and has a very intuitive design. Any additional features that your website may need can be added through additional modules and themes.
World Wide Support
Some content management system users have a problem for users that do not speak English. Xoops has some of the best world wide support available in a variety of languages. In fact, Xoops has more than a dozen support sites that are specifically designed for non-English speaking users.
User Management
Xoops makes it easy for the administrator to find users based upon a variety of criteria and can send both emails and private messages using a simple template-based system. Additionally, users can easily edit their profiles, choose their own website theme, and even use custom avatars.
Reasons Why Xoops May Not Be the Right CMS For You
A Big Push
While Xoops is enjoying a growing amount of users and community support, it had better last. From 2004 to 2007 there was almost no new development happening at Xoops headquarters. Many of their best developers started working on several Xoops offshoots. Fortunately, all of these developers have reunited under the Xoops banner and it is now releasing updates or new versions on almost a monthly basis. However, there is a good chance that if Xoops 2.5 doesn't impress that it could quickly revert back to the nearly 4 years of underdevelopment.
Old Modules
One of the biggest reasons that many people choose Xoops is because of the simple modularization. Unfortunately, many of the modules simple are not getting the support that they need. In fact, a number of modules haven't been updated in 3+ years. You will find a module that could suit your needs only to find out that the link to module doesn't even work or the developer has quit updating it.
Xoops is making a comeback and could once again become one of the best CMS options available. While it offers a number of fantastic benefits, there are also a few reasons to be wary.
