With the recent significant work done on the Alpha build of AdaptCMS 2.0, I figured it was time for a blog on the progress.

Overall the status of the script is good, but an actual release - let alone beta release is still a ways off. The ACP and basic frontend features are nearing completion - but new features, refinement, new design and then the new adaptcms.com/insanevisions.com websites.

But in the near term the basics of most of the features should be wrapped up soon - next will be new features as well as starting on some of the insanevisions/adaptcms new websites. I'll be getting designs pretty soon.

Anyways, onto the blog.

Skins and Smarty

A few of the new things I'll be going over is either is something new or something updated, in this case kind of a mix of both. While it is a template system, the new system is very different from AdaptCMS 1.x. First off the old fashioned {name} tag system has been replaced with Smarty, a very useful and versatile template system which not only handles tags (and better and easier) but also caching.

With the use of smarty templates are now also stored via a physical file. Another new part of the skin system is actual "skins". So you have a "main" skin, but to test out your new layout you create a "beta" skin to see how everything looks - somewhat like what you'll see in AdaptBB.

Media

Another changed feature from AdaptCMS 1.x, "Media" replaces gallery. On the ACP side of things, the interface is completely different and more user-friendly.

All your media galleries are listed with quick links (to add to, edit or delete) as well as a little thumbnail. Below that is the traditional file list with an option to show all files or only files not linked to an a media album.

The frontend side of things are not done yet, but a new JS slideshow and pic preview will be in, more features and true functionality for media other than just pictures. (such as video support)

Comments

Not a big feature, but it has still seen a lot of improvement since 1.x. In the backend, comments has gone to strictly being under "edit content". When you go to edit a content piece, near the bottom, will be the associated comments where you can edit the comment text, e-mail or choose to delete. It is also paginated so 100 comments aren't all shown.

In the frontend the feature stays pretty much the same, functionality wise. Two new features, however, is the ability to "rate" a comment and to be able to report it. (report isn't in yet) This will help the comment system catch up to other sites and make it easier to get rid of the bad ones (like spam).

Conclusion

That about does it for now. Now since the progress on the script is out of the boring "re-code" stages where there was hardly anything new to report about, the upcoming stage is new features which will bring a lot more updates.

Now since the progress on the script is out of the boring "re-code" stages where there was hardly anything new to report about, the upcoming stage is new features which will bring a lot more updates.

Stay tuned!