MODX, LLC, the company behind the open source MODX content management platform has released a major update to its flagship MODX Revolution with version 2.1. This release extends MODX’s reach beyond the traditional Open Source server infrastructure and into the Microsoft channel by adding support for Microsoft SQL Server.
"Now you can run MODX Revolution on a full Microsoft stack including Microsoft SQL Server. This is a tremendous opportunity for MODX Solution Partners in being able to sell into environments dominated by commercially licensed software and servers," said Ryan Thrash, CEO of MODX, LLC. "Microsoft shops should also realize major benefits from our software: an agile web content platform, total creative freedom and a reliable upgrade path between releases. They get this backed by a solid company with Commercial Support and an SLA, making for a very boardroom-friendly choice."
IDC reported Microsoft Windows leads in server share with 48.9% of revenue in Q1 2010. Microsoft invested companies can benefit from the most flexible open source content management platform while working with the servers and infrastructure already in place, leveraging existing in-house talent, expertise and tools. This leads to cost savings, mitigates risk and delivers faster ROIs by eliminating platform shifts.
Gianugo Rabellino, Senior Director, Open Source Communities at Microsoft shared, "We are extremely happy to see the spark that began with PHP developers working side-by-side with Microsoft developers grow into a release that offers full support for SQL Server and the Microsoft stack. For us, this release is another milestone on our journey towards greater interoperability. Enabling choices for developers and businesses was the ultimate goal of last November's SQL Server JumpIn! Camp and it is exciting to see that goal realized in this release of MODX. We thank the MODX team for their commitment and cooperation in making this milestone a possibility."
Besides adding support for Microsoft SQL, Revolution 2.1 also introduces other significant changes especially in the area of performance improvements and security. Some of the new features in 2.1 include:
- The MODX caching system has been restructured to vastly improve caching times and performance. It now properly implements file locking, partitioning and multiple format support. Cache file sizes have been reported to drop nearly 30% of their previous size and page load time significantly decrease.
- Removal of all deprecated MODX Evolution Code which loses several thousand lines of code, lightens the distributions and will make future development simpler.
- Template Variable Improvements adding Input Options to allow you to control how particular TV types treat the data in the Manager to add validations, paths or other parameters.
- New URI Editing and Freezing. You can now customize a resource's URL independently from the Friendly URL settings and tree path (essentially overrides the alias and alias path).
- More Secure Password storage as Revolution 2.1 introduces the use of the PBKDF2 which replaces MD5. We've also included structural changes to allow future features and customizations to the password settings.
MODX Revolution 2.1 is available for free from the download page at MODX.com. Additional details about this latest version of MODx can be found in the Revolution 2.1 release announcement.