flat files

Introducing GetSimple CMS

By Bryan - Posted on 13 August 2009

Chris Cagle asked me to talk about his newly launched GetSimple CMS which is geared toward small-business use. I suppose I must be a sucker in talking and promoting new CMS projects as I get a lot of these type of requests. I know there are folks from the enterprise content management perspective that wish I wouldn't because a brand spanking new CMS isn't something they would ever consider. However, there is always a place for these niche applications.

Screenshot of GetSimple CMS

Probably the first thing you will notice is that GetSimple CMS does not use a SQL database but instead uses XML files for database storage. While GetSimple may be simple, it does have some nice features that you wouldn't expect for a new project. For example, almost everything action in the CMS can be undone and there are backup features (revision) for your pages. The CMS can also generate an XML Sitemap which can be used by most search engines for indexing purposes. Also, the CMS has an integrated support ticket system that allows you to submit a help ticket to the GetSimple developers.

GetSimple CMS is a PHP application designed for Apache running on a Unix or Linux system. Download links are available from the project's download page. A demo of the content management system is available at opensourceCMS.

Opinion: File Based Applications to replace Database Systems

By joelhalse - Posted on 31 March 2008

OpenEdit's Joel Halse believes that file based applications and not the database driven systems are the next evolution for information management. The below article is written by Joel Halse and explains his reasons for why he has reached this conclusion.

Lets say you need to organize 2000 people on a football field. A relational database would create 2000 little boxes and make everyone stay in their little box. If someone needed to move around, they would first need to inform the administrator so that the administrator doesn't lose track of everyone. A file based system on the other hand would hand out a cell phone to everyone and tell them to have fun. If someone needs you, we'll give you a call. Just make sure you don't lose your cell phone. Beyond that, have a great day.

A relational database was a good system. It was also created in a time where searching a million files took more than milliseconds. It was a product of limitations. It wasn't necessarily the ideal solution, but it was a good solution given the tools at hand. Those limitations are gone. Those limitations are in the past. New technology and mind boggling search capabilities have opened the door for new options that weren't available 20 years ago.

File based applications are the next evolution for information management. Especially for the web.

Why? Because it's easier understand. It's not that you aren't smart enough to understand a database. It's that you don't have to understand a database. Especially when you already understand how to use a file based system.

My first CMS: Simple PHP Blog

By Bryan - Posted on 09 August 2007

Simple PHP Blog 0.5.0.1, a maintenance release, went public on Tuesday of this week. I know I don't talk too much about it here, but I still like to keep at least one eye open on this particular blogging application. For you see, I consider Simple PHP Blog my very first Web content management system (WCMS).

Three or four years ago was when I began my exploration into the world of Web content management systems for personal use. It was a period of transition for me. My primary Web language was slowly shifting from Perl to PHP. I also had a strong desire to move away from static HTML pages for my "family" site to something a little more dynamic and evolving. However, while I was ready to take on the CMS I wasn't ready to fork over the extra money my host provider was asking for a single MySQL database. Until my hosting contract was up, I only had one choice...install a CMS that stored the data on the drive as "flat files" instead of an online database.