MODX Adds Microsoft SQL Server Support to Revolution 2.1

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.

Sitefinity 4.1 release delivers Azure support and significant performance enhancements

Sitefinity 4.1 offers performance gains up to 35 percent, compatibility with new Microsoft cloud OS and native language support

WALTHAM, MA, APRIL 18, 2011 –Telerik, an end-to-end provider of software application lifecycle and content management solutions, today revealed details of its latest release for Sitefinity, the company’s robust Web Content Management System (WCM). The Sitefinity 4.1 release introduces a number of upgrades and improvements to the sophisticated system, including enhancements delivering performance increases of up to 35 percent. Also being debuted is support for Windows Azure, Microsoft’s cloud services operating system, and native language packs for international Sitefinity users.

“This release delivers significant improvements that benefit all the audiences typically using a WCM. Content editors get a working environment in their native language, developers and site administrators have more server and database support options, and finally the considerable performance boost obviously benefits all,” said Martin Kirov, Sitefinity executive vice president, Telerik. “Our dedication to uncompromising quality and innovation means we cannot and will not settle for offering products that are just ‘good enough’. Telerik will continue to aggressively pursue and deliver those leading-edge solutions that developers need to excel.”

With the release of Sitefinity 4.1, the system is now compatible with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft’s recently released platform that acts as a runtime for off-premises application development, management, and hosting. With this integrated support for Microsoft Azure, developers can leverage Sitefinity’s exceptional features and functionality to tap into new cloud-based markets and revenue streams, as well as reaping the benefits that cloud computing offers, like greater reliability and increased uptime at lower a cost threshold than with conventional IT infrastructures.

DotNetNuke Corp Upgrades Web Content Management Platform with Support for Microsoft WebMatrix and Razor

New Solution Packages Enable Commercial Edition Customers to Get Up to Speed Faster

DotNetNuke Corp., the company behind the most widely adopted Web Content Management Platform for Microsoft .NET, introduced support for two innovative new products from Microsoft: WebMatrix and Razor. New adopters of DotNetNuke with limited technical experience can take advantage of the WebMatrix development environment to efficiently build their web site. More experienced developers can leverage the deep DotNetNuke integration with Razor to more quickly and easily create powerful extensions for the DotNetNuke platform. Version 5.6 of DotNetNuke also now includes a Configuration Manager feature which simplifies web site administrative tasks. In addition, the new DotNetNuke Solution Packages enable customers to get up to speed faster and take full advantage of the commercial editions of DotNetNuke.

Highlights:

Available today is deep integration of the new Razor scripting syntax which Microsoft launched at CodeMash last week. Supported as a core aspect of the DotNetNuke platform, Razor enables developers to quickly and easily create custom extensions for their DotNetNuke web site or web application.
Through support of WebMatrix, new adopters of DotNetNuke with limited technical experience can now take advantage of the WebMatrix development environment to efficiently build web sites.
DotNetNuke 5.6.1 features a new Configuration Manager that allows a host user to manage the various configuration files that control the run-time operation of DotNetNuke. Administrators can now select the desired configuration file and load it into a multi-line textbox in a web browser where modifications can be made manually and changes can be saved where they will take effect immediately. Administrators can also upload a Configuration Merge script which can be used to automate many of the more repetitive and complex configuration operations.

Hippo CMS video - Publishing a Word document to web and mobile

Hippo CMS publishing a Word doc to web and mobile from Arje Cahn on Vimeo.

SilverStripe CMS becomes the first Microsoft Certified open source web app

Yesterday, I received an email from SilverStripe Co-Founder, Sigurd Magnusson. For all the years I have been corresponding with Sigurd, I don't think I've ever seen him as excited as he was this time in breaking the news. SilverStripe, a web development company delivering open source content management systems (CMS) has achieved Certification for Windows Server 2008 R2 for version 2.4.0 of their flagship product, SilverStripe CMS. This is a world first, as the software is the only truly open source web application to achieve certification on the Windows platform.

What is a little different about this story is that it is not only SilverStripe's press relations people making a big deal about this story. Microsoft is making a big deal about the accomplishments of SilverStripe. Andrew Gordan, Microsoft's New Zealand’s Platform Strategy Manager writes:

A large amount of the innovation in the software world is happening on the web and in the cloud, and in addition to that, we are seeing increased awareness and acceptance of open source software on the Microsoft Windows platforms.

Microsoft's Certified for Windows programs are well known for indicating software and hardware products that have been thoroughly tested to work well on Microsoft Windows and as of today, SilverStripe CMS is the first Open Source web application to complete the comprehensive testing necessary to achieve "Certified for Windows Server 2008 R2" status.

In his own blog post, Sigurd mentions that the certification for SilverStripe has been a long but rewarding road. A large proportion of the SilverStirpe's community and clients use Microsoft servers, databases, and other technology. Over the past three years there an effort has been made for the SilverStripe CMS to work with Microsoft's operating system, web servers, and SQL Server database product.

Microsoft's Silverlight developers are angry

A few days ago, I read Mary Jo Foley's article titled Microsoft: Our strategy with Silverlight has shifted. According to an interview with the President of the Server and Tools Division at Microsoft, the company will be shifting support for Silverlight away from the PC and Mac desktop and toward the phone market.

So what’s a developer to make of Microsoft’s messaging (or lack thereof) about Silverlight at its premiere developer conference?

I asked Bob Muglia, the Microsoft President in charge of the company’s server and tools business, that very question and got what I consider to be the clearest answer yet about how Microsoft is evolving its Silverlight strategy.

“Silverlight is our development platform for Windows Phone,” he said. Silverlight also has some “sweet spots” in media and line-of-business applications, he said.

But when it comes to touting Silverlight as Microsoft’s vehicle for delivering a cross-platform runtime, “our strategy has shifted,” Muglia told me.

Microsoft plans to be using HTML 5 to replace the functions currently being provided by Silverlight 5.

It is not the point of this post to debate the merits of HTML 5, Silverlight and even Flash. What is my point though, is that Microsoft appears to me to be desperate. Desperate to come up with a strategic plan that will carry them beyond the day of Windows PCs. Microsoft is desperate to become innovative for the sake of innovation that they're really confusing a lot of their developers. If only after a few years of support, Microsoft is shifting focus of it's Silverlight platform...what potential developer in his or her right mind would support another future Microsoft endeavor? Just take a look at the comments to Bob Muglia's blog post discussing this topic and I think you'll see my point.

DPCI Accepted into Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program for 5th Year in a Row

DPCI maintains its organizational competencies in Information Worker (content management), Data Management (database and warehousing), and Custom Development (.NET) solutions. This is DPCI's 5th year in the Gold Partner program and 10th year as a Microsoft partner.

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CMS Report's Ten Additional Stories for 2009

A couple days ago, I posted CMS Report's Top Ten Stories of 2009. The articles listed were ranked by popularity based by how many times viewed and the rate that they were viewed through the year. Popular stories do not always signify well written articles or are always an indication of personal favorites. Each year, I write a number of content management or IT related articles that I love but for various reasons you the people didn't have interest in reading and sharing.

Below are some of my favorite articles written in 2009 that were not a part of the previously posted Top Ten list. If I had a Top 20 Stories list the articles in both of these listings would be included.

Opinion: SharePoint: Is Microsoft's biggest recent success at risk?

ComputerWorld: "In several years of mostly gloomy news coming out of Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., there has been one bright spot for the company: The enterprise portal and collaboration tool SharePoint. While Windows sales have lagged, and the company's Internet business is still heavily in the red, SharePoint is thriving and showing the kind of market growth that even a start-up would envy. But the good times may not stay around forever, particularly if Google ever makes serious inroads into the enterprise."

Good start for Windows 7

Here is something I haven't seen since Windows 95 was lauched...massive consumer excitement for a Microsoft product. One of the few benifits to Windows Vista is that it forced Microsoft to reconnect with its customers and improve the Windows development process. Microsoft just didn't need to work harder to improve relationships with home and business customers but also with PC manufacturers.

Natali Del Conte's CNET video below spotlights not just the Windows 7 software, but what PC manufacturers and service providers are planning to do with the new operating system. The products from Dell, HP, Acer, and Amazon's Kindle reader all look very cool.

I don't plan on posting any new reviews of Windows 7 since I already blogged about the operating system a few months ago. In November, I do plan on upgrading my home Windows 7 RC 32 Bit machine to Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. Since the upgrade requires a fresh install I think it will be an interesting experience to write about.

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