HostMonster Web Hosting Package

XOOPS actually stands for eXtensible Object Oriented Portal System. It is a web content management system (CMS) powered by PHP. The CMS is an open source software released under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is free to use, modify and redistribute. The light weigth system is an ideal tool for developing small to large dynamic community websites, intra company portals, corporate portals, weblogs and much more.

Some key features of XOOPS according to the officials are:

Database-driven XOOPS uses a relational database (currently MySQL) to store data required for running a web-based content management system.

Fully Modularized Modules can be installed/uninstalled/ativated/deactivated with a click using the XOOPS module administration system.

Personalization Registered users can edit their profiles, select site themes, upload custom avatars, and much more!

User Management The ability to search for users by various criteria, send email and private messages to users through a template-based messaging system.

XSupported World-wide OOPS was created and is maintained by a team of several hard-working volunteers working from all over the world. The XOOPS community has more than dozen official support sites around the world for support of non-English speaking users.

Multi-byte Language Support Fully supports multi-byte languages, including Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, etc.

Versatile Group Permissions System Powerful and user-friendly permissions system which enables administrators to set permissions by group.

Theme-based skinnable interface XOOPS is driven by a powerful theme system. Both admins and users can change the look of the entire web site with just a click of a mouse. There are also over 60 themes available for download!!

XOOPS at HostMonster

XOOPS is supported by HostMonster via Fantastico. The latest version available with the hosting service is 2.3.1. Installing XOOPS at Hostmonster is pretty easy – you’ll be asked to input some basic info such as admin access data, site name and slogan, installation path, email address and that’s all. Once click ‘Install’, the system will automatically install XOOPS and configure the necessary on a new database.

Attached above is the installation page of XOOPS at Fantastico.

HostMonster is one of the very few hosting companies that support Fantastico and SimpleScripts for auto script installation. This makes HostMonster stands out from the other hosting companies as they support a wide range of web application and scripts.

Applications supported by Fantastico

Here’s the list of scripts supported by Fantastico at Hostmonster. With the help of Fantastico, these scripts can be installed in just a few minutes. All you need to do is to input some basic configuration info (such as installation path, naming, users password, etc) and the system will helps you to setup everything including script installation and database configuration.

Applications supported by Simple Scripts

On the other hand, here’re what you can get from Simple Scripts.

About osCommerce

osCommerce is an Open Source based e-commerce software that is available for free under the GNU General Public License. osCommerce features a rich set of online shopping cart functions that enables online store and e-commerce website owners to setup, run, and maintain their online stores with minimum effort and with no costs. With over 8 years of operation, the software has built a showcase of over 14,100 online shops that have been voluntarily added to the live shops section, and powers many thousands of more online shops worldwide.

Why a cart software matters?

There are several crucial reasons why a e-commerce website should run a shopping cart system and process its own transactions. A good shopping cart software should support a wide variety of e-business operations – this include processing payment and orders, tracks inventory, maintains customer profiles, provides security and makes shopping online easy. This allows e-commerce website owners to track customer habits, inventory levels, and read daily sales report, and in turn, improve his/her business operation on a continuous measures.

More over, a good shopping cart solutions always comes with built in security features. Customers prefer to shop at a business with a shopping cart web design as they are trusted over other methods of purchase. A hacker proof shopping cart system offer users a secured shopping experience – which is crucial in term of your business reputation and customers’ safety.

osCommerce at Hosmonter

Hostmonster support a wide variety of shopping cart software including osCommerce. osCommerce can be installed easily at HM using Simple Scripts or Fantastico. Figure below shows how osCommerce can be auto-installed using Simple Scripts (version 2.2.RC.2a).

For a fresh setup, all you need to do is to setup your store name and your osCommerce designated path. The installation will automatically check your server and database if it’s properly configured before installation and create database for you whenever requested.

According to ICANN regulation, all registered domains must be equipped with reachable contact information such as owners’ address and phone numbers. This reveals your personal information to informed web surfers when they go lookup on your whois information.

Hiding whois info at Hostmonster

To hide this whois information, here’s what you can do:

First, login to your cPanel with your domain name and account password. Look for the tab labeled as “Domain Manager” under “Domains” section.

Click in and look for a tab labeled as “Privacy”. The tab should be located at the bottom right of your page. Enable privacy option for your selected domain and it will set the whois information to Hostmonster instead of yours.

Simple? You bet. However, note that this function is only available for domain name that’s registered with Hostmonster. If your domain registration is done with a third party registrant (GoDaddy for example) then you can’t enable this function.

I am sure most web developers heard much about Ruby on Rails. In fact, everyone seems raving about this web tools as it helps web development to be done easier and faster.

Introduction: Ruby on Rails

So what’s exactly is Ruby on Rails? To understand Ruby on Rails, you’ll need to understand what’s Ruby and what’s Rails (yes, they are two separated things).

Folks, meet Ruby

Ruby, just Ruby by itself, is a programming language, just like PHP or Perl. Although many Ruby programmers believe that the language’s syntax has better efficiency; Ruby is, according to the officials, a programming language that somewhat resembles a cross between Perl and Python.*

*Ref: http://wiki.rubyonrails.org/rails/pages/StartAtTheBeginning

Rails meet Ruby

Rails, on the other hand, is a web application framework that’s written in Ruby. Rails, or Ruby on Rails, is the basic support structure for Ruby language, where reusable components and code that can be used throughout the main application. In other words, everything in Rails is based around the Ruby programming language. While there are quite some other frameworks available for Ruby programmers but Ruby on Rails is so far the one that’s widely used.

Why Ruby on Rails?

I am not going to explain the advantages of Rails on Ruby in details as it involved way too many technical aspects. This is, after all, not a programming blog and I’m not a programming expert at all.

In short, Ruby on Rails works better in term of speed and efficiency. The language/platform embraces test-driven development, works with lesser software, and cuts down the needs of long winded configuration files. As Tim O’Reilly, Founder of O’Reilly Media described it: “ Ruby on Rails is a powerful web applications that formerly might have taken weeks or months to develop can be produced in a matter of days.”

At the time of writing, Twitter and YellowPages are the two most well-known websites that’re running on Rails.

Can you use Ruby on Rails at Hostmonster hosting?

The answer is yes. Customers are allowed to run Ruby on Rails in their Hostmonster hosting account.

More over, you can manage your Ruby on Rails application from the HM control panels. Rails applications run just like any other application at Hostmonster. It’s worth noting, however, that you will need to populate it with your code, configure the start/stop of the application, as well as redirect incoming traffic to the specific port that’s being used.

Where can I learn more about Ruby on Rails?

• Rolling with Ruby on Rails
• Rolling with Ruby on Rails, Part 2
• Four Days on Rails (PDF)
• Really Getting Started in Rails
• Tutorial in Ruby on Rails
• Fast-track your Web apps with Ruby on Rails
• Getting Your Feet Wet With Ruby on Rails
• How to make a todo list program with Rails
• Ajax on Rails
• Many to Many Tutorial for Rails (PDF)