A Preview of dotCMS 3.0
dotCMS is a widely popular open-source enterprise CMS, and it's extremely close to a major update – dotCMS 3.0.
Available in two primary forms, the community and enterprise edition, users can choose between self-hosting DotCMS, making use of the dotCMS server, and using the dotCMS cloud-hosted service.
Now, after being nominated in two categories in the 2014 CMS Awards – Best Free Java CMS and Best Open Source Java CMS – dotCMS 3.0 is on the horizon, and it's set to introduce a wide range of enhancements.
Multi-type Containers, New Enterprise Support Portal & More
dotCMS 3.0 will be a major release, with updates coming in large numbers. Having said that though, the following three aspects of dotCMS 3.0 are definitely the most important.
1) Multi-type Containers
Perhaps the most powerful improvement for site and web app builders within the dotCMS fanbase is the new Multi-type Containers available in dotCMS 3.0.
Previously, containers in dotCMS could only support a single content type (structure). But with version 3.0, you can design Containers to include and render multiple of content types, with no limit. For instance, you can have a single container that allows a content contributor to choose any kind of content object to display, be it News items, Events, Promos or even a widget, all in the same content area.
For those of you using the outstanding multi-site capabilities of dotCMS, Multi-type Containers add extreme flexibility to what content a template can render. Plus, you’ll be able to greatly reduce the number of templates you maintain and improve thanks to the ability to re-use container code.
2) Cluster Auto-scale & Auto-wire
This next item is cool, especially if you are involved with system administration on a dotCMS cluster or large-scale dotCMS implementation. DotCMS 3.0 includes auto-scaling & auto-wiring of clusters. Built right into 3.0, the auto-scale and auto-wire features eliminate much of the headache associated with configuring a cluster of dotCMS servers.
Gone are the days of diving into properties files to configure your server – now you can provision servers, add or remove them from a cluster, and respond to peaks in traffic with additional capacity right from the dotCMS server management UI.
Further to this, all new dotCMS servers will automatically detect other nodes in the cluster on startup, and set up their clustered network settings and indexes automatically. This is definitely an update to make life easier for dotCMS users.
3) New Enterprise Support Portal and enterprise licensing
dotCMS Enterprise customers, take note.
A new self-service support portal and new server licensing protocol (1 server, 1 license) will be in place following the release of dotCMS 3.0, allowing Enterprise customers to retrieve, renew and manage their licenses at will.
With the release of dotCMS 3.0, you’ll want to be sure can log into the Support Portal to pick up your keys in advance. So, no more waiting on the dotCMS team to deliver your keys.
Sass, LESS & Lots of REST
Developers are also in for a real treat with dotCMS 3.0 Here's a look at what's in store code-wise.
1) Sass and LESS auto-compiler
Front-end developers will be loving this announcement.
With the release of 3.0, dotCMS becomes the first Java open-source CMS to build the power of CSS preprocessors directly into our CMS. You’re probably familiar with how CSS preprocessors can speed development and enhance the performance of modern CSS-driven sites.
With dotCMS 3.0 you harness all the power of Sass and LESS without the headache and hassle of local set-up or compiling – your web developers just “Edit & Refresh” on the fly. If you're interested in this particular update, be sure to check out the sneak peek webinar.
2) Ace Editor
For enhanced readability and performance, while using the text editor in dotCMS, version 3.0 comes with a built-in the Ace code editor. For example, you would be using the Ace editor in the authoring environment for modifying a CSS file.
Ace is a renowned high-performance code editor and highlighter for that offers improved stability, performance, and productivity for those modifying code using the authoring environment in dotCMS 3.0. dotCMS HTMLers will be pleased to hear that this addition includes many popular features such as code folding, line wrapping, and auto-indentation.
3) Get more REST with dotCMS
Developers, take a deep breath. Everybody else, take an even deeper one. This is one highly technical, yet highly important upgrade.
JSONP is set to become a proud member of the dotCMS RESTful API family. JSONP provides cross-domain access to an existing JSON API, by wrapping a JSON payload in a function call and so it's easy to understand why dotCMs has decided to adopt it into their API family.
Also included in 3.0 is RESTful support for simple HTTP form POSTs (Maybe the easiest way to get content into dotCMS!) and support for anonymous content contribution – think discussion posts or job/resume submittals. So, developers can look forward to far more REST with dotCMS.
But That's Not All…
Further to the major updates above, dotCMS 3.0 has even more to offer.
For example, with version 3.0, dotCMS has moved away from a bundled Tomcat installation and have moved to a standards-based WAR file deployment. This means that while dotCMS is easier than ever to install, the file structure and landscape has shifted a bit.
dotCMS have also opted for a more modern build and code management tools, adopting Github, Artifactory, Maven, and Gradle.
And last but not least, a new native dotCMS mobile app demo based on the dotCMS demo starter site is currently available on the Google Play store, with an iOS release pending.
In preparation for the release of dotCMS 3.0, keep your eyes squarely on the dotCMS website.
Also, don;t forget to explore dotCMS via our CMS Directory.