Articles - Page 137

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andycohen">Andy Cohen</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane"> </a>is the founding architect of Sitecore XM Cloud. He is VP/Chief Architect at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.altudo.co/">Altudo</a>, and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When people talk about personalization, they often mean “the right content to the right person at the right time.” That idea is now past tense.I have watched this shift play out up close, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore’s</a> early rules-based personalization, through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack’s</a> use of edge-based personalization in a composable architecture, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely’s</a> launch of Opal, a system of marketing AI agents. Personalization no longer stops at swapping content on a page. It now reaches into the interaction itself, and soon, into the relationships agents form with one another.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-us">When Agents Adapt to Us</h3>That shift, from “what” to “how,” is where the major CMS players are already moving, and you can see it in the different bets they're making:<ul><li>Contentstack has put its weight behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/livin-on-the-edge-contentstacks-new-adaptive-dxp-might-just-rock-your-world">EDGE</a>, which they call a hyper-personalization platform. It blends their headless CMS with a real-time CDP, AI, and automation. The goal is simple but ambitious: deliver one-to-one experiences in the moment and at scale. Because it is composable, brands can adapt interactions without locking themselves into rigid patterns. What strikes me about EDGE is that it reframes personalization as something continuous, not a campaign you set and forget.</li><li>Optimizely has taken another route with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-gets-supercharged-for-agentic-ai-powering-infinite-use-cases-for-marketers">Opal</a>. Instead of a single assistant, Opal is built as a collection of agents that act like members of a marketing team. There is a campaign manager agent, a personalization advisor, a market researcher, and more. With the 2.0 release, Optimizely put the emphasis on letting these agents collaborate and run multi-step workflows across content, data, and experimentation. I have seen teams spend weeks coordinating those same steps manually. Opal hints at a world where marketing execution is handled by an ensemble of digital teammates who can plan, act, and adjust together.</li><li>Sitecore has focused on bringing assistance directly into daily work. Through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/sitecore-stream">Stream</a>, they have introduced AI copilots that support authors and marketers in real time as they draft and optimize campaigns. On top of that, Sitecore’s partnership with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-sharpens-ai-focus-with-strategic-partnership-and-new-leadership-appointments">Gradial</a> shows how agentic workflows can extend into campaign execution. It is not just about smarter editors or quicker drafts. It is about agents that can carry intent through to delivery and adapt along the way. For a company that has lived for years in the world of static content publishing, that is a meaningful step forward.</li></ul>None of these approaches feels like a gimmick.They are different answers to the same problem: personalization is no longer about what content you are shown, it is about how the interaction unfolds. Whether that happens through hyper-personalization at the edge, through orchestrated marketing agents, or via copilots and execution partners, the shift is real and already in motion.<h3 id="what-nondeterminism-really-means">What Nondeterminism Really Means</h3>Most software behaves like math: 2 + 2 always equals 4. Generative AI does not. Ask it to draft a thank-you note and you will get three different answers, all plausible, none identical. That variability is what we call nondeterminism.It is the very thing that makes AI feel creative, but also the reason it needs personalization to stay useful. As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://parivedasolutions.com/perspectives/managing-the-non-deterministic-nature-of-generative-ai/">Pariveda Solutions points out</a>, nondeterminism is what makes AI flexible and creative, but it also introduces governance challenges that remain unresolved. In my own work with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/getting-loud-with-xm-cloud-sitecore-reports-100-growth-of-its-ai-powered-cloud-based-cms">XM Cloud,</a> I have seen how unpredictable outcomes can be a feature if the system adapts well – and a liability if it does not.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-each-other">When Agents Adapt to Each Other</h3>The next frontier is agents adapting not just to us but to each other. Nondeterminism multiplies when two autonomous systems interact. They need ways to converge on workable outcomes.Sometimes that looks like adjusting communication style, where one agent is structured and terse, another free-form and verbose. Sometimes, it means learning to accept differences in task style, such as fast approximation versus cautious step-by-step reasoning. Other times it's about role negotiation: who leads, who validates, who escalates.And sometimes it is memory. Agents do not just adapt in the moment; they remember. That memory can look like a grudge. A search agent that hallucinated last time will get fact-checked the next. A procurement agent that botched a deal may face stricter oversight. Even first impressions stick. If an agent’s very first hand-off is sloppy, the other agent may never fully trust it, no matter how good the later work becomes.Humans behave the same way. In corporate life, one bad kickoff meeting can color a partnership for months. Agents will carry those patterns too.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deepset.ai/blog/ai-agents-and-deterministic-workflows-a-spectrum"> Deepset calls this the “spectrum of determinism to nondeterminism</a>.” I call it relationship management.<h3 id="everyday-illustrations">Everyday Illustrations</h3>Picture a grocery agent told to buy apples if they are $0.99 a pound. A deterministic system comes back empty because they are $1.09. An adaptive one checks with you, “They are a little higher today. Should I buy anyway?” That is useful, until the store’s own agent learns to nudge yours into paying even more.Or ride-hailing. You set a $20 target. The price surges to $23. Do you want your agent to decline, wait, or decide on its own? What happens when the ride-share’s agent starts upselling yours into priority pickup at $28?Or travel. You say, “Book me a flight under $500.” The system finds none. A flexible agent returns with, “There is one at $525 with better times. Should I grab it?” Helpful, but it shows how quickly rules can bend.In the enterprise, this gets thornier. Procurement policies might cap software licenses at $50 per seat. A deterministic agent halts the deal. A personalized one negotiates to $55 and closes it. That looks like a win until you realize the vendor’s agent deliberately anchored higher, knowing yours would flex upward.Healthcare raises the stakes even more. You ask for an appointment with your doctor next week. A rigid agent says none available. A personalized one offers a nurse practitioner tomorrow or a specialist in two weeks. That looks like a better experience, but it could also push you toward higher-margin services instead of the care you really wanted.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/deterministic-ai/">Salesforce has written about this exact problem</a> of when to script agents tightly and when to let them roam. I see it every day in delivery projects. Too rigid and you frustrate users. Too loose and you open the door to manipulation.<h3 id="agents-that-carry-“you”-with-them">Agents That Carry “You” With Them</h3>Now push it further. Imagine your agent not only executes tasks but carries your personality footprint into every interaction. If you are cost-sensitive, it pushes harder. If you are time-poor, it pays more for speed. If you are detail-driven, it double-checks everything.What if you could swap personas entirely?<ul><li>"Frugal Andy" does the grocery shopping</li><li>"Executive Andy" books the flights</li><li>"Playful Andy" explores games and hobbies.</li></ul>Your agent would not only personalize to you. It would personalize as you.But there is risk in this. If the other agent knows who you are or which persona you are using, it can adapt back. That can be powerful when aligned with your goals, but it can also be exploited. Imagine a vendor agent that recognizes executive mode and steers you toward premium packages.This is not hypothetical. Optimizely’s Opal agents already act like different team members depending on context. Contentstack’s Brand Kit lets you define voice profiles and store guidelines so that every AI-generated artifact reflects your identity. Sitecore’s Stream copilots are designed to guide content creators in real time, aligning their work with brand and role expectations.These are early signals of a future where agents carry pieces of us, including quirks, preferences, and even biases, into every exchange.<h3 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h3>This is why nondeterminism is not a flaw but the feature. Deterministic systems did not need personalization. There was only one output. Nondeterministic systems can go in many directions, and personalization is what prevents chaos.The best metaphor I know is jazz. Musicians improvising do not know exactly where the others will go. They adapt, they respond, they personalize their playing to the group. The music works not because it is scripted but because the players trust each other enough to bend and flex.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">McKinsey has argued</a> that this adaptability is the defining advantage of agentic AI. From what I have seen in publishing systems, SaaS cost optimization, and large-scale CMS migrations, I agree. The resilience comes not from rigid plans but from the ability to adapt in context.<h3 id="what-leaders-should-prepare-for">What Leaders Should Prepare For</h3>Leaders should focus on their readiness in key areas. For example, trust frameworks must extend beyond human-agent interactions into agent-to-agent ecosystems. Standards cannot stay as fixed APIs; they need flexibility built in. Identity management has to protect personality profiles and alter egos from misuse. And agents must be able to remember not just what they did for us, but how they worked with others.<h3 id="the-future-of-personalization">The Future of Personalization</h3>Personalization started with content. It evolved into experiences. Now, it is moving into interactions – first with humans and then with other agents.If we get this right, nondeterminism will not be something to suppress. It will be the source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity. The companies that thrive will not just personalize their websites. They will personalize their agents. Those agents will adapt to us, and to each other, in ways that reflect who we are or even who we choose to be.And like humans, they will remember. First impressions will matter. Grudges may form. And relationships between agents will start to look a lot like relationships between people. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Agent-to-Agent Personalization: Trust, First Impressions, and the 'Grudge' Factor

andycohen

Today, I am pleased to announce that the Third Annual Critics' Choice CMS Awards will begin June 15, 2014!  For those of you who have been emailing me all year asking when they start, this post is for you ;).
While we have maintained the majority of categories from last year's awards, there have been some changes and we've included a few others that we think are suitable. The full list of categories will be announced in the next few days but I wanted to take the time to let everyone know that there is indeed an official launch date.
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">Read the rest of the details (including timelines) over at our awards site by clicking here</a>.

The Third Annual Critics Choice CMS Awards

mike-johnston

<a href="http://www.nuxeo.com/" target="_blank"> Nuxeo</a> have announced the release of a beta for their new hosting service, Nuxeo.io.
Nuxeo is an open source enterprise content management system used by professionals such as architects and developers to build, deploy, and run content-centric business applications.
Nuxeo.io, Nuxeo's latest offering, is a hosting service for building and managing Nuxeo Platform clusters in the cloud.
As a service of <a href="https://connect.nuxeo.com/nuxeo/site/connect/trial/form" target="_blank">Nuxeo Connect</a> – the subscription service providing support, maintenance and access to Nuxeo Studio – Nuxeo.io is a development environment offering quick and easy access to lightweight Nuxeo Platform instances on demand.
<img style="max-width:345px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/nuxeo_logo-1.png" alt="Nuxeo" />
<h2>Arken Built, Docker Based</h2>
The cloud-based development environment offered by Nuxeo.io makes for quick and easy access to lightweight Nuxeo Platform instances on demand.
The technology used to build and prop up Nuxeo's new hosting service is as follows:
<ul>
<li> Built with Arken:  nuxeo.io is built with Arken, an open source software infrastructure for instantiation, provisioning and resilience of application instances, on premises or on the Cloud. Arken was developed by Nuxeo.</li>
<li> Uses Docker:  Docker is a lightweight virtualization engine, or container. It provides the isolation of a VM, without the overhead of a machine, OS or hypervisor. Arken organizes Docker containers using CoreOS.</li>
<li> Runs on Amazon AWS/EC2:  nuxeo.io runs on Amazon AWS, but Arken is infrastructure independent;  it can run anywhere, so you can deploy nuxeo.io on premises as a private cloud installation or in the cloud in any IaaS environment.</li>
</ul>
Naturally, Nuxeo.io was built with developers with content-centric apps in mind. However, Nuxeo have claimed that Nuxeo.io is also a perfect fit for Nuxeo-based SaaS (Software as a Service) providers. This is thanks to the ease Nuxeo.io brings when it comes to building an environment to help manage services for your customers, while also managing your application infrastructure.
Additionally, because Nuxeo.io uses Docker – which relies on low-level features of Linux – SaaS providers can measure CPU usage for each customer, delegate isolation to the kernel and benefit from an environment which is far more secure.
The CEO of Nuxeo, Eric Barroca, made these comments regarding the release of Nuxeo.io:
<blockquote>“In a typical Nuxeo project lifecycle, dozens of instances of the Nuxeo Platform can be started and stopped: development, test, plugins, sandboxes, QA, and so on. Nuxeo.io provides Nuxeo customers easy and quick access to development instances that can be used for the entire lifecycle of a project from development to production.
The digital services­based economy is driving enterprises to provide solutions faster than ever before. Project teams need to be able to provision new environments quickly to build and adapt content­centric business applications that support their customers’ needs. SaaS providers have the same challenge, needing to offer new or enhanced services for their customers quickly. nuxeo.io is a great way to provide both a cloud­based infrastructure and application environment for the Nuxeo Platform to help them do this.
It’s lightweight and flexible, with low overhead required to get a new hosted Nuxeo Platform environment up and running. You can start and stop an instance in 20 seconds ­ now that’s quick.”</blockquote>
Existing Nuxeo Connect subscribers can sign up for the Nuxeo.io beta as of right now. If you aren’t yet a Nuxeo Connect subscriber, you can <a href="https://connect.nuxeo.com/nuxeo/site/connect/trial/form" target="_blank">sign up for a trial account</a> and give Nuxeo.io a whirl.
To find out more about Nuxeo, <a href="http://www.nuxeo.com/" target="_blank">check out their website</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/nuxeo/" target="_blank"> Nuxeo via our CMS Directory</a>.

Nuxeo Rolls Out Beta of Hosting Service Nuxeo.io

<a href="http://ez.no/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> eZ Publish</a> have released version 5.3 of their popular platform with an impressive 59 new features, 233 bug fixes &amp; 69 improvements.
The Content Management (CMS) &amp; Customer Experience (CXM) platform offers many tools to help publish content across multiple channels, create eCommerce websites, and more.
Version 5.3 of eZ Publish is the fourth major release in the 5 series, and has been labelled a Long Term Supported release (LTS). This means that it will be supported up to end of May 2019 with extended support.
Now, let's take a look at what's new with eZ Publish
<h2>Developer Ease in Mind</h2>
eZ Publish 5.3 puts a lot of effort into making things easier for developers to use the platform efficiently.
At a glance, eZ Publish Platform 5.3 brings the following key benefits:
<ul>
<li>A Long Term Supported release.</li>
<li>Making it easier for developers to understand and learn.</li>
<li>Making it easier for developers to develop and deploy.</li>
<li>Updated Demo site with more ready-to-use features like “Places”.</li>
</ul>
One of the ways eZ Publish 5.3 helps developers, is through improved documentation that will naturally make it easier to anyone to get started.
Furthermore, version 5.3 brings about drastically improved integration of the Symfony environment, along with the capability to easily build websites relying on the “eZ Platform” stack (“New Stack”) – removing dependencies on the legacy stack (4.x).
The eZ Publish Demo Site has also been improved to progressively become the reference for developers to see how features can be used to build their Websites.
Among the many enhancements made to the Demo Site, is the ready-to-use feature called “Places”, which shows ou how to best deal with geolocation and how to search on geolocated data, thanks to the latest improvement in the eZ Publish API and in SolR. Essentially, the “Places” feature enables you to quickly create your own listing of places (such as a business directory) and display them efficiently.
For more information on eZ Publish, <a href="http://ez.no/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> check out their website</a>.
You can also explore more of <a href="/products/ibexa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eZ Publish via our CMS Directory</a>.

eZ Publish Platform 5.3 Released

The <a href="https://contao.org/" target="_blank">Contao CMS</a> team have released version 3.3.0 of their platform, following four months of development and two months of testing.
Formerly known as TYPOlight, Contao is an open-source content management system offering a sleek interface and a number of useful content publishing tools.
The development stage of Contao 3.3.0 saw one beta release followed by two separate release candidates – all leading up to this release. In fact, 120 tickets and pull requests have been completed during the six months of development and testing.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/contao.png" alt="Contao 3.3.0" />
<h2>TinyMCE 4, Responsive Back End Themes &amp; More</h2>
Contao has integrated a host of improvements and additions to their platform with the release of version 3.3.0. These include evident front-end changes and less apparent framework tweaks.
Here is an overview of what's new with Contao 3.3.0:
<ul>
<li>Flexible &amp; responsive back-end theme.</li>
<li>Drag-and-drop file uploading.</li>
<li>Theme import/export permissions.</li>
<li>TinyMCE 4.</li>
<li>Front End Preview as a member.</li>
<li>File content versioning.</li>
<li>SCSS and LESS integration.</li>
<li>And much more.</li>
</ul>
For the details of each of these updates, check out Contao's feature announcements <a href="https://contao.org/en/news/contao-3_3_RC1.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://contao.org/en/news/contao-3_3_beta1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
To find out more about Contao CMS, <a href="https://contao.org" target="_blank">check out their website</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/contao/" target="_blank">Contao via our CMS Directory</a>.

Contao 3.3.0 Released With Numerous Enhancements

Blogging is becoming increasingly important in terms of marketing and relationship building between company and customer.
Thankfully, blogging on <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Squarespace</a> is an option – but just how good of an option is it?
If you’re looking to use Squarespace to build a blog, you’ll need to assess just how much functionality the platform offers, and how easy it is to blog on Squarespace on a regular basis.
To explore exactly those areas, read on.
<h2>Blogging on Squarespace: Good Enough for Your Blog?</h2>
Squarespace’s blogging feature can be found within the “Content Manager”, accessible from the left-hand sidebar.
From there, you can click “Add Page”, and then select “Blog”.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
Once your blog page is set up – which takes you a matter of seconds, SquareSpace allows you to start blogging straight away. Which is also just as simple. All you need to do is click “Add Post” in the top right-hand corner.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/untitled-1024x195700x0.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
You can then type in your blog post title, and all of your required text.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/bpost700x0.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
Furthermore, you can start experimenting with Squarespace’s extensive content block options.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blocks700x0.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
These content block options include inserting more text areas, products, maps, menus, videos, galleries, social buttons, Flickr widgets, Instagram widgets, and much, much more. It’s all as easy as selecting which content block you wish to use.
Once you have finished inserting your text, videos and other blocks, you’re all set to publish your blog post.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/publish700x0.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
All you need to do is click “Save &amp; Publish”, and you’re done.
After creating a few blog posts, your blog management page will begin filling up. The neatly laid out list displays all of your posts, along with some minor details and an option to edit them further.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/bloglist700x0.png" alt="Squarespace Blogging" />
<h2>Squarespace Blogging Extras</h2>
Some handy extra options are also available for blogging on Squarespace. These include:
<ul>
<li>Post tagging</li>
<li>Categories</li>
<li>Geo-tagging</li>
<li>Post by email</li>
<li>Podcast support</li>
<li>Customizable URLs</li>
</ul>
These additional options really help round off the Squarespace blogging experience, allowing it to go above and beyond standard blog post publishing.
<h2>The Verdict</h2>
To give you an overview of the good and bad which Squarespace blogging has to offer, check out the pros and cons below.
<h3>Pros</h3>
<ul>
<li>Incredibly simple to put to get started with, with no tricky controls or menus.</li>
<li>The blog list view is easy to understand and thus easy to manage.</li>
<li>Huge amount of content blocks which make embedding videos, maps, menus and so forth a piece of cake.</li>
<li>Long list of optional extras like tagging and customizable URLs to add some depth to your blog if necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons</h3>
<ul>
<li>No toggle option between HTML &amp; Visual mode, as with most other blogging platforms.</li>
<li>No blog post preview option.</li>
</ul>
All in all, blogging on Squarespace is – like the rest of the platform – simple. There aren’t any technical options to get confused with, whilst all the additional extras are completely optional.
What’s more is, Squarespace’s trademark content blocks make adding elements like videos and social buttons to blog posts a breeze.
If you’re on the hunt for a sophisticated blogging platform, Squarespace’s lack of HTML and post previewing action may hold you back. However, when it comes to straightforward blogging, there isn’t much Squarespace can’t do.
You can also get started with your Squarespace website today, thanks to the <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/templates">Squarespace 14-day free trial</a>.

How Effective is Squarespace as a Blogging Platform?

LightCMS have announced a major security update that relates to connecting with your LightCMS website via FTP.
Used by more than 175,000 people around the world, LightCMS makes us of standardized code and a vast array of tools to make up a powerful suite capable of building corporate websites, eCommerce websites, Blogs, and more.
With this FTP Secure protocol update, which is due to roll out on June 2nd, 2014, LightCMS users will experience a far safer connection. Connecting to websites via FTP is a popular method of making changes to web property, and so many LightCMS users will likely be affected by this change.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ftp-secure700x0.jpg" alt="LightCMS FTPS" /> 
Once the upgrade is in place, all LightCMS FTP connections will need to be made via FTPS. This will change a few of the settings you use with your FTP clients when connecting to your LightCMS website.
To guide you through that short process, the LightCMS team have thrown together an easy-to-follow guide to connecting with LightCMS via FTPS. The guide covered popular FTP clients such as FileZilla, WinSCP and Transmit.
To find out more about LightCMS, check out their website. Full details of this scheduled FTPS update can be found via the LightCMS Blog.
Also, be sure to explore more of LightCMS via our CMS Directory.

LightCMS Prepares Website Security Update Through FTPS

<a href="http://www.wellmetrics.com/">WellMetrics</a> is a new information management solution for the Oil &amp; Gas industry brought to market by <a href="http://www.m-files.com/en">M-Files</a> partner, <a href="http://www.tsg.net/">The Strickland Group</a>.
What does WellMetrics do?
WellMetrics provides oil and gas companies with a single solution for accessing all structured and unstructured information related to their wells, ensuring authorized staff can quickly locate the exact content they need, regardless of the business application in which it resides. With fast access to structured content, such as production, land and operations data, as well as unstructured documents, such as drawings, technical specifications, contracts, correspondence and other information needed by scientists and operational staff, exploration and production firms can better optimize their oil and gas assets at the well, lease, reservoir, field and corporate levels. This directly enhances decision making, leading to improved value of assets in the areas of exploration, drilling, waterflooding, completions, recompletion and reservoir engineering.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wellmetrics-booth-web.jpg" />
Watch this introductory video to get a feel for what WellMetrics offers:
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dq5J3TmoH8E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
WellMetrics features include:
<ul>
<li>Fast access to all well data and documentation from a single, unified system.</li>
<li>An integrated GIS interface based on ESRI that allows users to easily find, view and manage data and document collections by each well, or by groups of wells, using intuitive maps and aerial photography.</li>
<li>Integration with commonly-used commercial oil and gas industry applications such as Aires, Excalibur, LandWorks and Rio.</li>
<li>The ability to centrally manage both structured data (data residing in database applications) and unstructured documents (Word, Excel or PDF files, for example).</li>
<li>Comprehensive document control capabilities for ensuring only authorized staff can access confidential information and for supporting regulatory compliance requirements.</li>
</ul>
For more information on WellMetrics, <a href="http://www.wellmetrics.com">visit them on the web</a>.

Introducing WellMetrics - An Information Management Solution for Oil & Gas

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<a href="http://www.pikock.com/" target="_blank">Pikock</a> – a website builder that lets you create and animate your responsive website without any coding skills – has just released a brand new <a href="http://www.pikock.com/21/new-features-of-pikocks-website-builder" target="_blank">Drag-and-Drop editor</a>. 
 Founded in Paris in 2012, Pikock have recently been working hard to improve their relatively young platform. 
 In fact, just a few weeks ago, Pikock released their <a href="/the-first-of-its-kind-pikock-launch-layout-slider-to-simplify-website-building/" target="_blank"> one-of-a-kind Layout Slider</a>, which enables you to build web pages with the hep of a carousel-like interface.  
 Now though, Pikock have added to their user-friendly platform with drag-and-drop capabilities. Also, they have introduced a “page versioning” feature, allowing you to preview different page types. 
<h2>Drag, Drop, Slide and Preview</h2>
Pikock's drag-and-drop editor works just like any other similar system, allowing you to pick up page elements from the editor sidebar, and drag them into place on your web page.  
 Such elements include galleries, videos, Google Maps, forms and so forth. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/size_4_drag-and-drop-feature.png" alt="Pikock Drag and Drop" /> When moving elements into place, a Blue line will indicate that the move is valid, whilst a red line indicated that the move is invalid.  
Furthermore, Pikock's Page Versioning feature allows you to create a page, choose to create multiple versions of it, and the publish the one you prefer most. 
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/size_4_more-versions-of-page.png" alt="Pikock " /> Along with Pikock's <a href="/the-first-of-its-kind-pikock-launch-layout-slider-to-simplify-website-building/" target="_blank"> layout slider</a>, these new features will fit nicely together to make up quite a unique website builder. After all, there isn't a great deal of mind blowing innovation in the website building market at the moment, so it's nice to see Pikock trying their level best to be different without skipping the essentials. 
 To find out more about Pikock and to sign up for a free trial, visit their  <a href="http://www.pikock.com/" target="_blank"> official website</a>.

Pikock Introduces Drag and Drop Editor

Simplified editing. Improved WYSIWYG experience. Ready-to-use mobile-first starter sites. Editing on iPad. The list of enhancements to Composite's .NET open source CMS, Composite C1, continues to grow with each release. Version 4.2 takes this to a completely new level.
<h3>Build richer web experiences</h3>
This release has specifically focused on improving an editor's experience by making the content creation and editing process faster, more intuitive and ultimately more satisfying. The outcome is a much richer web experience for visitors on the website.
<blockquote>
“We take the author experience extremely seriously and aim to make our CMS as simple and user-friendly as possible for them. If we improve their processes and the way they go about creating and maintaining content we cut down on the time it takes to complete a task. More than that, we hopefully provide them with a satisfying experience. They can trust we've always got their best interests at heart, which we do,' said Composite Founder and Product Manager, Marcus Wendt.
</blockquote>
<h3>Locate elements that need updating easier</h3>
Made possible thanks to a simplified interface for changing C1 Function settings and ‘pixel perfect' previews of C1 Functions in the Visual Editor. This makes it straight forward to locate dynamic content elements that need updating. Editors will see a simple form when tweaking settings.
<h3>Enjoy a better WYSIWYG experience</h3>
Because version 4.2 is able to analyse a website's HTML templates and CSS it doesn't matter where an editor places content in the Visual Editor – column width will automatically be sized to match the live site. Editors are shown how sentences will wrap, rich in-content elements will be sized and images will fit.
<blockquote>
“It's important editors get a realistic idea of how their content will appear when it's published on their websites. That's why we focused so heavily on this aspect in the version 4.2,” said Composite CEO, Oskar Lauritzen.
</blockquote>
<h3>Begin with a mobile-first starter site</h3>
Composite recently launched Venus (<a href="http://venus.c1.composite.net/">http://venus.c1.composite.net/</a>), a ready-to-use mobile-first starter site that can be easily adapted. Created with the express purpose of providing web professionals with an easy-to-use starting point for their web projects, Venus is one of many similar sites – based on the latest version of Bootstrap, LESS and ASP.NET Razor – that will be rolled out in the near future.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/venus-front677x0.png" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/venus-mobile-first.png" />
<blockquote>
“The beauty of Venus – and the starter sites in the pipeline – is that you don't have to be a gun developer to create a website. We've done all the hard work for you. Venus comes with step-by-step instructions that enable you to adapt and customize it however you like. Marketers will love it and feel empowered as they work their way through it,' said Composite CEO, Oskar Lauritzen.
</blockquote>
<h3>Edit on an iPad</h3>
Although users have been able to use Composite C1 on other tablets (Windows 8 devices such as Microsoft Surface and Android devices) it's only with the release of version 4.2 this can now be done well on iPad.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ipad677x0.png" />
<blockquote>
“You should be able to update your Composite C1 website from whatever device you want. More often than not these days it's not a desktop or even a laptop, but a tablet. It's very pleasing to us that we can now offer this facility on iPad,” said Composite Founder and Product Manager, Marcus Wendt.
</blockquote>
<h3>Two more cool things available with this release</h3>
<ul>
<li>Developers get the latest tooling with .NET 4.5 and latest version of ASP.NET Razor</li>
<li>Grid editor – View and edit your data in tabular form (<a href="http://www.composite.net/Add-on-Market?query=grid">http://www.composite.net/Add-on-Market?query=grid</a>)</li>
</ul>
<h3>About Composite</h3>
Based in Copenhagen and Kiev, Danish software company Composite has been making content management software since 1999. The precursor to C1 was a commercial product. In 2010, after a total rewrite, a decision was made to distribute the new version, Composite C1, as open source.
Today Composite C1 is a free open source content management system built for marketing and web professionals looking to create new websites for companies using the latest Microsoft technologies.
Composite C1 is recognized for being an easy-to-use professional system that fulfils the needs of hardcore developers, but remains accessible to editors. Out of the box users have access to a fully functional CMS and the option to add free packages such as an SEO-assistant and social add-ons or commercial packages including newsletter services and event calendars.
Composite C1 consistently receives a top rating on the .NET Open Source portal CodePlex.
More than a thousand users from all over the world install Composite C1 every month. Total installs currently sit at almost 46, 000.

Composite C1 4.2 - Faster and more Intuitive Content Management

After discussing the many ways in which <a href="/6-ways-magnolia-cms-makes-content-creation-easy/"> Magnolia CMS makes things like content creation easy</a>, it's time to focus in on one of these features in particular – Magnolia Apps.
Magnolia Apps allow you to focus on one particular task at a time. Apps come in a variety of forms. Magnolia CMS is shipped with Apps like Pages, Assets and Contacts – but the true potential of Magnolia Apps as a whole lies within the Magnolia community.
Using <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/App+framework"> Magnolia's App framework</a>, individuals and enterprises alike can create Magnolia Apps of all types, with the option to share them with the Magnolia community. So, with a little imagination, the Magnolia community can produce all kinds of different Apps at will.
Since that's the case, lets take a look at some of the most important guidelines for building Magnolia Apps.
<h2>Choose the Right App Type</h2>
Magnolia's App framework provides ready-made App types, giving your App some functionality right out of the box.
There are two App frameworks available; the Content App and the Custom App. Both of App types have their differences, and so it’s vital that you select the best option for your App.
Here is a quick breakdown of both App types.
<h3> Magnolia Content Apps </h3>
A content App is a specialized App type that manages custom data sets. The content App provides a user interface that consists of a browser subapp and a detail subapp.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnew700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" /> 
Content Apps make it easy to organize items such as contacts or products. Many native Magnolia 5 Apps such as “Pages” and “Contacts” are good examples of content Apps. Because this App style is used often, the framework provides convenience classes to make building a content App faster.
<h3> Magnolia Custom Apps </h3>
If you need to implement things like graphs or charts into your App, you will find the content App framework is too rigid. Instead, you can use a custom App.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnew2700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" />
A custom App is also the right choice building certain types of simple Apps, such as displaying some system information or providing a simple configuration tool. However, while you can still configure a lot right out of the box, you will need to write custom App program code yourself. So, if you need flexibility to build your App, selecting a custom App type would be the right choice.
Find out more about <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Choose+the+right+app+type"> choosing Magnolia App types</a>.
<h2>Highlight Important Actions &amp; Features</h2>
An App’s user friendliness is hugely important, so your App’s most commonly used features should be easy for the user to see and select.
With Magnolia 5, the action bar – the grey menu found on the right-hand side of App interfaces – holds all the key features and functions. It’s wise to organise these features in a way which is helpful to the user.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag2.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" /> 
One simple yet effective way to achieve user friendliness in this sense, is to put commonly used actions at the top of the action bar. If they are to be used often, they must be available quickly.
Also, constructive options such as “Add Page” should be placed above destructive actions such as “Delete Page”.
Find out more about <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Make+important+actions+quick+to+pick"> how to highlight important actions</a>.
<h2>Give Users a Full Screen Option</h2>
Sometimes, users want to minimize distractions and focus in on certain tasks. Giving your App full screen functionality allows that to happen.
For example, writing site copy is creative work that requires concentration. Magnolia’s rich text editor helps the publisher in this case, by expanding to cover the entire dialogue width and height. This leaves only the white canvas in focus, allowing the text to take centre stage.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag3700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" /> 
Users will also benefit from a full screen mode when working on tasks which require long periods of time to complete. After all, nobody enjoys spending hours working within a small windowed interface.
Find out more about <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Allow+users+to+go+full+screen"> full screen Magnolia Apps</a>.
<h2>Take Care With Colors</h2>
Within the Magnolia App Launcher page, Apps which have something in common are grouped together as boxes, with colours helping to differentiate them.
Each App group box can be assigned a specific color, and those colors have a big impact on the way users first experience Apps. Poor color contrast in the App group can make an otherwise great App appear unprofessional.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag5700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" />
For example, white text on a yellow background is a colour pairing which you should avoid, as such colors make text difficult to read.
Instead, opt for safer colours like red or dark purple which won’t clash with text or other page elements.
Find out more about <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Choose+a+safe+app+group+color"> selecting safe Magnolia App colors</a>.
<h2>Don’t Forget About Mobile Devices</h2>
Magnolia 5 is a <a href="/magnolia-the-worlds-first-mobile-optimized-cms/"> mobile-optimized content management system</a>, which is something you should consider when you design your App.
Providing the same functionality for both tablet and desktop users is therefore important, although there will always be slight differences in the user’s experience.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag4.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" /> 
For example, only the first action in an action group is displayed right away on tablets via the action bar. The remaining actions are displayed only after a long press. Make sure that the first action in every group is an action that users need often.
Other useful differences, however, such as drag and drop functionality, can actually improve tablet user experiences, so use such features well.
Find out more about <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Be+a+good+tablet+citizen">designing Magnolia Apps for mobile devices</a>.
Using these simple practices as a guideline, you can create some truly excellent Magnolia Apps that are not just useful, but also user-friendly.
For even more guidelines on how to create a brilliant Magnolia App, check out <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Designing+an+app"> Magnolia's “Designing an App” guide</a>.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="/products/magnolia-cms/"> Magnolia CMS via our CMS Directory</a>.

The Best Practices for Designing a Magnolia App

Following two years worth of development, Elgg – a social networking CMS – has rolled out a release candidate for version 1.9.0.
Elgg is a free and open-source social network software. With it, you can build a variety of online social environments, from a campus-wide social network for your university, school, or college to an internal collaborative platform for your organization.
Although this release is only a release candidate meant for developers and bug hunters, this is still great news for all Elgg users, as the final release of Elgg 1.9.0 cannot now be far away.
<img style="max-width:300px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/untitled_2-1.png" alt="Elgg " />
For those not yet fully up to speed with what's new with version 1.9.0 of Elgg, here's a quick overview:
<ul>
<li>New responsive theme – aalborg_theme</li>
<li>Adds image uploading from editor</li>
<li>Replaces fancybox lightbox with colorbox</li>
<li>Replaces Tinymce editor with CKEditor</li>
<li>Liking and friending use ajax</li>
<li>Removes topbar Elgg logo and made “powered by” themable</li>
<li>Allows keeping group content limited to the group</li>
<li>Site notifications moved into separate plugin from messages</li>
<li>Various accessibility fixes</li>
<li>Improved theme sandbox</li>
<li>Ajaxified the discussion reply edit form.</li>
<li>Alphabetize friends/friends-of, group notifications, group owned/member lists</li>
<li>Adds support for simplecache minification of CSS and JavaScript</li>
<li>Adds new notification system</li>
<li>Changes user directories use GUIDs rather than join date</li>
<li>Adds robots.txt configuration</li>
<li>Adds maintenance mode</li>
</ul>
For the full list of enhancements, check out the changelog.
If you intend on taking this release candidate for a test drive, be sure to report all bugs to <a href="https://github.com/Elgg/Elgg/issues" target="_blank">Elgg's GitHub issue tracker</a>.
Elgg has also advised developers on how to approach this release candidate:
“Developers who have been waiting to test out their 1.8 plugins in 1.9 should take this as a cue to begin upgrading those plugins.  Note that back-compatibility was a big consideration in this release so upgrading plugins should hopefully not be as painful as it was for the 1.7 -&gt; 1.8 upgrade.”
Find out more about Elgg via our CMS Directory.

Elgg Rolls Out 1.9.0 Release Candidate

<a href="http://www.seosamba.com/" target="_blank">SeoSamba</a> – the company behind open surce CMS, SEOToaster – have launched a completely redesigned version of their CMS, in the form of SEOToaster 2.2.
SEOToaster is a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Aar2Bzc3bWq6p-CGH6S2HBsZBUsT7T6ydnbca3TwIYqXxyp865xx6u2pu-84bq_uHNCB1vRz-OK5IbJQeeeXUyqtO7zQMlOBz_2WyRNsdpILIbGII0T6gV6lrUbEekG58H2nmso0iIyCZ0Vy5osBuynDreyb4DRQHRi84EH3s0eIUprW5FH8Cw==&amp;c=A36mZx83ukTZ22I76bM9dTod1PAW16HZBFtFl336OLABBTJauFfjyg==&amp;ch=bkSXcoWrfrJfvrgzgUcGSlcJnoUy2ZadBcU1dL0lFhOE8Y5AbCRX0g==" target="_blank">high-performance and open source free CMS software</a> that makes creating, managing and marketing corporate and eCommerce websites easy for people of all skill levels.
As the platform's name implies, SeoToaster CMS employs a focus on SEO and web marketing technology. SeoToaster eCommerce sits on top of SeoToaster CMS, carrying inline edition through the entire experience.
<h2>Fresh User Interface &amp; Over 100 New Features</h2>
With the introduction of SeoToaster 2.2, SeoSamba have completely revamped the front-end user interface, and have piled on over one hundred new features. Now, that really is a lot of features. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/toaster.png" alt="SeoToaster" /> Below is some highlights of what SeoToaster users can expect in terms of new functionality:
<ul>
<li>Apps: an entirely new way to add functionalities from the cloud and switch services provider with no plug-in tinkering.</li>
<li>Built-in media servers   now provide up to five-times faster web serving, regardless of your web hosting provider.</li>
<li>New specialized inline editor types (imageonly, textonly, etc) help build unbreakable website themes and minimize end-user support calls.</li>
<li>Built-in tripwire web form protections  to prevent bots to spam your email without interfering with conversion objectives, as sometimes Recaptcha does.</li>
<li>Inline product promotion building: add the promotion to your landing pages, and the system takes care of building the logic for you.</li>
<li>Inline product lists building: no need to alter templates to add/edit automated products lists.</li>
<li>A redesigned store dashboard  theme that introduces custom fields, and more filters to easily find and process transactions.</li>
</ul>
Regarding the release of SeoToaster 2.2, David Culot, CTO of SeoSamba, had this to say:
<blockquote>
“For new users, it's like getting a free content management system or eCommerce solution built for SEO &amp; marketing. Those familiar with SeoToaster will enjoy a host of new features and a brand new interface that will still look instantly familiar.”
</blockquote>
SeoToaster 2.2 is available for <a href="https://www.seotoaster.com/free-seo-software-shopping-carts.html" target="_blank"> download now</a>.
For more information on SeaToaster, check out their <a href="http://www.seotoaster.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>.

SeoToaster CMS Unveils New Features & Revamped UI

<a href="http://redaxscript.com" target="_blank">Redaxscript</a> have announcd the release of version 2.1.0 of their powerful platform.
Initially started in 2008 as a fork of sNews CMS, Redaxscript is a free and open-source content management system based on PHP scripting language and MySQL database engine. It is almost entirely written using functional programming.
The last release of Redaxscript, <a href="/redaxscript-2.0.0-released/" target="_blank"> back in November 2013</a>, saw a number of enhancements to things like the admin panel, templates and more. With version 2.1.0 though, Redaxscript have taken those enhancements a step further.
<h2>Flat Template Style &amp; Vendor Prefixes</h2>
Redaxscript have followed up on their work with version 2.0.0 of their platform by continuing to flatten the admin and default templates.
For example, a couple of user interface elements like accordion, dialog and tab have experienced a colour revision. Most partials have also been extended with inline comments and divided into more files to improve readability and speed up workflow.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/redaxscript_flat_template700x0.jpg" alt="Redaxscript 2.1.0" />
Furthermore, Redaxscript have endeavoured to get rid of outdated vendor prefixes by parsing CSS files with the Postprocessor named  <a href="https://github.com/ai/autoprefixer"> Autoprefixer </a> , a mind blowing tool based on the popular  <a href="http://caniuse.com/"> caniuse.com </a>  database to determine needed browser support.
As a result, Redaxscript have reported that they have managed to saved around 500 CSS rules in their templates.
<h2>Fresh Modules &amp; Native Form Validation</h2>
New modules, such as Disqus comments have also been introduced. Once you have installed the new Disqus module, all native comments are automatically replaced where they were enabled.
So, you can now enjoy some enhanced social engagement and traffic to your website as well as improving your SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/redaxscript_disqus_service700x0.jpg" alt="Redaxscript 2.1.0" />
Additionally, a new Github module was written to display project milestones and issues on the Redaxscript website. Due to the limited time window for refactoring, the Redaxscript team have made the decision to discontinue their SEO tube module, removing the related download as a result.
Finally, the Redaxscript form validation system now uses the native “checkValidity()” method, which gives specific error messages to highlight required fields. Third party libraries like jQuery, QUnit and Zepto were also updates to their latest versions.
To dig deeper into what Redaxscript 2.1.0 brings, check out their <a href="http://redaxscript.com/blog/news-redaxscript-2-1-0" target="_blank"> official announcement</a>. You can also <a href="http://redaxscript.com/develop/changelog/changes-for-2-1-0" target="_blank"> read the full changelog here</a>.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="/products/redaxscript/" target="_blank"> Redaxscript via our CMS Directory</a>.

Redaxscript 2.1.0 Released

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