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mysql

• mysql applications
• random country
• search engine

Most clients are best served by having me write from-scratch, original software for them. However, there's a tipping point. When a client wants a blog, forum, eCommerce site, or needs the ability to frequently add and edit content, it becomes more cost-effective to use packaged solutions. In that event, I turn to the open source community. MySQL (and the rest of the LAMP = Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHPLAMP crew) forms the backbone of popular open source applications that have made complex, powerful web software available to all, free of charge. The software typically works "right out of the box" using default settings, and in some rare situations, that's all that is needed. But more typically, customization is desirable or necessary. All these software products are fully customizable and extendable by web developers, making it possible to use them as a foundation for building beautiful and highly functional one-of-a-kind websites at low cost. Their primary benefit, however, is the client's ability to subsequently add and edit content without further intervention from the developer.

Notable among these open source products are:

Wordpress

Wordpress is the premiere open source blogging application, but it is capable of much more. It's the ideal solution for a site that combines blogging and static informational pages. Want to see a site you won't believe is based on Wordpress? Try the Ford Auto Show site. Scroll down until you see the list called "Most Recent Topics." Each of those topic pages is actually a blog post.

Phorum

This is my preferred forum software. Depending on design requirements, it can be embedded within a web page or can function as a stand-alone site. It is also fully customizable, so it integrates well with existing designs. A nice example of Phorum's usefulness is the Yosemite News and Discussion Forum site. Not the most gorgeous site, but... USEFUL.

Joomla

This is a general-purpose, highly flexible content management system. It is especially geared towards users who need to add a significant amount of content themselves on a regular basis. Examples of the type of site requiring its power are newspapers, magazines, newsletters, article collections, knowledge bases, and tutorial collections.

ZenCart

Zen Cart is full-featured eCommerce software. If you need an online store for a large inventory, please take a look here to see the variety of sites that have been built on the Zen Cart framework.