|
- Readme First! -
Read and follow the rules, otherwise your posts will be closed |
|
|
|
|
|
There are currently, 320 guest(s) and 0 member(s) that are online.
You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here |
|
|
|
|
|
Op-Ed: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? |
|
 Its almost been a full year since I dreamed about PHP-Nuke. One question that I had on my mind was whether or not PHP-Nuke could make the grade, so to speak. Lets face it, when I first opened up a PHP-Nuke portal the traffic to my site was scarce. But back then the prevailing question was, did I have the right content that would inspire folk to register and stick around -- contributing and growing the site? So the underlying concern of the portal's engine handling any sort of volume was far from my mind. Instead, I eventually focused on this site.
Lets cut to the chase. From the time of their inception to now, both Computer Cops (almost two full years of operation) and Nuke Cops (just passed its one year anniversary), has seen an enormous increase in volume and user participation. No longer had the question of "do I have the right content" remain unsolved, but that the underpinning infrastructure which delivers the content also find its answer. PHP-Nuke significantly makes the grade for any level of web content delivery and user participation.
Like anyone else, the first immediate clue was the actual presence of phpnuke.org. I mean, check out the stats for 2002. The evidence dictates that PHP-Nuke is a Grade A Premium Choice Cut application. Nevermind that it is Open Source. It competes with the likes of commercial grade portals!
How?
Lets take this to a 20,000 foot level view. Microsoft has its own share of security risks and the owners of the company are that of the richest in the world (even going after 17 year olds to maintain their own). So why does a commercial grade company offer commercial grade products with such overwhelming exploitable and high impacting possibilities of world wide computer damage? PHP-Nuke has seen its share of security risks and vulnerabilities, but in our neck of the woods we can fix them immediately. There is always a wait for a commercial company with closed source codes! I'd say, this is another great benefit to PHP-Nuke! The community is large and participates as a big family.
Hackers come and go. I like to think of 'black hatters' and 'script kiddies' as those who help us to solidify code and enhance security. I say we've been doing a great job at that. And yes, this means there will be more hacks and successful break-ins. This is the way of the Internet. Our purpose is to simply build upon and grow more secure portal code. But that's just me, someone who wants to see the good to all things, in a realistic approach.
For myself I have more than confirmed that PHP-Nuke can handle the load. The statistics both sites have seen prove it. The only difference between seeing phpnuke.org's stats and mine, is that I have intimate experience with the server hardware. And oh, let me tell you, that has been one heck of a doozy.
I went from shared servers to entry level dedicated servers, to entry level dual CPU servers, and now quality grade dual CPU servers. Each time I had to upgrade due to increased volume. Simply put, PHP-Nuke can generate pages as fast as you want it to, so long as you throw the right amount of high power hardware at it. Its like anything else that is software based. One can optimize the code only so much. The next step is upgrading hardware. And oh wow, did I have to learn how to move PHP-Nuke sites efficiently.
One of the biggest advancements in PHP-Nuke has been GoogleTap. It has not only made Computer Cops and Nuke Cops expand its membership due to Google results, but it has also caused Apache to spawn run away processes thanks to heavy mod_rewrite usage and sheer member volume. Thus, another reason why I had to upgrade the servers. A rogue apache client would run rampant on the server causing the load to jump to over 30. Eventually on my first entry level single CPU server I had to write a shell script to monitor serverload and restart apache when it hit '5'. This worked for a while. But the statistics kept increasing on both sites: ergo, upgrade to entry dual AMD CPUs. And again!, recently the volume has doubled and another upgrade took place to dual Intel CPU servers. And even yet the serverload tends to rise on occasion of volume surge.
So what have I learned from all this? There is not a shread of doubt in my mind nor the evidence that PHP-Nuke is a global winner for professional or hobby type portals. It handles whatever traffic you throw at it, from minimal to sheer overload. It is as secure as you want it to be. And it can be as open as you like. And that's PHP-Nuke's finesse: it can be all you want it to be. Simple, elegant, and customizable. You can hack the code yourself, or someone else can help you. Hey, we're all webmasters of our own domains. Each of us know how it was like the first time we ran PHP-Nuke:
awe, inspiration, excitement, jubilation
As seasoned portal veterans, I think its encumbant upon us to stay true to the tradition of PHP-Nuke. Open source community development and knowledge transfer. Its been key to success to date, and it'll continue to drive us into the future.
PHP-Nuke is sheer power with a touch of panache. I wouldn't trade it for anything else to run my portals. I give it two thumbs up.
|
|
Posted on Monday, January 19 @ 11:48:24 CET by Zhen-Xjell |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Average Score: 2.45
Votes: 11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
| | | | |
| No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register | | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by pythagoras on Monday, January 19 @ 12:46:05 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) | For me, a novice at the implementation of the complex system which phpnuke has proven itself to be, i would have to say that it doesn't cut the mustard. I have been trying to get a skeletal phpnuke6.9 site on my home network (well, ok, my dell laptop) running mandrake9.2.
I have followed all the install instructions to the best of my ability, but to no avail. I would say that if you are an experienced hacker, or know someone who has phpnuke running _and_is_committed_to_the_knowledge_transfer_ referenced above, then you have a good chance of getting it up and running. Evidently, anyway. If you are trying to learn a new thing, however, be prepared for a sttep learning curve. |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Zhen-Xjell on Monday, January 19 @ 13:29:56 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://castlecops.com | There exist tools to help in the installation of a PHP-Nuke portal. Analyzer is the cream of the crop for such useful debugging:
Analyzer [nukecops.com]
In order to assist folk in their setups, it is highly encouraged to install analyze.php and post a link for us to referece. Without detailed data, it is hard to troubleshoot one's install.
Remember, I started from 0 zero on php-nuke at one point in my life too. |
]
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Tank863 on Monday, January 19 @ 15:08:30 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://tankweb.net | I too was/still am a novice to php-nuke & php programming. I have made sites using flash, html, & frontpage. None has cut it quote like nuke. It is pretty awesome.
How did I do it? I came on nukecops everyday and read the forums and asked questions. I think at one point I chased Paul (Zhen) away.. lol... because I was asking so mnay questions.
Paul and the rest of the helpful people here answered my many questions and pointed me in the right direction.
I now know enough to keep and maintain the site.. I am still struggling to learn php (it's a time thing, I just don't have enough of it).. and if I didn't.. I would ask for help.
PS: Paul.. I shot you a PM asking for help once again...
Tank863 |
]
| | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by kjcdude on Monday, January 19 @ 15:44:53 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://kyle.theocsucks.com | Good article!!!
I would agree that PHP-Nuke cuts the grade, i am currently running 3 php-nuke sites and have gone through some major strugles but all were worth it in the end.
I have built some of my own sites but without the full knowledge of PHP i turned to PHP-Nuke and have not regreted it since.
Good job ZX on your fantastic support for the PHP-Nuke community! |
| | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Kenpro on Monday, January 19 @ 15:57:52 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) | Nice to hear you talking like this, but you are forgetting Mr. ChatServ, as he was responsable
for most of the succes of this site as of his updates.
I don't give a shit about your server or site, I care for the good work of ChatServ, why didn't you mentioned him in your article ? and the other staff ? |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Zhen-Xjell on Monday, January 19 @ 19:18:11 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://castlecops.com | If you haven't noticed by now, I'm not in the practice of mentioning names other than Francisco.
About mid last year I asked Chatserv personally if I could release a nice article about him. Chatserv felt (as I do) that in doing so, it might cause tension with other staff. So we decided against it together.
Hence, why I didn't mention his name, nor anyone else.
Sorry you have some animosity towards this site and me. Please feel free to go elsewhere. |
]
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Kenpro on Tuesday, January 20 @ 04:49:59 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) | Just don't only talk about the site and the big succes of it, on this way it looks like you are the only one behind it.
And no I have nothing personal against you or the site, just the way the article is written i don't like. |
]
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by IACOJ on Wednesday, January 21 @ 10:54:36 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) | I find your perception of ZX's thoughts rather interesting. I also find it intersting you feel the success of this site is due to Chatserv. I woiuld have to disagree with you there. Please understand, I am friends with CS. We have worked on bugs and security issues together, and I have a lot of respect for him. I also read the article in question prior to it being psoted.
I have been here from pretty much from the beginning of this site. I wasn't always staff, As a regular member I NEVER came here because of any of Chatserv's releases. Which incidently, just because the rest of our names aren't on them, that doesn't mean we didn't work on them on one capacity or another. I came here because I KNEW that the support was here, I KNEW that I could I could ask a completely simple question or one which was very complex and still get an answer. I KNEW that the other users who came here were willing to help out if they knew how to fix the problem. That is the reason for the success of this site, not because of a few security releases. CS releases those same fixes on several other sites, NONE of them see the kind of traffic we have here.
This site is as successful as it is because of who ZX is, and the way he treats people, staff, the general public whatever. He promotes "team" in all things on this site.
I find your comments interesting, because you accuse ZX but then only acknowledge the individual, and ignore the rest of us, including staff which has moved on and even ZX himself. Apprenlty the rest of us haven't done anything at all.. Frankly I have a pretty good idea of what the staff know and don't know on this site as far as coding goes, it seems we all have our specialty, BUT I can say without hesitation that ZX knows at least 10 times more then the rest of the staff put together.
ZX shared his "thoughts" about a site which he owns, and then you walk in and point fingers. You aren't the first to do it,n and you wont be the last. I know he wont take it personally or hold a grudge, because it isn't in his nature to do so.. I am not as patient as he is, and I know a terminal case of foot in mouth disease when I see one. An apology should be forthcoming from someone, although I doubt very much that any of the staff on ithis site will actually get it, least of all ZX. Knowing that let me ask you this... What have YOU done for the Nuke community? |
]
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by chatserv on Thursday, January 22 @ 17:01:46 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://nukeresources.com | I don't want to make this issue any bigger than it should be but since i am mentioned within i feel i must at least comment on some points so here goes.
If the sites at which i post my stuff (which does cover a lot more than just "a few fixes") don't get that much traffic it is mostly in part due to the lack of advertisement they get, lately my articles hardly ever get published at several sites where i submit them regardless of if they have merit or not or if what i offer in them has more value than 80% of what does get posted, but this is not really a new problem, it just has gotten worst but i deal with it. Although many do not know what each of us has done here and anywhere else, ZX does know that some of our previous teams were not too Team oriented and a lot of the time him and i were left with all the hard work such as adding stuff to the core, keeping an eye on things and even upgrading everything, so yes, some of us have earned our spot, such is the case of the current team.
Regarding the rest i have nothing to say. Take care all. |
]
| | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by Vchat20 on Monday, January 19 @ 19:36:01 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.pokeradio.com/ | i have to agree. phpnuke definitely has made the grade for me. and this is relevant with my latest site, The Sims Park Mall (http://www.pokeradio.com/tspm/).
first edition of the site was simple html. two frames. one for navigation, and another for the main content. it worked, but wasnt very proffesional looking.
second edition, i went to an actual paid (cheap) template, which was html. just used the template and made the seperate pages. looked really nice, but in this case was a major pain to edit each and every page every time i had to change the navigation bar.
third edition, which really wasnt released per say, was with phpwebsite. tried and tried but unfortunately i had no luck getting it to do what i wanted. VERY steep learning curve.
4th and latest edition i finally gave in and went to phpnuke. and so far its been a breeze. i had no problem making a custom navigation block simply using the blocks admin and using pure html. making my custom mall module was very easy and only took me like 10 minutes to do. so far i have no plans to change to anything else. if anyting a new logo and theme is something im looking forward to.
and using phpnuke on my other website as well (PokeRadio @ www.pokeradio.com), phpnuke definitely makes the grade. no doubt. |
| | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by snarfies3 on Monday, January 19 @ 21:32:26 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.temple-anime.org/erik/ | I've largely moved away from PHPNuke in favor of Postnuke. Reasons:
1) PHPNuke is messy to modify. Adding a new module usually involved uploading files to 5-6 different directories, and then sometimes modifying existing core files to boot. If I go through all that and then decide I don't like the module after all, uninstalling it can be a major headache. 99% of Postnuke modules are completely self-contained.
2) For a "Content Management System," PHPNuke doesn't handle content very well. I can put things in "sections" or "content," but both are preformatted in ways that I don't want. Now, Postnuke shares this flaw, but at least Postnuke has excellent addons like Content Express (http://www.xexpress.org/). The only thing of its like that I ever found for Postnuke was CWC Coverpage, and that has a number of ugly flaws as well.
3) I'm sure it isn't news that PHPNuke is a security mess. Yes, nukecops' patches help - unless you need to install a module that wants to modify something that the patch has already modified in a different way, see item 1. |
| | | | |
Re: Does PHP-Nuke Make the Grade? (Score: 1)
by djblade311 on Sunday, January 25 @ 01:57:51 CET
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.thedjgroove.com | | I have 3 or 4 sites running PHP-nuke and have used php-nuke since version 5. Those who seem to experience installation issues ALL the time, either don't follow instructions or have different platforms for their web server and database setups. I used to experience issues on my first install but that was because I was a newbie to PHP. It is incredibly easy to add new modules, WITHOUT having to upload to 4 or 5 directories. I love it. THANK YOU TO ALL (including mr ChatServ). |
| | | | | |
