[»] Version 3.3 is OK
by Andrew Ziem - Jan 13th 2004 14:53:16

Without any fuss and without paying much attention, I installed version 3.3 on a Linux system running Apache 2 with PHP mod and MySQL 4. For a PHP program, I was surprised how nice the installer is... The URL rewriting feature is excellent--something everything system should have. The included samples are decent.

I would recommend this for systems where non-technical people need to keep up a web site.
I may not use ezPublish, but it gave me some good ideas.

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[»] Wildly inefficient use of SQL queries
by Ian Clarke - Jan 13th 2004 04:59:48

This software makes such inefficient use of SQL queries it is almost comical. At a guess, displaying a typical page results in tens, perhaps as many as a hundred SQL queries! It is close to a text-book example of how not to write efficient PHP/SQL code.

Do *not* use this software if you expect more than a few hundred hits a day, and make sure you run it on a beefy server. That lesson cost a friend of mine weeks of work, she eventually reimplemented the site in pure PHP and greatly regrets not doing it sooner.

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[»] Installation
by Rama - Sep 14th 2003 17:46:42

Sorry to sound sacastic, but can you make the install notes any more confusing? Don't explain how to create the MySQL database usless your discussing how to install MySQL etc. - We know that. Just say "... create a database named ezbuilder" and move on to the next step. Besides, you don't need to be root to install the db and import .sql.

One more thing, we're not all installing via SSH or local so better to keep instructions simple and to the point. I'd almost think this was written by a microsoft person based on the language and choice of words used. Also, I was lost when the notes came to all this "xxx" stuff. Not too helpful I'm afraid. Sorry! :-( Hope I've not been too harsh.

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[»] Frustrated User
by istgary - Jun 17th 2003 17:10:58

I just thought I would let someone know the hours of frustration I just spent trying to install ez Publish. This is a classic example of what happens when someone with about average Linux experience attempts to turn away from Microsoft solutions and instead tries their best to get one working in Linux. For starters, your install process. My first head-scratcher came from the install where Apache and MySql will be installed. WELL, WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE THEM INSTALLED?!! So, I proceeded to let ezPublish install them. Everything installed, and, now, MySql will not start. Everything is now in other directories, not where they are usually. I got errors like "cannot find mysql.sock" and "cannot find mysql.host". Using Google, I found that it was a permissions problem. I got through that, and then "cannot find host.frm". Back to Google. I found myself "cd-ing" and "cat-ing" every file and directory in the house, doing chmod's/chown's, until I finally found relief to my problem, when I just gave up.

The Linux community is constantly ragging on MS software and all it's problems. MS software installations are about 95% hassle-free. I would think that Linux software writers would take many more precautions to ensure their installs go at least as smoothly, or better yet, smoother than it's competitor.

I realize that you don't have Microsofts' resources but, how are you going to attract Windows customers if you need a black-belt in MySql to install or use it?


Thanks for listening...I guess I'll go fishing over at MS for a portal now...

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[»] 8.4 out of 10???
by Jim Caprioli - May 27th 2003 07:19:02

there's 20 votes with a 10.

the rating system sucks.

if freshmeat wants to remain credible they should do something about that.

this product has average... potential

where are the reference sites you can't build with any of the leading cm's es?

iy's commercial and they pay commission if someone buys a license through you that's why several "independents" suddenly advice it.

--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Re: 8.4 out of 10???
by jeff covey - May 27th 2003 12:59:27


> the rating system sucks. if freshmeat wants to remain credible they
> should do something about that.

Why? What problem do you see with the formula at http://freshmeat.net/faq/view/31/?

--
vs lbh pna ernq guvf, lbh'er n trrx.

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[»] *** WARNING ***
by Jim Caprioli - May 26th 2003 03:34:29

Although *potentially* it can do more than most other CMS'es I doubt if you'll ever need these features.

The cost for having the so called "best" is rather high, very high. In hours, time, frustration.

Browse their forums. As of May 26/5 Apache 2 is not even supported. You can NOT run PHP as a CGI module.

Setting up Apache virtual hosts is mandatory.

When finally installed, the real trouble begins.

Nevertheless I gave it 5***** out of 10. I expect the next release to be a 6. There is potential.

--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Shaman - May 26th 2003 12:15:20

Ghad. Who uses PHP as a CGI module or Apache without virtual hosts? Thats's crazy talk.

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Jim Caprioli - May 27th 2003 07:10:44

dear friend Apache =SELF= advices you to do so with 1.3. I am talking WINDOWS here. Some people uset that stuff it if they like it or not. Name one succesfull package that does not support it. But it's not the point at all.


> Ghad. Who uses PHP as a CGI module or
> Apache without
> virtual hosts? Thats's crazy talk.


--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Jim Caprioli - May 28th 2003 07:37:32

Why no to the point reaction? My point was the install process itself. So lengthy and all. Starting to call names like 'crazy' is something for another forum. Not for freshmeat where software engineers and high-end users discuss products.


> Ghad. Who uses PHP as a CGI module or
> Apache without
> virtual hosts? Thats's crazy talk.


--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Shaman - May 28th 2003 07:47:32

You put a Windows server on the Internet? Are you nuts?

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Jim Caprioli - May 28th 2003 08:39:46

Hey, a Nerd. Let's be kind to him. He must be on of the last of the species. Their problems started in adolescence when they realized the beauties were not made for them...



> You put a Windows server on the
> Internet?
>
> Are you nuts?


--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Michael Shigorin - May 2nd 2006 12:56:54


> Ghad. Who uses PHP as a CGI module or

> Apache without

> virtual hosts? Thats's crazy talk.

Not even funny.

--
Michael Shigorin mike SOMEWHERE AT altlinux PLUS DOT org

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Jo Henrik Endrerud - May 28th 2003 07:10:54


> Browse their forums. As of May 26/5
> Apache 2 is not even supported. You can
> NOT run PHP as a CGI module.
Apache 2 is supported. There were earlier some problems with PHP on Apache 2 (this had nothing to do with eZ publish), but this is solved now. For example is RedHat 9 supported right out of the box.

> Setting up Apache virtual hosts is
> mandatory.
This is not correct either. If you read the install document you will see that we have two different ways of setting up eZ publish, one with virtual host and one without. Most users use the non-virtual host setup

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[»] Re: *** WARNING ***
by Jim Caprioli - May 28th 2003 07:33:08

let me guess, you are one of the programmers and one on the 20 persons who rated this cms 10 out of 10. Right?

I am running ezpublish without a virtual hosts. you are right. AND not because of that I have other bugs.

But hey, this is all in the past now. 3.1 beta 1 is out and I am installing it *now*. I am very curious.

Still, way too early because the docs haven't been updated...




>
> % Browse their forums. As of May 26/5
>
> % Apache 2 is not even supported. You
> can
> % NOT run PHP as a CGI module.
>
>
> Apache 2 is supported. There were
> earlier some
> problems with PHP on Apache 2 (this had
> nothing to
> do with eZ publish), but this is solved
> now. For
> example is RedHat 9 supported right out
> of the box.
>
>
> % Setting up Apache virtual hosts is
>
> % mandatory.
>
>
> This is not correct either. If you read
> the install
> document you will see that we have two
> different
> ways of setting up eZ publish, one with
> virtual host
> and one without. Most users use the
> non-virtual host
> setup
>


--
"Every Coin Has Two Sides"

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[»] Needs Work
by josh - May 11th 2003 17:52:09

Although I think the system is great (and I am using it on one of my sites) there are a number of problems.

1) Poorly supported for users
CMS systems like this rely on open communication with the creators, and experienced users.
Although the system is free, the ezpublish team charges for support ($500 for a half year) so they do not answer many questions on their own forums in a timely manner. You can wait over a weeks for a response from anyone somtimes (their support is one rate for a 1-day response, and 3-days for a 3-day response). So it can be hard to get answers to questions asked


2) Poor documentation
the documentation was so sparse that users had to organize to create their own documentation. things that are missing include easy step-by-step walkthroughs, etc...
the docs are getting better, but it is still very hard to get started in some cases.

3) lack of community
the main forum for ezpublish is on the ezpublish site, and is hard to use. you can't search for terms like php, or admin since they are automatically deleted from the search as being small words. In addition, the forums themselves are poor and lack features like e-mail notification of replies.


4) not a lot of mods.
if it ain't in there, you're going to be writing it yourself. the system is great for expandability, but due to lack of community it doesn't seem like a lot of people are expanding the useability.

I encourage people to visit their website, and see if you agree with these comments.
if these things change, I will gladly update, or append this comment.

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[»] Re: Needs Work
by FireBright - Sep 27th 2004 20:20:02


> Although I think the system is great

> (and I am using it on one of my sites)

> there are a number of problems.

>

OK, let me respond to this post (and the others, which are wildly out of date now as the product is on 3.4, and almost on 3.5, and many of the problems they experienced were typical new version release problems IMHO.

Let me say that I work for FireBright.com, a company that deals with eZ Publish, but we are keenly aware of the weaknesses and strengths of the platform and consider ourselves fairly objective (at least compared to someone who is complaining about virtual hosts and cgi mode (even a $5/mo account can be had that eliminates those problems).


> 1) Poorly supported for users

> CMS systems like this rely on open

> communication with the creators, and

> experienced users.

> Although the system is free, the

> ezpublish team charges for support ($500

> for a half year) so they do not answer

> many questions on their own forums in a

> timely manner. You can wait over a weeks

> for a response from anyone somtimes

> (their support is one rate for a 1-day

> response, and 3-days for a 3-day

> response). So it can be hard to get

> answers to questions asked

>

>
True. Absolutely. But most open CMS solutions DO NOT have commercial support even available.

The forums are actually just *one* way to get support, and in fact are generally used by the beginners. eZ Publish has a lot of smaller communities, and a very strong developer community that's on a first name basis. There is also a really great irc channel where support can be had, but most beginners don't know or use it.

The forums need to be improved, as they're not up to speed with vBulletin or other best-of-breed dedicated forum software.

However, there are a number of deployment outfits that also provide support for eZ. Most people that have serious problems with setup and management are trying to do it on a cheap web host, and commoditized servers just don't cut it for serious cms development.

While I'm on topic here, let me address SQL scalability. You know, that was a really serious problem with the 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 releases, which were gradually optimized. The 3.3 release this summer took the pages down to just 10-12 queries for all but the most complex stuff.

That said, the number of queries doesn't really matter that much unless you've got caching turned off. You can use Turck MMCache or Zend Accelerator (or Performance Suite) as a drop in to dramatically improve page cache performance, but the built in Caching in eZ Publish provides a profound speed increase. I say that as someone who mantains hundreds of installations of eZ and other CMS solutions -- unless you know how to run caching with complex php applications, you'll hit the wall early. Properly cached, I've eZ Publish scale to millions of hits per day, and hundreds of thousands on a virtual dedicated server setup (we're talking 35GB per day kind of traffic -- a fair amount considering it's not even a dedicated server). That statement was very accurate when my fellow geek made it, but if that's your only complaint, I would encourage you to look at some of the more recent code.


> 2) Poor documentation

> the documentation was so sparse that

> users had to organize to create their

> own documentation. things that are

> missing include easy step-by-step

> walkthroughs, etc...

> the docs are getting better, but it is

> still very hard to get started in some

> cases.

>
Indeed. I know from talking to eZ Publish that documentation has been a major striking point against the system. While not perfect, it was *much* improved in the 3.3 release, and is a major focus for them.

As a third party provider working with the system, we have extensive documentation about eZ Publish available, however, eZ's documentation tends to be a little scattered.

The next release of the product, due out in October of 2004, provides major administrative area improvements, documentation upgrades, and much more.

Remember you're not dealing with phpnuke here -- this is a truly complex OO cms system, and documentation will catch up.

There was a major shift when eZ went from v2 to v3 which really cast eZ Publish in a bad light. The product was re-written from the ground up. eZ3 has nothing to do really with eZ2, besides looking somewhat similar. Under the covers, different animals. Since it was a new platform, it got a lot of attention initially, and then interest waned as is often the case with .releases (why do you think every freekin' commercial software release is a x.0 revision and not a 0.x like it should be?).

The product is about a million times better than it was in the beginning of 2004 even, and most importantly headed in the right direction.


> 3) lack of community

> the main forum for ezpublish is on the

> ezpublish site, and is hard to use. you

> can't search for terms like php, or

> admin since they are automatically

> deleted from the search as being small

> words. In addition, the forums

> themselves are poor and lack features

> like e-mail notification of replies.

>
Couldn't agree more. Nothing to defend there. eZ needs to get their s**t together on this one, as the forums kind of suck.


>

> 4) not a lot of mods.

> if it ain't in there, you're going to

> be writing it yourself. the system is

> great for expandability, but due to lack

> of community it doesn't seem like a lot

> of people are expanding the useability.

>
Depends. I mean, there are a lot of mods, but remember that this system is not a php script kiddy system -- it's used by a lot of research institutions, etc. It's a serious commercial system, and a lot of the code that's written for the platform is commercially licensed by big customers.


> I encourage people to visit their

> website, and see if you agree with these

> comments.

> if these things change, I will gladly

> update, or append this comment.

>

I think you don't need to update or append this comment. It's actually quite valid, and should be left for historical commentary if nothing else. You're points are valid, and I know that eZ (developers of eZ Publish) read them, as I talk to them occasionally.

Every major problem put fourth by the community has been addressed and fixed by the eZ Publish crew in the 3.x releases. While there is still a ways to go, I have to say that I think eZ Publish is *one of* the best of breed platforms for cms.

Plone is probably the other platform that really deserves serious attention. Magnolia (.info if you're interested) is another system that has a heck of a lot of potential, but isn't there yet (same feedback that you have here came up on the mailng list for them just *yesterday!*).

But there are a *host* of other cms solutions out there that are popular in the marketplace despite the fact that they suck (even some of the big ones), and I would encourage you to take another look at eZ Publish, and most importantly, keep an eye on it into early 2005. I personally think that you may want to go back for a second look.


>



--
=-=-=- http://www.FireBright.com/ Content Management Specialists

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[»] Excellent
by Rob Woodward - Feb 14th 2001 18:29:44

After spending a long time going through every piece of web content management software I have to say this has been the neatest, easiest and well documented, and working system I have come accross. It has an extremely tidy and logical layout, after looking at others I found myself having to mess around with the php in order to get the results I wanted but with ez Publish I could automatically change things without having to change any of the php code. Others may find other software suits them better but this one certainly works well for me due to its clean design. Well done :)

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[»] Re: Excellent
by kurani - Dec 11th 2006 12:43:00

Are you a developer that would be interested in some eZ Publish freelance work? Please email me at jfalcone (at) kurani (dot) com

--
Thanks, Joe Kurani Interactive www.kurani.com

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