WebGUI
Encyclopedia
WebGUI is an open source
content management system
written in Perl
and released under the GNU General Public License
.
The system permits non-technically minded users to arrange content in pages and layouts, containing 'Assets' (applet
s) which permit website
visitors to view and interact with various types of data from basic Articles to full-blown Content management system
and custom applications
.
The system gives web administrators the ability to manage the appearance and features available in the user interface to fit each user's skill level. Its "users and groups" system allows control over content editing and viewing privileges, and the versioning and workflow systems allow for content approval hierarchies and tracking of content as it moves through the site. Everything in WebGUI is a template, which allows for customization, and keeps site content and style separate.
The system was originally built as an application framework
by creator Plain Black Corporation to support their customer development work, but a majority of current independent users of it utilize it as a CMS
with the modules with which it ships.
In late 2005 and early 2006, the system underwent a major metamorphosis, targeting a release of version 7.0 which occurred in mid-2006; the current versions are 7.5.32 (stable) & 7.6.2 (beta).
architecture allows for even more extensibility and flexibility. WebGUI's modular design
allows code
to be easily accessed, changed, and replaced.
WebGUI is a mod perl
application but there is a project codenamed PlebGUI to port WebGUI to PSGI
, the Perl Web Server Gateway Interface, which enables deployment using CGI
, FastCGI
, mod perl
, et al.
In addition, there are many user contributed applications available.
, and additional themes are freely available in the add-ons section of the WebGUI website. Everything in WebGUI is a template, and templates are accessed through the admin user interface.
, which means it is free to download and use.
(WRE). The WRE includes everything needed to run WebGUI, excepting some Perl
modules that versions of WebGUI released after the WRE may require. The WRE is pre-compiled
by Plain Black for their list of supported systems, and members of the community submit WRE binaries
for other systems.
In addition to the requirements, the WRE includes tools to administrate WebGUI servers. The 0.8 version of the WRE introduced the WRE Console, which is a GUI
tool (viewed with a web browser
) to set up and manage WebGUI sites.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
content management system
Content management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
written in Perl
Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
and released under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
.
The system permits non-technically minded users to arrange content in pages and layouts, containing 'Assets' (applet
Applet
In computing, an applet is any small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a larger program, often as a plug-in. An applet typically also refers to Java applets, i.e., programs written in the Java programming language that are included in a web page...
s) which permit website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
visitors to view and interact with various types of data from basic Articles to full-blown Content management system
Content management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
and custom applications
Web application
A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. The term may also mean a computer software application that is coded in a browser-supported language and reliant on a common web browser to render the application executable.Web applications are...
.
Intro
WebGUIThe system gives web administrators the ability to manage the appearance and features available in the user interface to fit each user's skill level. Its "users and groups" system allows control over content editing and viewing privileges, and the versioning and workflow systems allow for content approval hierarchies and tracking of content as it moves through the site. Everything in WebGUI is a template, which allows for customization, and keeps site content and style separate.
The system was originally built as an application framework
Application framework
In computer programming, an application framework consists of a software framework used by software developers to implement the standard structure of an application for a specific development environment ....
by creator Plain Black Corporation to support their customer development work, but a majority of current independent users of it utilize it as a CMS
Content management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
with the modules with which it ships.
In late 2005 and early 2006, the system underwent a major metamorphosis, targeting a release of version 7.0 which occurred in mid-2006; the current versions are 7.5.32 (stable) & 7.6.2 (beta).
History
In 1999, a development project called Web Done Right began in an effort to create a web application framework that married both ease of use and power. Over the next couple years, Web Done Right evolved, and after a number of revisions became WebGUI. WebGUI, and its parent company Plain Black Corporation, were launched to the public in 2001.Features
- Web-based Administrative Interface
- WYSIWYG Rich Text Editor
- Workflow Engine
- Versioning
- E-Commerce
- User Management
- Group Management
- Search engine friendly URLs
- Internationalization
Architecture
WebGUI is built as an application framework, and has a pluggable architecture to aid in the extensibility of applications. Developers can create custom applications and functionality that match a company's business processes, and a pluggable macroMacro
A macro in computer science is a rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence should be mapped to an output sequence according to a defined procedure...
architecture allows for even more extensibility and flexibility. WebGUI's modular design
Modular design
Modular design, or "modularity in design" is an approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities...
allows code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
to be easily accessed, changed, and replaced.
WebGUI is a mod perl
Mod perl
mod_perl is an optional module for the Apache HTTP server. It embeds a Perl interpreter into the Apache server, so that dynamic content produced by Perl scripts can be served in response to incoming requests, without the significant overhead of re-launching the Perl interpreter for each request...
application but there is a project codenamed PlebGUI to port WebGUI to PSGI
PSGI
PSGI or Perl Web Server Gateway Interface is an interface between Web servers and Perl-based Web applications and frameworks that allows writing portable applications that can be run as standalone servers or using CGI, FastCGI, mod_perl, et al...
, the Perl Web Server Gateway Interface, which enables deployment using CGI
Common Gateway Interface
The Common Gateway Interface is a standard method for web servers software to delegate the generation of web pages to executable files...
, FastCGI
FastCGI
FastCGI is a protocol for interfacing interactive programs with a web server. FastCGI is a variation on the earlier Common Gateway Interface ; FastCGI's main aim is to reduce the overhead associated with interfacing the web server and CGI programs, allowing a server to handle more web page...
, mod perl
Mod perl
mod_perl is an optional module for the Apache HTTP server. It embeds a Perl interpreter into the Apache server, so that dynamic content produced by Perl scripts can be served in response to incoming requests, without the significant overhead of re-launching the Perl interpreter for each request...
, et al.
Built in applications
With WebGUI, users can create:- Online shops that accept credit cards.
- ForumsInternet forumAn Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
(Flat, Nested, and Threaded views) - SQLSQLSQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
Reports (Drill down and hierarchical queries enabled) - Polls
- ClassifiedsClassified advertisingClassified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
- Web Log (blogs)BlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
- Photo Galleries
- News Listings
- FAQFAQFrequently asked questions are listed questions and answers, all supposed to be commonly asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. "FAQ" is usually pronounced as an initialism rather than an acronym, but an acronym form does exist. Since the acronym FAQ originated in textual...
s - Link Directories
- Job Postings
- User Contributions
- Syndicated News (includes aggregation)
- Events Calendars
- Surveys
- Self-Grading Tests
- Articles
- Search Engines
- Web Services Front End
- Matrix Comparison Systems
- Weather Data
- Stock Data
- Dashboard (My Page)
- In/Out Boards
- Project Management
- Time Tracking
In addition, there are many user contributed applications available.
Themes
WebGUI comes with a number of built in themesTheme (computing)
In computing, a theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details, used to customize the look and feel of an operating system, widget set or window manager....
, and additional themes are freely available in the add-ons section of the WebGUI website. Everything in WebGUI is a template, and templates are accessed through the admin user interface.
Translation
WebGUI has a translation server that allows anyone to contribute translated terms for any field label in the user interface. These translations can then be applied to a site and users can manage content in their native languages. WebGUI contains Dutch, German, English and Spanish translations.Licensing
WebGUI is licensed under GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, which means it is free to download and use.
System requirements
- Application ServerApplication serverAn application server is a software framework that provides an environment in which applications can run, no matter what the applications are or what they do...
: mod perlMod perlmod_perl is an optional module for the Apache HTTP server. It embeds a Perl interpreter into the Apache server, so that dynamic content produced by Perl scripts can be served in response to incoming requests, without the significant overhead of re-launching the Perl interpreter for each request... - DatabaseDatabaseA database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
: MySQLMySQLMySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My... - Operating SystemOperating systemAn operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
: Any - Programming LanguageProgramming languageA programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
: PerlPerlPerl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular... - Root AccessSuperuserOn many computer operating systems, the superuser is a special user account used for system administration. Depending on the operating system, the actual name of this account might be: root, administrator or supervisor....
: Yes - Shell AccessShell (computing)A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel. However, the term is also applied very loosely to applications and may include any software that is "built around" a particular component, such as web...
: Yes - Web ServerWeb serverWeb server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
: ApacheApache HTTP ServerThe Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache , is web server software notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 it became the first web server software to surpass the 100 million website milestone...
WebGUI runtime environment
To ease the installation of WebGUI's requirements, Plain Black distributes them inside of the WebGUI Runtime EnvironmentRun-time system
A run-time system is a software component designed to support the execution of computer programs written in some computer language...
(WRE). The WRE includes everything needed to run WebGUI, excepting some Perl
Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
modules that versions of WebGUI released after the WRE may require. The WRE is pre-compiled
Compiler
A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...
by Plain Black for their list of supported systems, and members of the community submit WRE binaries
Executable
In computing, an executable file causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions," as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU...
for other systems.
In addition to the requirements, the WRE includes tools to administrate WebGUI servers. The 0.8 version of the WRE introduced the WRE Console, which is a GUI
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
tool (viewed with a web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
) to set up and manage WebGUI sites.
See also
- List of content management systems
- List of applications with iCalendar support