MODx CMS Updated, New Direction for 2009

In December 2008 the MODx team announced an upgrade featuring several key fixes and the usual security updates. This upgrade to v0.9.6.3 is touted as the final release of the initial incarnation of the MODx CMS development framework.

What this means is MODx may be close to releasing a version with a whole number. A large batch of dedicated MODx users eagerly await this development. Will it happen in ‘09?

The 0.9.6.3 version bump contains more than 100 improvements, security updates, usability tweaks and bug fixes. For this update the MODx team remained particularly focused on non-English language core improvements to the framework. The project has a large base of users from around the world making multi-byte and RTL language support in the back-end a high priority.

A Few Update Highlights

• Revised installer that helps to properly set database charsets and collations while maintaining compatibility with upgrades for existing installations. This should help with non-English multi-byte languages.
• Updated core components including Ajax Search, TinyMCE rich text editor and TVs.
• Improved diagnostic reporting and Manager checks.
• Addressed multiple potentially exploitable security concerns.

Is version 1 on the way?

MODx announced this latest update will be the final release of what they are terming ‘The Old MODx’.  The new MODx, expected to drop sometime in 2009 will be termed the Evolution and Revolution platforms.

• Evolution: A legacy framework with a cleaned up code base, featuring the familiar Manager and core.
• Revolution: A ground-up rewrite of MODx. Details are sparse as to what these rewrites are, but MODx promises a simultaneous release of tools for importing existing sites to the new versions.

Evolution and Revolution will improve separation of the core MODx platform from the add ons. This done in an effort to render future iterations of the MODx platform maintainable, robust and agile enough for quick adoption of emerging trends.

For instance, demo content which was instructive and included in the core framework, will now be separate. You will have to download and install it after installing the MODx framework. In theory this should make the platform leaner and better suited to multi-language support.

The MODx project has several community members working full time on code. The team is also seeking to build strategic relationships with other projects and services to benefit the MODx community, including developing a list of approved shared, VPS and dedicated hosting partners.  MODx is also working on a new MODx support site.

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