Free Gaming CMS and Site :: AlchemyCMS - Updated 3.18.08

[Little AlchemyX]

AlchemyCMS is an all-in-one Content Management System for Gaming and Software Development (Project hosting) websites, that uses an in depth points system for user access and permission based on site contributions rewarded with site "currency".

What this means is, I'm working on a CMS that is for websites like GW and RPGinfinity, lateralshift, and others, where users can go to get all the help, resources, downloads, and everything else they need for gaming and game development. The CMS is run off of a points system; meaning that the more active a user, and the more users contribute, the more points they get back t use on the site, which will eventually be able to be used to "buy" (and I use that term lightly, as its just points) hosting space for their projects, and can currently be used to purchase username changes, avatars, custom titles, and signatures. The CMS is going to be released free and open source under GPL, and is completely supported.

I'd like to start some feature requests, get some feedback, and have some people start testing before I release the first RC of version 0.4 to the public.

Currently, the forums are finished, and working, the points system, user management, the news system, profiles, PM'ing, downloads and MIDI music sections are finished, along with a significant portion of the admincp and some moderator functions. Before I release version 0.4, the admincp will be finished for all currently active modules, users will be able to submit downloads and music for approval, and the image resources, tutorials, and commercial gaming sections will be completed.

Some other cool options of AlchemyCMS is the ability to change the entire language of your site with a click (as long as you have a easily created language pack - which is simply one file), and the ability to use and create different themes that are simply made out of HTML code and a little css.

You can view the site here: http://www.RPGfreeze.org
You'll find the error tracker and feature requests forums in the "AlchemyCMS" category in the forums. Please remember, while the CMS is working fantastically so far, it is by no means finished, so you will find some blank pages or half done areas, not EVERYTHING works yet, but almost everything you can get to works so far  ;D

EDIT: Update 3.18.08

Sorry its been so long, I've been caught up at school. Just a few updates for you:

1.) The admin panel now fully supports custom site title's and subtitles, setting maintenance mode with admin overrides and custom maintenance messages, as well as the ability to switch between skins with a point and click.

2.) The downloads section of the admin panel is just about done. You can currently view, approve, and disapprove submitted and suggested files, categories, screenshots and reviews. Upon either approval or disapproval a PM is automatically dispatched to the contributor letting them know what happened, it also includes an optional custom message from the staff member and information about the amount of site currency the user has earned, which is automatically generated when the approver chooses how to rate the submission (1-10 for quality), and, if approved, is automatically added to both the main page under the appropriate "latest" block, and into the downloads section for viewing by members.

3.) I'm soon going to launch the resources section, and we'll be needing people to start submitting resources. This will earn you your ice chips you'll need soon, because I'll be launching a live beta version of the free Project Hoster soon! You can use your site currency to "purchase" hosting space, so go earn some.

Also, in closing, we had some severe speed issues with our old server. I tried working with the system admins to fix it, but they refused to, so I found a new web host, and everything is absolutely fine now. You can find more information about this incident here: http://www.rpgfreeze.org/news.php?a=14

- Added this to the main post.

Here's a couple images to show ya its real 

http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS1.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS2.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS3.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS4.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS5.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS6.jpg[/img]
http://www.rpgfreeze.org/off/CMS7.jpg[/img]

 

[djzalzer]

Neato Frito!

This looks pretty good, comparable to iGaming or whatever it is.  Is this software skinnable? :3

and... you are going to release it, right?

 

[Little AlchemyX]

Yes, it uses themes that have HTML style templates in .tpl files and a css stylesheet, along with several extra templating options like an HTML style "IF" conditional that works like this:

<IF "{thisvariable}==4"> <div> The variable equals 4! </div> </IF>

And it also has support for language packs so it doesn't have to be english. You can even make your own language packs very easily as long as you know the other language you're making the pack for.

And yes, I'm going to be releasing it free, open source under GPL. You can ask any questions about how it works or module development by logging into the site and posting in the AlchemyCMS section of the forum.

 

[Despain]

Shit man, I'll definitely check this out when my internet is completely fixed. :3

 

[Little AlchemyX]

Despian! How the heck have you been, man? Been a long, long time.

Anyways, back on topic. I'm also incorporating extra things into the CMS. Right now I'm working with SibSoft to get a Perl/CGI Based uploader working with AlchemyCMS so that users can upload their own content and games (and for use with the project hosting section, once thats finished) without having to use any kind of FTP software, no matter how big their projects are.

I'm also in the works with Stimulabs to add a streaming audio radio station/music library inside AlchemyCMS.

Its looking good so far.

 

[___]

You should be able to do an uploader with PHP, seems like the rest of your site is based on it.  You'll do it through a form using PHP's built in $_FILES array, code for the form should look something like:

<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="<? $PHP_SELF ?>" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="MAX_FILE_SIZE" value="[max file size in bytes]" />
File Name: <input name="toProcess" type="file">
<input type="submit" value="upload">
</form>

Check whether the file is uploaded with is_uploaded_file() and move_uploaded_file() to place it in an appropriate place.  Look for more documentation on $_FILES on the web.  Of course you want to do a little bit of validation, I'll leave the details to you.  This is a month late, I know, hopefully it's useful info

 

[Little AlchemyX]

Thanks!
Yeah I know you can use the $_FILES array using multipart, but you're still limited to the size that is a.) specified in php.ini, which not all web hosts allow direct and custom access to, and also, b.) by the timeout rate of a browser, and even then, their is still the issue accessing the true raw_post_data. But thanks alot for the info ;-)

The reason the Uploader is not built in PHP is because most people's servers have a php max upload limit (typically 8mb), which means you wouldn't be able to upload any projects greater than your php max upload limit; and most people don't have access to phpconfig this limit themselves (unless you run your own server, instead of purchasing web space from a host).
Apart from that, PHP alone can't monitor the progress of the upload the way it needs to. While languages like Perl or J2EE technology gives access to the raw POST data; PHP does not. Its strange because PHP has a variable named RAW_POST_DATA, but its populated only if the engine cannot identify the enctype of the POST data, but changing and messing with the enctype of your form won't help, it just messes with your upload. You would have to end up using AJAX, JSON or JPSAN. Using AJAX would make it possible, but would absolutely annihilate your bandwidth as it would have to refresh the status constantly using PHP on the server and sending it to javascript; and not many people are familiar with JSON or JPSPAN. Perl can bypass your php max upload limit (this uploader just sent a 4GB file to my website as a test, and it uploaded perfectly, without my browser timing out) and can monitor the status dynamically, without killing your bandwidth or constantly refreshing the status page; plus, the users would never have to go into the perl code for anything; except to configure the initial settings of their web site's url.

Sorry its been so long, I've been caught up at school. Just a few updates for you:

1.) The admin panel now fully supports custom site title's and subtitles, setting maintenance mode with admin overrides and custom maintenance messages, as well as the ability to switch between skins with a point and click.

2.) The downloads section of the admin panel is just about done. You can currently view, approve, and disapprove submitted and suggested files, categories, screenshots and reviews. Upon either approval or disapproval a PM is automatically dispatched to the contributor letting them know what happened, it also includes an optional custom message from the staff member and information about the amount of site currency the user has earned, which is automatically generated when the approver chooses how to rate the submission (1-10 for quality), and, if approved, is automatically added to both the main page under the appropriate "latest" block, and into the downloads section for viewing by members.

3.) I'm soon going to launch the resources section, and we'll be needing people to start submitting resources. This will earn you your ice chips you'll need soon, because I'll be launching a live beta version of the free Project Hoster soon! You can use your site currency to "purchase" hosting space, so go earn some.

Also, in closing, we had some severe speed issues with our old server. I tried working with the system admins to fix it, but they refused to, so I found a new web host, and everything is absolutely fine now. You can find more information about this incident here: http://www.rpgfreeze.org/news.php?a=14

- Added this to the main post.