Contributors: A-Z Index
A
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Allen Ellis | Founder |
Original designer for ocPortal Also conceived and coded the Theme Wizard and Point Store Son of one of the early inventors of Internet protocols (Usenet, aka Internet newsgroups) Token non-brit |
View |
C
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Graham | Founder |
Original developer of ocPortal, former lead developer of Composr CMS Masters degree in Computer Science from The University Of Sheffield Undertaken work for over 15 FTSE-100 companies, as well as many small and mid-sized organisations. Includes a number of banks and major brands. |
View | |
Chris Warburton | developer for ocProducts |
Made some key contributions to ocPortal |
View |
H
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Haydn Maidment | project manager for ocProducts |
None available |
View |
J
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jim Davidson | contributor |
written many tutorials via Arvixe |
View |
P
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Patrick Schmalstig | Lead Developer |
Joined Chris Graham behind the scenes in the development of Composr CMS in 2016. Took on the lead developer role in 2023 when Chris Graham stepped back to attend to his new lifestyle changes. Spearheaded the development of Composr CMS v11 and the new website, Composr.app. Formed the company PDStig, LLC to take on professional support and development for Composr CMS users especially after the discontinuation of ocProducts, Ltd. |
View | |
Philip Withnall | Early Developer |
Coded the chatroom, blogging support, the analytics system, and OcCLE (now Commandr) Masters Degree in Computer Science degree from The University Of Cambridge Other work has included helping out with Firefox, and ongoing work on GNOME |
View |
R
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Robert Goacher | Founder |
Ran some of the early websites where ocPortal came from Technically the original developer of ocPortal, in that he wrote the first few lines of code Heavily involved in the feature design process Hosted some of our early meet-ups |
View |
S
Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Jarvis | project manager for ocProducts |
Wrote many tutorials via Arvixe |
View |
Newest 10 Entries
Question | Should I update my non-bundled addons after updating to a newer release of version 11? |
---|---|
Answer | Absolutely! Frequent changes may be made to both bundled and non-bundled addons. Bundled addons will be updated via the upgrader. For non-bundled addons, you will have to update them through the addons management screen (Admin Zone > Structure > Addons). You will be informed which ones need updated. Once version 11 reaches release candidate, we do not expect frequent updates to non-bundled addons anymore. But it is still good practice to check after every update. |
Question | Can I upgrade a version 10 site to version 11? |
---|---|
Answer | Yes, for basic non-custom v10 sites. However, expect some issues to arise in the process. And please report those issues to the tracker. For v10 sites with non-bundled addons or customisations, upgrading to v11 will likely break the site until you update the non-bundled addons or temporarily remove the customisations. We aim to have the upgrader fully functional for a large majority of types of sites and for sites using non-bundled addons by the time version 11 reaches release candidate stage. We do not recommend upgrading production v10 sites at this time until v11 reaches stable. |
Question | Can I upgrade a previous version 11 release to a newer one using the upgrader? |
---|---|
Answer | Yes (probably). Always remember especially during alpha and beta phases that things can break. Please make backups first. And let us know on the issue tracker if an issue occurs. Note: You cannot upgrade from 11 alpha to 11 beta without first upgrading to 11.alpha4 (if you are not already on 11.alpha4). |
Question | What are the current release plans for version 11? |
---|---|
Answer | As of July 22, 2024, we entered beta status where our focus is now smashing bugs and stabilising the software. All planned features have been implemented for 11.0 (and most others deferred to 11.1 or later), though we may still merge in a few minor features or tweaks. The upgrader has been tested on a typical non-custom v10 site. We will be releasing several beta versions in the beta phase. We do not know when we will be able to release the first Release Candidate or stable versions at this time. These plans are all subject to change without notice. |
Question | Why is there a separate website for version 11? |
---|---|
Answer | That is explained in detail in this news article on compo.sr including the migration plans and implications. |
Top 10 Entries
Question | What are URL Monikers and how do they benefit SEO? |
---|---|
Answer | URL Monikers replace generic numerical IDs in your URLs with descriptive keywords derived from your content titles. For example, instead of yoursite.com/page.php?id=123, you can have yoursite.com/about-us. This makes your URLs more user-friendly and helps search engines understand the topic of each page, improving your search ranking. You can set monikers in the "Metadata" section when adding / editing content. |
Question | What is an XML Sitemap and why is it important? |
---|---|
Answer | An XML Sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website, helping search engines understand your site's structure and content. Composr automatically generates a comprehensive sitemap, including forum topics if you are using Conversr. Ensure your system scheduler is enabled for automatic sitemap submission to search engines. You can also manually generate and submit the sitemap if necessary. |
Question | How can I improve my website's ranking in search engines? |
---|---|
Answer | Composr offers various features and best practices to enhance your SEO:
|
Question | What are the primary metadata elements I should focus on? |
---|---|
Answer | While Composr provides extensive metadata options, the key elements to prioritize are:
|
Question | What is metadata and why is it important for my website? |
---|---|
Answer | Metadata is information about your web pages that isn't directly visible to visitors, but is used by search engines and social media platforms to understand and categorize your content. Well-crafted metadata helps search engines properly index your site, making it more likely to appear in relevant search results. It also improves how your website appears when shared on social media, encouraging clicks and engagement. |
Question | What should I do about offensive or off-topic discussions? |
---|---|
Answer | Decide on your moderation approach: balancing viewpoints, adhering to community standards, or focusing on topic relevance. Be prepared to face criticism regardless of your decisions. Establish clear rules and policies to guide user behavior. |
Question | What resources are available to help me navigate these legal and social challenges? |
---|---|
Answer | Composr offers various resources, including tutorials on accessibility, staff management, and general website dos and don'ts. You can also consult external resources like the COPPA website and Wikipedia for more in-depth information on specific laws and regulations. Remember that seeking legal counsel may be necessary for complex situations. |
Question | What are some social considerations for running a website with community features? |
---|---|
Answer | Managing a community involves addressing social issues like child protection, free speech, discrimination, and abuse. Establish clear policies on these matters, including content moderation guidelines and procedures for handling feedback. Consider the diverse personalities and potential vulnerabilities of your users. |
Question | What are my legal responsibilities regarding illegal content posted by users? |
---|---|
Answer | While "safe harbor" laws offer some protection, you are still obligated to take down illegal content upon becoming aware of it. Implement measures like content checks, clear rules prohibiting illegal uploads, and liability disclaimers. The level of responsibility varies depending on the severity of the content, from copyright infringement to more serious criminal content. |
Question | What steps should I take to make my website accessible? |
---|---|
Answer | Website accessibility is essential for inclusivity and may be legally required under anti-discrimination laws. Composr is designed to meet high accessibility standards, but you need to maintain this when creating content or modifying templates. Following WCAG guidelines is crucial, and you can find more information in the accessibility tutorial. |