Mambo Open Source 5.0 Book Series

[mmx]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Gene Rodrigues
EMAIL: mambobook@verizon.net

BOOK TO BE WRITTEN FOR MAMBO COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS

NORFOLK, VA USA (April 6, 2004) – Tony Scida and Gene Rodrigues are writing a series of books about Mambo Open Source 5.0. In the Mambo Open Source community, Tony is better known as tonyskyday and Gene Rodrigues is known as mmx. Dave Daoust of RejuviNET.com serves as the Art Director for the project.

The overall project will cover all aspects of Mambo Open Source 5.0 – from pre-installation planning to component and module development, – including tips and tricks for site development and solutions to frequently asked questions. The books will include a set of CD-ROM titles with packages for installing Mambo Open Source on a variety of operating system platforms. Guidelines and scripts for migrating users to Mambo Open Source are also included on the CD-ROM. Also included are a wide variety of components, modules, templates and other add-on resources will be featured in the book and on the CD-ROM. Many one-of-a-kind templates and add-on solutions will be included on CD-ROM.

“These books are necessary to help propel Mambo Open Source into the limelight,” said Gene Rodrigues. “Not just for use on small to intermediate sized web sites, but for use on large enterprise solutions requiring access to a vast range of modular resources. The XML-RPC engine in version 5.0 is a revolution in itself and the authentication system sets new levels of simplicity and diversification for simple to complex site designs.”

Rodrigues further stated that most content management system (CMS) designs use XML-RPC for news blogging and syndication, but Mambo Open Source 5.0 was built from the ground to fully embrace XML-RPC for sitewide and intersite communications. The concept of using a centralized administrative solution as a hub for a community of sites is appealing for many reasons and only hints at what could be seen in the future.

Tony Scida points out the interesting way topics are presented in the books. “Thanks to members of the Mambo Open Source community, packages are available to install the software on a local computer for testing, site design and content authoring,” he said. “Special emphasis has been placed on giving the Mambo Open Source community the credit it deserves. We feel that, even with the amazing technological advancements in Mambo 5.0, the true strength of the software comes from the active community surrounding it coupled with a core team who listens to their user audience.”

The books include excerpts from tips, tricks and solutions provided by a worldwide network of community members on community sites and forums.

Mambo Open Source is a popular PHP-based Content Management System (CMS) well known for its ease of use and simplicity. The package runs on all operating platforms, and the new 5.0 version embraces ADODB for database abstraction, offering support for a number of DBMS platforms. The Mambo Open Source core development team includes members in locations around the globe. Robert Castley is project manager. The core team members are Nick Annies, Ron Bakker, Tim Broeker, James Cicenia, Andrew Eddie, Peter Lamont, Mitch Pirtle, Emir Sakic, Matt Smith, Phil Taylor, and Brian Teeman. Michelle Bisson manages project documentation and document localization with assistance from members of the Mambo Open Source community.

Enquiries about the project are welcome and can be sent to mambobook@verizon.net.

# # #

[SvenErik]

Sweet!

I think I know what books just went to the top of my x-mas wishlist...

Estimated releasedates?

[mmx]

It's impossible to tell at this point. We are just starting a journey that will take us from pre-alpha development testing through the alpha and beta cycles. If you experienced the last alpha and beta, you know that this core team fine tunes the code and adds features based on feedback from users. As a result, we are going to have to follow along and make changes to text and illustrations as the core team fine tunes version 5.0.

Robert Castley, the project manager, compares this to fine tuning a forumla one race care prior to a race. At the moment, all of the parts are sitting on the shop floor being worked on by various core team members. As with the core team, we know that a lot of rework (rewrites) will be required as we move along on this project because of day-to-day changes.

Originally Posted by SvenErik

Sweet!

I think I know what books just went to the top of my x-mas wishlist...

Estimated releasedates?

[stingrey]

This is great news and sounds like an exciting project

You can definitely put me on the list for a copy hot off the press

And if you guys need assistance in any way, I'm sure others in the community with agree me when I say that I am willing to offer and help where I can

[mmx]

David Daoust will be announcing several competitions soon regarding the book.

Aside from including currently available add-on components, modules, templates and such included on the CD sets, the book will feature tutorials that focus on specific topics. For example, the book will include basic and advanced template design tutorials, module development tutorials, component development tutorials, etc. These will feature modules, components and templates developed by the community, complete with author bylines, as well as contact information. The general idea is to give credit back to the community for the content included in the book. A few other surprises along these lines will be announced when David posts the competion rules.

The book is being written in the spirit of community members helping out other community members. A lot of emphasis is being placed on how we interact together as a community.

Originally Posted by stingrey

This is great news and sounds like an exciting project

You can definitely put me on the list for a copy hot off the press

And if you guys need assistance in any way, I'm sure others in the community with agree me when I say that I am willing to offer and help where I can

[MamboHut]

Sounds great,
I'll be glad to help if needed.

This topic have been made sticky - due to the fact, that this project is important and will benefit the whole community. We want as many as possible to see this.

[ThereseWeel]

Originally Posted by mmx

“These books are necessary to help propel Mambo Open Source into the limelight,” said Gene Rodrigues. “Not just for use on small to intermediate sized web sites, but for use on large enterprise solutions requiring access to a vast range of modular resources. The XML-RPC engine in version 5.0 is a revolution in itself and the authentication system sets new levels of simplicity and diversification for simple to complex site designs.”

Tony Scida points out the interesting way topics are presented in the books. “Thanks to members of the Mambo Open Source community, packages are available to install the software on a local computer for testing, site design and content authoring,” he said. “Special emphasis has been placed on giving the Mambo Open Source community the credit it deserves. We feel that, even with the amazing technological advancements in Mambo 5.0, the true strength of the software comes from the active community surrounding it coupled with a core team who listens to their user audience.”

# # #

Good idea, and a nicely written press release too!

It is important to improve the quality and ease of use of the project.
Sometimes this needs to be done by educating the public. Just as in the commerical software arena. Clients can be too quick to blame the software when the problem really originates with the environment or user error.

Glad I know about your book project. We have to remember that vast majority of people on the planet have no idea that open source portal engines like Mambo exist and more importantly dont understand how their lives can benefit from them. Many people, especially oldies like me, learn better by sitting down with a physical book rather than reading something on-line. I can hardly wait to see your book sitting on the shelf at the local bookstore.

I'll make an effort to contribute to your forum as I learn more about Mambo.

Therese

[mmx]

Originally Posted by ThereseWeel

We have to remember that vast majority of people on the planet have no idea that open source portal engines like Mambo exist and more importantly dont understand how their lives can benefit from them. Many people, especially oldies like me, learn better by sitting down with a physical book rather than reading something on-line. I can hardly wait to see your book sitting on the shelf at the local bookstore.

Therese

The book itself has a primary goal well summarized in the paragraph above, but the content of the book and its CD-ROM use some new learning ideas to teach the user all things Mambo from cover to cover. Before reading the first chapter, the reader will have the opportunity to see Mambo in action and use the tools included on the CD-ROM to meet the Mambo community.

The underlying reason for creating the book is to provide the reader with a means of experiencing a highly active opensource community where users help other users at no cost to each other, help resolve difficult to grasp problems, and have a chance to make their wishes come true in the process. Mambo is the glue holding the community together, but the community itself closely parallels everyday life. As a community, we have our ups and downs, we sometimes disagree about this or that, and we meet new chalenges head on. In this respect, the community itself is a second home for many because we interact well together.

Thanks to a nice mix of rich media content on CD-ROM, the book is highly visual for those with the impatience to read and a good read for those who enjoy reading. It might be best to think of the book as a container for getting a number of messages across. It's also intended to give recognition to those in the community who make it so rewarding.

Originally Posted by mmx

The book itself has a primary goal well summarized in the paragraph above, but the content of the book and its CD-ROM use some new learning ideas to teach the user all things Mambo from cover to cover. Before reading the first chapter, the reader will have the opportunity to see Mambo in action and use the tools included on the CD-ROM to meet the Mambo community.

The underlying reason for creating the book is to provide the reader with a means of experiencing a highly active opensource community where users help other users at no cost to each other, help resolve difficult to grasp problems, and have a chance to make their wishes come true in the process. Mambo is the glue holding the community together, but the community itself closely parallels everyday life. As a community, we have our ups and downs, we sometimes disagree about this or that, and we meet new chalenges head on. In this respect, the community itself is a second home for many because we interact well together.

Thanks to a nice mix of rich media content on CD-ROM, the book is highly visual for those with the impatience to read and a good read for those who enjoy reading. It might be best to think of the book as a container for getting a number of messages across. It's also intended to give recognition to those in the community who make it so rewarding.

Excellent Man,

I only joined the Mambo phenomena last week (because I didn't know it existed) and I am very impressed with my progress up to now...including wrappers, e-shops, etc (considering I'm a rookie at web technologies).

The book project is an excellent idea and will definitely find a space for it on my overcrowded bookshelf.

I'll have to agree to ThereseWeel's message above, if I can contribute anything toward the project, in my own limited way...here I am!