WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter # 35 (August 2010)

Please help us spread the word about XOOPS!! .

If you are a happy XOOPS user, let the world know - please blog about XOOPS, share your experiences with others, rate and review us on SourceForge and other Websites. We need to let the world know about XOOPS!!!

And if you're not happy with something in XOOPS, please let us know so we can fix it and improve! Better yet - help us fix it and improve it!

Remember - XOOPS is powered by YOU!!!!

01. Donations

If you like the XOOPS system, and would like to give something in return, you can make a donation to the XOOPS Foundation! Simply use the XOOPS Donation System and use your PayPal account or your Credit Card to donate .

Your donation will be used to promote and advance the use and development of the XOOPS system. The XOOPS Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization in the USA, dedicated to promote XOOPS! All donators will get the Friend of XOOPS rank here on this website. Thanks to all the Friends of XOOPS for their donations and continued support!

If you wonder what is happening with XOOPS money, please read the 2009 XOOPS Financial Report

This month we would like to acknowledge following donors:

Ian A. Underwood: $25
Kevin Petit: $1.5
Ivan Kosak: $20
Ram Software: $10
Rizalde Escalona: $10
Michael Lohfink: $10
Cai Yigong: $25
Anonymous from France: $15
Anonymous: $15
Anonymous: $10

Thank you so much for supporting XOOPS!!!!

02. New XOOPS developments

Current Releases

XOOPS 2.4.5 Final Is Released
XOOPS 2.5.0 Alpha 2
XOOPS 2.4.4 Final
Documentation on the API
Modules working with XOOPS 2.4.x (Babylon by Xoops)
Language Translations of 2.4.x

03. Team Reports

In 2010 we are re-introducing monthly Team Reports from our XOOPS Teams.

Core Development Team

XOOPS 2.4.5 Final Is Released

Please help with testing of the XOOPS 2.5.0 Alpha 2

Documentation Team

Kaotik is working on an update of his Module Tutorial (Please join the team.)

Modules Development Team

Blue Move is on the rise

Theme Design Team

Great new themes from Insraq, Bleekk!

Community Coordination/Support Team

Standard maintenance of the Website, and keeping it current.

International Support Team

No new additions to XOOPS support site group.

See Support Site Guidelines. Unfortunately some support sites do not anymore offer the quality of support we are looking for so these sites will have to be removed as official support sites and no longer linked to from the International Support page. This will however, open the opportunity for other webmasters in these regions to start and maintain a local XOOPS Support site, which is a lot of fun and you'll help a lot by spreading our great CMS to your area and language. To apply for official status, use this form (login required).

XOOPS on Facebook: join the main XOOPS group on Facebook

Communication/Marketing Team

Several news about XOOPS 2.4.5 release have been published

04. XOOPSers of the Month

Our "XOOPSer of the Month" Award is given to XOOPS members who show extraordinary dedication to XOOPS, and go the extra mile for XOOPS. Sometimes they do something spectacular, but most of the time they just do something everyday, but by doing it day-in and day-out, they make a BIG DIFFERENCE in life of XOOPS community. And we thank them for that!!!

This month, we would like to recognize Jamal Benaissa (Corbatis) from France for the creation of XOOPS Video Commercial

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I live in South Lyon Rhône-Alpes Isère France. Small quiet town of 6,000 inhabitants. I work as administrator of Systems and Networks

How long have you been programming?

In 1995 after a visit to a computer fair with a colleague, I discovered one of the first ISPs in France: "imaginet". After that, in order to enhance my knowledge and networks system, I began to develop in HTML. Unfortunately I am still not in that good in HTML and in PHP.

What got you to XOOPS?

I've been asked to develop a site for the family and after that "Electronic Document Management" for my computer service business.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

Tough to answer in a nutshell ... I love everything ... is the simplicity, speed, French XOOPS Support site, because I'm terrible in English language, but also the teams, and spirit, which are behind! It is fully opened, combined with a very active community and dynamic users.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

Mainly graphics, as this is where I am good at. With the help of Tatane, who I am very thankful for his patience, I learn now to master CSS and PHP to be able to offer more themes

If you could add one feature to XOOPS, what would it be?

- Integration of company-oriented modules
- An instant messaging between members of MSN, GoogleTalk, etc. Just by clicking on a connecting member, I can chat with him privately.

What is your major achievement in programming that you're most proud of?

Header for http://www.frXoops.org, video promo, and banners. I hope to develop more...

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

A lot of time with my children and the Shooting sports

You favorite dish and drink?

The seafood, a good sausage Ardeche, and because of my origin good Couscous,
Drink: a good wine, a Cote-Rotie, which is pretty normal as I live 5 km from there.

What about movies and music?

Film: The science-fiction, History and documentaries. Music: any kind, "The most needed and most difficult in the music is the beat" [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart].

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?

Living the difference is above all to know that life on the other side, it then becomes possible to learn from the differences between each of us and live in peace.

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?

Now and in the world where you can feel at home.

Who is the person that you would like to meet and why?

1 - the whole FrXoops team because by working virtually we don't know each other
2 - Dalai Lama, for the message of Peace
3 - Barack Obama for being the Symbol.

05. XOOPS Innovation Award

Our XOOPS Innovation Award is given to people who create something very unique and very innovative for XOOPS! We are clear that XOOPS can only succeed, when we push the limits of our creativity, imagination, and innovation to "infinity and beyond" . And therefore we would like to recognize people who create this "WOW!" effect, when we see what they've done. The XOOPS Innovation Award is not a monthly award, i.e. theoretically, there might be a month where we won't give one, but we certainly hope that this will never happen

This month the Innovation Award goes to Ruoyu SUN (insraq) from China, for his innovative theme designs that are pushing the envelope for XOOPS themes! This is his 2nd Innovation Award!

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I was born in Qingdao and now I live in Hong Kong.

How long have you been programming?

I started learning design in 2002 and joined XOOPS China in 2004 as a designer.

What is your expertise?

I'm good at UE/UI, Web Design(XHTML+CSS).

What got you to XOOPS?

I learnt about XOOPS through Google. And phppp(aka. D.J.) invited me to join XOOPS China. Since then I've been working with XOOPS.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

I like the theme engine(Smarty) a lot. It makes designing much easier.

Why did you decide to work on the XOOPS China new look?

The old theme of XOOPS China was a little bit out of fashion. I think, as the official Chinese support site, XOOPS China should have a stylish look to attract new users.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I studied some successful cases of CMS official sites and got an idea of page layout from them. I referred to many great Web 2.0 designs and learnt a lot from them, too.

I understand, you're still studying at a University. Are you going to be a professional designer?

Maybe not. I’m a PAC (professional accountancy) major and as I live in Hong Kong, studying business might be a reasonable choice. But I’ll treat designing as part of my career because I simply like it.

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

Movies, music and reading.

You favorite dish and drink?

Well, I’m not particular about it. I like Chinese food but I’d like to try exotic dishes.

What about movies and music?

I like movies and music but I don’t have a specified favorite.

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?

Please upgrade IE 6 to some standards-compatible browsers.

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?

Probably I would chose living in the Ottoman Empire time, especially in 1453 when taking Istanbul. Being a soldier in this time must be a privilege.

Who is the person that you would like to meet and why?

I would like to go to the US after graduating from my university because there are many great universities in the States.

Also read his recent interview on ArabXOOPS

05. XOOPS Innovation Award 2

The second Innovation Award goes to Christophe Capitaine (Burning) from France for his wonderful work on "XOOPS Resource Book"

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I'm from Brittany, the most beautiful region of France. But now I live near Versailles, a place where there is nothing interesting to see.

How long have you been programming?

Well, I do not know any programming language, I have learn History and Political science at school.

What is your expertise?

Desktop publishing, that I discovered in 2001, before web. I'm learning HTML and CSS, thanks to XOOPS and theme templates created by Kris. And after one year updating Xoops repositories, I can say : Open Office spreadsheet :)))

What got you into XOOPS?

I was learning Dreamweaver when I discovered CMS technology in a magazine called PHPSolutions. Perfect tool for noob like me ! I chose "XOOPS" because its name was very funny. I never really try other CMS, except to copy some templates.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

Easy to use, easy to custom, and the patience of Mamba

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

I have made themes (long time ago) but last year I have spend my time to look for modules and themes and to try to maintain repositories up to date. I have updated some old modules and - with the help of Kris - created a module to test themes (xoops-styles).

If you could add one feature to XOOPS, what would it be?

Coffee, with sugar. And maybe a stronger captcha system.

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

I try to draw, comic book style (I love Uderzo and Crisse styles...).

You favorite dish and drink?

Pancakes (you should try this recipe) and rum.

What about movies and music?

I have just seen Oceans. Fantastic