Christophe Capitaine  (Burning)   France for his XOOPS Resource Book

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

Ruoyu SUN (insraq)   China for innovative theme designs Read his Interview

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

Luis Marcelo Zanlucki  (Lmzan)   Brazil for his innovative work on his various Websites

This month the Innovation Award goes to Luis Marcelo Zanlucki (Lmzan)  from Brazil, for his innovative work on his various Websites in Brazil. His designs are always very fresh and innovative, showing that with XOOPS sky is the limit! 

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

I'm from Brazil, I was born in the south of the country, I've lived in São Paulo for some time and now I'm living in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim-ES, a mid-sized city located between the sea and the mountains, a very nice place.

How long have you been designing Websites? 

I started creating XOOPS websites in 2005, but I didn't know how to change the themes back then. I decided to study this area in 2008, when I started to work only with website creation.

What is your expertise? 

Well, in 2008 I started a company to offer a more professional design services to clients but I'm basically working by myself as a freelancer, so I can say that my expertise is to position my client's websites in the internet, using different skills, such as marketing, corporate communication, photography and web design. Right now I have to be all in one!

What motivated you to create new themes for your XOOPS websites?

Web design is very much affected by fashion and although there are hundreds of themes for XOOPS most of them are now outdated. When I decided to create professional websites for clients I thought it was very important to have a unique visual for each work, according to their printed materials, logos and colors. So every new work demanded a specific theme. In the beginning I tried to work with branding/advertising agencies to help me create the themes, but it didn't work so I decided to do it myself.

What got you to XOOPS? 

My first work in this area was not planned, I must admit. In 2005 I was working in a software company as an UML designer for Java applications and a friend of mine asked me if I could create a website, so I heard about XOOPS and gave it a try. After a period of changes, here am I working full time with XOOPS and web design. Eventually I develop in other platforms too, but my favorite environment is XOOPS, by far. It´s my home!

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

I'm very comfortable with XOOPS after working with it for 5 years. I like its flexibility to create websites with very different purposes. The possibility to see people from all over the world using the same tool is also an important point and lately I'm very excited with the major improvements delivered by such an amazing group of talented people working in the community. It's really good to be part of it.

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

Lately my needs are being fulfilled by new modules and improvements added to the new XOOPS versions. But the same way as many themes get outdated, I think some modules are also getting behind as well. Web development is always on the move and I think it would be important to improve some of the old modules with features that allow XOOPS websites to connect with social networks, for example, or to communicate with public API's in order to bring XOOPS closer to the main web applications, such as Facebook, Flickr, Digg, Twitter and many others. I see other CMS doing it so maybe it's something to be thought over.

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

Maybe it's yet to come, I'm quite aware that I have lots of things to learn but I feel that in every website I finish I'm going a little further ahead in my skills, so that's something that I'm proud of, personally speaking. It's good when our effort is recognized but it's even better when we can deliver something exactly the way we planned it to be, and I'm not there yet!

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

I like cooking and I like photography. I also like to read but I'm not having time for it lately. I'm a National Geographic magazine collector too.

You favorite dish and drink? 

I like Chinese and Japanese food, specially the ones I prepare and I like a good light beer in the summer and red wine in winter.

What about movies and music? 

I'm a fan of Radiohead, U2, Beck, Cake, but I listen to a lot of different bands and styles. My favorite movies are Sci-Fi and alternative movies, try to avoid blockbusters. I'm also fan of Japanese movies, specially from Kurosawa; animations like Ghost in the Shell and movies that take me to real life situations in different cultures.

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

We need to slow down, the planet is not big enough for everyone to do whatever they think they need. Let's try to live within our real needs and not those that our society make us believe it's so important. Let's be more aware.

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

I personally believe this is not our first time here and this is not our only life in this planet. We've been here before and we'll return here again and again. So I think the most important place for me to be is here and now, to do and to be the best I can.

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

I would like to meet my father again, that is not here anymore, just to make sure he knows I love him.

Alexander Galochkin  (algalochkin)  Russia for his continuous innovations around his themes

The second Innovation Award goes to Alexander Galochkin (algalochkin) from Russia

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

I am from Russia, and live in Ekaterinburg. It's the third most important city in Russia (after Moscow and St.-Petersburg), and is is located near to border of Europe and Asia.

How long have you been programming? 

If I consider coding in general, then for a long time, as I started programming in C in 1985. But if we are talking about Web-programming, then more recently - approximately in 1996. Although now I am involved more in the design of sites. 

What is your expertise? 

Mainly HTML, CSS, a little PHP and Javascript

What got you to XOOPS? 

When I worked once on a site for one of my clients, it was required to provide high degree of dynamic interaction, thus the big capacity of a site, support of various languages and still possibility of connection of the modules. In the end, only XOOPS was able to fulfill these requirements! 

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

I love in XOOPS its amazing flexibility when I develop sites of various complexity and direction. And, of course, its modular structure.

What made you to decide to work on XOOPS Themes? 

I wanted to help XOOPS community to have in addition to program flexibility (i.e. modular structure),  to have also visual flexibility (i.e. design and templates)

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

I think, the main achievements still ahead and, probably, not in the field of programming.

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

My hobbies are quite usual, I take a great interest in sports. In the winter - mountain skiing. And in the summer, in the spring and in the autumn - the rollerskating.

You favorite dish and drink? 

I am indifferent to alcohol. But if it is necessary to name, I will name good cognac

What about movies and music? 

Music-wise I like to listen to old Rock: Freddi Mercury, Pink Floyd. Movies: I love watching French comedies and films with Al Pacino, or Robert DeNiro.

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

Stop wars and stop disagreements. Let's think together of how to save OUR PLANET.

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

We live during interesting time, therefore - here and now.

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

There is a good statement for such occasion: "do not create to itself an idol"

Michael Albertsen (Culex)   Denmark for his Comments System and his Radio Commercial

This month the first Innovation Award goes to Michael Albertsen (Culex)  from Denmark, for his innovative work on the Comments System and his Radio Commercial  This is the first Innovation Award for Michael, but he already received "XOOPSer of the Month Award" in July 2009! Congratulations!!!!!

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

Living in Denmark, city of Skagen

How long have you been programming? 

Hmm good question. I started making small programs on my commodore 64 back in the good old 80's, this lead to amiga in the 90s and then came a long break from learning. Late in the 90's I began learning html and last 4 years I have been looking at php (a little on/of) until now that is.

What is your expertise? 

Actually my main computer skills are placed along the sound editing area, which is pretty far from php, but still getting better (I hope) at programming.

What got you to XOOPS? 

I was updating the website of "Tiger FM", a local radio station, but people still needed me to post news, pictures, edit streams and post them. From Google I stumbled upon www.xoops.org and realized that if I tried this, they could do most of it themselves from the radio.

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

The potential. Dusins of people working together to improve every aspect of the project. There's basically nothing you cannot do with xoops.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why? 

Still working on my first module (100% xoops coded) and I feel every time I write 1-2 lines I learn something new. Hopefully with this new knowledge I can help someone having the same obsticals I have/had. I am pretty curious from nature so these problems I havent encountered yet I am sure I will plow into at some time.

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

This award obviously. And of course the feeling you get when making onair and you see it working.

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

Music. Used to work as a DJ but had to give it up. The weekend is short enough as it is. I still have a few shows at the local radio station and still do some odd jobs mixing music, making ids etc.

You favorite dish and drink? 

Food in general is my favourite. Havent tryed anything I didn't like yet. Coffey is a must have! But I would never turn down a cold beer. (I recommend Zagorka or Red Carlsberg)

What about movies and music? 

Definitely horror / mystery movies. As for music basically anything goes.

As for music I like almost anything. From Händel - Lascia ch'io pianga to Illdisposed - Dark.

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

Don't be afraid to take chances or to make changes but take your time to use logic in the time between (30 seconds is a lot of speaking for a commercial  )

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

"Right now" and "right here" feel pretty good for now, but ask me again Monday and I'll give another answer probably.

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

Hmm don't know, there are so many but there is no one I would just die to meet. Plato maybe ..but I don't speak Greek.

Aitor Uskola  (Aitor)   Spain

This month, we would like to recognize Aitor Uskola (Aitor) from Spain for his continues support on XOOPS Spain and his series of XOOPS Videos  in Spanish.

Eduardo Cortés (BitC3R0)   Mexico for  RMCommon Utilities 2 and MyWords 2

This month the first Innovation Award goes to Eduardo Cortés  (BitC3R0),  from Mexico, for his innovative work on the RMCommon Utilities 2 and MyWords 2  This is a second "XOOPS Innovation Award " for Eduardo!! Congratulations!!!!

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

I'm from Veracruz, México. Currently I'm living in Mérida City, at the Yucatan State.

How long have you been programming? 

Maybe 10 or 11 years

What is your expertise? 

I think that web design and creation is the best that I can do... 

What got you to XOOPS? 

Well,  ideas and improvements in modules and themes...

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

Simplicity and modules, I think that XOOPS is a platform very easy to use for beginners as well as for advanced users. XOOPS has a lot of potential!

Why did you decide to work on RMCommons? 

Because I was feeling that XOOPS needs something more in graphical aspect and in the functionality. So I decided continue with my old Common Utilities project but with a lot of new features and functionality. I'm working on RMCommon improvements and a better integration with XOOPS in all aspects.

You just released the Alpha version. What are the future plans for RMCommons? How do you envision the Final version? 

Well, thins are going very fast, In next days I will release a new version of Common Utilities and, maybe, in this month final version will be available.

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

Maybe (this is a quick idea), an integrated module search engine and module installer. I think that, by doing it, users can find new modules quickly and the XOOPS users base will increase exponentially.

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

I'm working on that... 

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

Well, compose new songs, play guitar, photography...

You favorite dish and drink? 

I'm a simple man... beer and pizza, or a good fillet and wine.

What about movies and music? 

I prefer action and comedy in movies, in music I like almost all good music.

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

It's time to make changes in all.

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

A place far away from city and stress to be with my family.

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

XOOPS people, because new ideas can be born when people talk face to face.

Davide N. P. Rossi (dnprossi)   Italy for his xNews module

This month the first Innovation Award goes to Davide N. P. Rossi  (dnprossi),  from Italy, for his innovative work on the xNews 

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

Born in Milan but always lived in Rome, Italy

How long have you been programming? 

Since 1981 

What is your expertise? 

Database systems, Pascal programming and since I started with XOOPS - PHP, HTMS, CSS

What got you to XOOPS? 

I needed a CMS for a friend and bumped into XOOPS finding it the most promising in features and easy to use for non experts.

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

Many sites I have installed are maintained by non experts in computing and they all use it without extreme trouble compared to others. XOOPS' ease of use and its modularity are excellent.

Why did you decide to work on xNews? 

Same as above. In my point of view modules must be easy to use and the news module is an example. It needed some new features to keep up with other article management modules so I decided to work on it.

You just released the version 1.68. What are the future plans for xNews? 

I am working on improving SEO functionality and have had success with both .htaccess and path-info in an x-language environment soon in 1.69. I am also working on tcpdf configurator so users do not need to modify code (hated makepdf.php). On request I will add topic weight ordering. I will have to do some cleanup work with old unused code. And anything that will come to my mind because I use xNews for practically everything news, blog, links, info and what ever.

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

I would like to see more multi-language functionality. (x-language included???)

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

Between 1992 and 1997 the creation of a series of software products called Pc-Photo. This was for photographers who wanted to get their negatives and slides scanned, delivered on floppies, archived and viewed in albums.

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

Coding...

You favorite dish and drink? 

I live in Italy, hard to say. Everything!

What about movies and music? 

Rock, Blues and any movie that does not go beyond idiocy.

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

Hello World!

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

Turkey. Spent a long joyful time there and miss it.

Mohd Hilmi bin Ngah (NovaSmart)   Malaysia for his AMS Module

This month the first Innovation Award goes to Mohd Hilmi bin Ngah  (NovaSmart),  from Malaysia, for his innovative work on the AMS (Article Management System) 

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

I'm from beautiful and peaceful country, Malaysia. If you not familiar, Malaysia is sandwiched between Thailand (North) and Singapore (South). My hometown is Terengganu, place of natural beauty and famous with its Batik & Silk and Keropok Lekor (looks like fish hotdog). However, currently I leave in Pulau Pinang, center of heavy industrial, technology and R&D in Malaysia.

How long have you been programming? 

Even our family didn't own computer till my age 14 years old, my exposure to computer start from 6-7 years old (Apple II) but limited to playing games on my uncle computer. My first programming "Selamat Sejahtera Dunia" ("Hello World" in Malay Language) is on IBM 286 PC, using GWBasic when I was 12 years old on my cousin (11 years old) computer based on example that we read in BASIC programming book (Malay Language). I still remember how I feel that day.. and that is my turning point to involve in programming world. I involve in server side programming when I accepted to the university, started with WinCGI, PERL and then PHP. I really serious in PERL and PHP programming in 2002, when me and another 3 of my friends work together to develop MMO games called WarOnNet.

What is your expertise? 

I'm degree holder in Computer Engineering and x-member of special research group at my university (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia) and my expertise cover almost all electronic and programming discipline. To stated a few, PCB design, microcontroller/processor firmware, robotic, wireless, reverse engineer, security, industrial automation, compiler design, artificial intelligent, and almost all popular programming language (eg: C, C++, JAVA, PERL, PHP, .NET). 

What got you to XOOPS? 

Its about object oriented. I used to hate OOP  during my study since I'm too familiar with structured programming, and I think OOP just adding complexity while the same task could be done faster and easier in structured programming. Everything changed when I was assigned to develop 2 real time simulation that really complicated, Missile Guidance System and Car Auto Cruise, since multiple parameter like aerodynamic, tyre size, road condition,  wind speed + direction will affect the parameter, its too complicated to implement in structured programming. That's the starting point I'm fall in love with OOP. When my friend ask me to create CMS for his organization, I try to look which CMS that use OO since we need to change or develop our own module, and thats where I found XOOPS and fall in love with XOOPS.

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

When I start with XOOPS, I like it because it is OO, so it is easier to maintain and I trust it will evolve faster than other CMS. However, after years using and develop modules on XOOPS, I have another strong reason to stick with XOOPS... because it is secure. In order to better protect and give the good security consultation, I also partially involve underground in hacking website and cracking software (white hat). In Malaysia, security awareness still infancy but they like to create their own solution without much focus on security. For example, just recently, I exposed serious security flaw in government website where I could take over as admin and have full access to the system and I give the feedback to them. That's not the first and will not be the last. In my opinion, XOOPS with Protector is the best security I ever seen in open source CMS, and all of this flaw could be easily solved if they develop their solution based on XOOPS.

Why did you decide to work on AMS? 

I have multiple website that using AMS, that by the time maintained by Dominic from it-hq. I choose AMS due the the fact the are full with features and fast enough for heavy loading web site. When it was abandoned, I have no choice except to maintained it myself. It also the same case for other module like XM-Memberstats, XPRESS. However, for AMS I choose to officially maintain and support under my consultation company (NovaSmart Technology) and also become based for new comers in my company to learn and develop module for XOOPS.

You just released the version 3.0. What are the future plans for AMS? 

There is tons of features that I want to incorporate in AMS to make complete solution for article, news and blog publishing and still maintaining the compatibility, speed and ease to use. In my hand now, there is more than 50 todo list that waiting to be implemented in future AMS, but I can only share what I plan to do until AMS 4.0. AMS 3.10 - AMS 3.40 will focus on important News features that missing in AMS. The intention is to give easy migration for News user to migrate to AMS without losing important features. AMS 3.50 is another major release, where we will focus on cloneability. Same as most of XOOPS module, currently AMS still require the module to be installed in fix location (/modules/AMS). That's will restrict only one AMS installation in one XOOPS. While SEF that implemented in AMS 3.00 could virtually relocate AMS to any URL, it's not enough for some user. Thats what AMS 3.50 will solve. AMS 3.60- AMS 3.90 will focus on putting additional features that not available in both News and AMS such as Collaborative article (multi writer), implementation of AJAX, better Newsletter and RSS import. AMS 4.00 will focus on performance enhancement and SQL query reduction and we will do profiling on AMS  and solve any bottleneck. With other word, AMS 3.xx will fully pack with new features and AMS 4.xx will trim back the weight so AMS will maintained fast and agile like what it supposed to.

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

It is full site built-in search engine friendly (SEF). All major CMS already have it and XOOPS still lagging behind on this.

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

The one that I proud most is our solution on Virtual Messaging Board ( some people call it highway electronic messaging) for Perbadanan PutraJaya, Malaysia administrative capital. This is RM8,000,000 project (~USD2,500,000) that suffered due to excessive lighting strikes that are very common at PutraJaya area. This problem cause VMS board unreliable and need to repair or replaced almost every month. The solution originally provided by overseas company and that company stop giving support due to excessive warranty claim. Without any documentation, I need to make use all my knowledge to reverse engineer, electronic forensic, develop new hardware, firmware, software to solve the root problem and we succeed to deliver the solution and it stand reliable until now. PHP, Mysql and AJAX also part of the solution, where they can program VMS (message, picture) through web based.

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

Playing chess, and play with my family

You favorite dish and drink? 

I like fried mee and nasi lemak (traditional rice. Translated as fatty rice). For drink I like ice lemon tea

What about movies and music? 

I like science fiction & fantasy movie like Harry Potter and Back To The Future. For music, I like instrumental especially piano and flute.

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

Stop discriminating against Islam... Islam is not terrorist religion. Terrorists happen to be in all religions and among all free thinking people because it depends on that person to choose what they want to be.

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

Melaka (Malacca) at 1500AD. That's the our last empire and I want to be there to write a true and precise history how it administrated and how it fell down for next generation. The only Malacca history book written by Malay is written by Tun Sri Lanang (my ancestor) but its full of legend and fantasy.

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

Tun Sri Lanang. I want him to discard all legends and fantasy from his book and focus on facts. Too many thing that he missed to write about

Christophe Boceno  (Kris_fr)  France for his Morphogenesis and  ZetaDigme themes

The second XOOPS Innovation Award goes to Christophe Boceno  (kris_fr),  from France, for his work on various themes: Morphogenesis, ZetaDigme, CSS100 MorPho, and  Xdt Standard. Kris already received "XOOPSer of the Month Award" in April 2009

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

I'm from France, I live in Saint-Nazaire in Breizh/Brittany but my work (safety manager for major engineering company) requires me to travel.

How long have you been programming? 

I started (HTML and CSS) back to 1996 ... and my first computer and website 

What is your expertise? 

Mainly web design (HTML and CSS), a little PHP and JavaScript 

What got you to XOOPS? 

A community of friends and another way to see the Web 

What do you like the most about XOOPS? 

Its simplicity, modularity and the community

Why did you decide to work on the Morphogenesis theme Framework, and your other themes? 

- To allow anyone, without specific knowledge of HTML, CSS or PHP, to make quality themes  
- He is now with the design team, development of cheat sheets, and documentation of different templates themes

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

A module to customize themes and templates

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

Those that are yet to come 

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

My son, mathematics, sailing and windsurf, aikido, Polynesian tattoos and photography

You favorite dish and drink? 

Grilled prime rib and french wine "Côtes Roties" and whisky "Islay Single Malts"

What about movies and music? 

No specific style or music (except jazz), I just let the feeling go and enjoy it

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

Think about what you've learned with success in your life since your birth. It reinforces self-confidence. And always believe in human nature.

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

here  - Wouldn't you too? 

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

Sun Tzu. If our leaders would apply his teaching, the world would be more peaceful