This post is a little different because it is spotlighting a specific open source project: Magento - an open source eCommerce platform.
Why is this Magento important? In the past, there have been few plausible options for PHP/open source developers in regards to eCommerce implementation. You had xCart, a decent, but closed commercial product. OsCommerce (and other various spin-offs), an open source product with slow progress and non existent web standards support. The life of an open source developer was frustrating, leaving the client a typically ugly, non standards, unusable eCommerce website. (Disclaimer, I have no affiliation with this project, beyond just being generally excited to see its inception.)
Enter Magento. It features a very functional/flexible design, utilizing CSS standards, and it also happens to be very attractive. Its a quantum leap in open source eCommerce options. This product looks nothing short of amazing- you should check it out.
Has anyone heard of Magento? Anyone familiar with their GPL license?
Comments (3)
Alex added these pithy words on May 24 08 at 10:12 amWhy not also checkout Foxycart.com. Its cart that can be combined with any CMS to make a very flexible solution ! Not open source but only $15/Month. Maybe a good solution until all the bugs in Magento get ironed out.
breece added these pithy words on May 27 08 at 7:37 pmAlex, Thanks for the comment.
Checked out Foxycart- Its a hosted solution. Not open source, it looks great- but its not really a competitor.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Antoine added these pithy words on Sep 17 08 at 3:16 pmHi,
Just finished a site with Magento. One word: amazing. It’s the most complete eCommerce solution I ever used, I’m pretty sure it’s better than most commercial solution.
Although, it’s not an easy to pick system. The templating system can be overwhelming at first but it’s not show stopper.
Magento code is open but not really to anyone. People can contribute patches but their subversion repository is not public.
Email me for any questions!
