Author: JT Smith
support to “PHP-Nuke”, an Open Source development project resulting in the creation of a new killer Internet application specifically
designed to facilitate the establishment of Web based communities. The “PHP-Nuke” project was initiated by Francisco Burzi in the Summer of 2000, a talented young computer technologist currently living in
Venezuela. The latest version, “PHP-Nuke 4.4”, provides a highly flexible and customizable set of tools to help build on-line communities,
enabling users to share news, submit comments and discuss articles and ideas via a Web based portal-like solution. Some of its main features
include Web based administration and survey building functionality, customizable user boxes, an in-built moderation mechanism etc.
Supporting 23 languages, PHP-Nuke has already been downloaded by more than 140,000 users in 6 months and is used by hundreds of
Web sites worldwide. By joining the MandrakeSoft team, the “PHP-Nuke” project will not only benefit from the financial support needed for
its continuing improvement going forward, but will also receive full technical support including Web hosting and download mirrors, and
benefit from MandrakeSoft’s communications network to further raise its profile with users worldwide.
According to Gael Duval, co-founder of MandrakeSoft: “PHP-Nuke is a Slashdot-like killer application that basically allows anybody to
establish community orientated news services on the Web with ease. It is also one of the fastest growing Open Source projects on the
Internet, and is being adopted massively by Web masters. It is a great pleasure to have Francisco Burzi as part of our team and to give him a
chance of working full-time on his projects.”
“I’m very excited to join the MandrakeSoft team”, said Francisco Burzi. “When I first started developing the software for my own use, I never
dreamed that the project would turn out to be so successful and I always like to hear from people out there who’ve made a success of
launching virtual communities using PHP-Nuke. I am a strong supporter of free software and of the Open-Source movement and hope that
PHP-Nuke will help free software developers around the world with their projects. With MandrakeSoft’s support and commitment to the
Open Source philosophy, I hope that PHP-Nuke will become THE reference of choice for community portals.”
Since it was created, MandrakeSoft has systematically been involved in Open Source community movements and organizations such as the
Free Software Foundation (FSF), Linux Standard Base, KDE League, and the GNOME Foundation. The company also actively supports
independent Open Source project leaders and contributors.
For more information on MandrakeSoft’s involvement in the community:
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/community/actions
For further information on the other projects supported by MandrakeSoft
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/community/projects
For more information on PHP-Nuke:
http://www.phpnuke.org
About MandrakeSoft
Mandrakesoft provides a trusted interface between users of information technology and open technologists. The company offers customers
in the small office, home office (SoHo), small and medium size enterprise, government and educational sectors a set of GNU Linux and Open
Source software and related services, user-friendly and highly competitiveinformation technologies at a very attractive total cost of
ownership. In addition, Mandrakesoft offers technologists committed to open software and courseware a trusted channel to offer their
services.
The company has technologists in over 20 countries, and has received funding from major banks and venture capital institutions, including
Azeo Ventures (Lazard Group), ABN AMRO, Viventures, AXA Placement Innovation and OFIVM. The Linux-Mandrake distribution, which
became the leader in US retail sales last year (PC Data), received the awards for “Best Product of the Year ” and ” Best
Linux-Distribution/Server ” at LinuxWorld Expo 99, as well as the PC Answers Platinum Award in April 2000, the Linux Magazine Editor’s
Choice Award in September 2000 and the Chip Magazine ” Best Technique and Winner of the Test ” in December 2000.
“Born on the Internet” in late 1998, MandrakeSoft established headquarters in Pasadena, Berkeley (U.S.), Montreal (Quebec), England,
Germany and Paris (Europe). Please visit the Web site, http://www.mandrakesoft.com for more information.
