Squishdot is a Zope Product, i.e. it works as a plug-in module for the Zope Application Server. It provides you with a news publishing and discussion site with a minimal amount of configuration and day-to-day administration. It is also easy to customize and can satisfy a wide range of news publishing needs.
Like Zope, it is being released under an OpenSource license. You can use, modify, and redistribute the source code for both commercial and non-commercial purposes following the terms imposed by the license.
Squishdot was inspired by Slashdot, a news publishing and discussion website (i.e. a weblog website) focusing on technology and the open source movement. While I credit Slashdot with many of the ideas I have used (e.g. navigational structure, mode of interaction, look-and-feel), I must make it clear that Slashdot is NOT in any way affiliated with, nor does it endorse or support Squishdot. DO NOT request any support or submit bugs, enhancement requests, questions etc. to Slashdot regarding Squishdot. Instead, send all email regarding Squishdot to squishdot@squishdot.org.
I have used the look and feel of Slashdot to serve as a starting point, a showcase, of what can be done with Squishdot. As I get more suggestions and ideas for improving the application, I hope to develop its own look and feel and make it more effective in its goal of disseminating information and fostering discussion.
In terms of the actual source code, Squishdot has been derived from Confera, a threaded discussion Zope Product and it retains or extends many of the features included in Confera. These include :
* New for version 0.3.0
Squishdot version numbers have a three part numeric format separated by a dot (x.y.z) where x is the major release number, y is the minor release number and z is a maintenance release number. This current release is currently 0.3.0. As bugs are found and fixed we will be releasing versions 0.3.1, 0.3.2 and so forth. The second number is reserved for minor additional features or architectural revisions.
On the other hand, if you really do like Squishdot and would like to have the quick response to enhancement suggestions, customizations and technical support that one would expect from a professional consultant, and would be willing to pay for that level of service, I am available for that, too.(in fact, I would love it!!). Email me at butchland@yahoo.com
While not a requirement, if you are installing Squishdot (especially on a publicly accessible Internet website), I am requesting that some attribution be given to Squishdot in any manner possible, in the same way that Zope requests it in its license; for the same reason that Zope also requests attribution -- as one way to promote its growth.
I've created a Squishdot logo and modified the DTML code so that both the Zope and Squishdot logos are displayed at the bottom of the page by default. The squishdot logo also includes a url to Squishdot (http://squishdot.org).
If for some reason you would rather not use a logo (e.g. it clashes with your website's theme), then just some text mentioning (on the main Squishdot page) that you are using Squishdot along with a url pointing to the Squishdot site (squishdot.org) would also satisfy my request.
I welcome product improvement suggestions, code, questions, praise, money, beer, beer money :^), bug reports as well as criticism. You can send all of them to the trash, er, my secret bank account, er, squishdot@yahoo.com. Please prefix the subject line with a bracketed category name, for example [BUG REPORT] so that I can easily classify the messages. You can also sign up for a couple of mailing lists that have been setup if you want to get the latest news on Squishdot.
If you wish to find out more, the other articles provide information on the configuration, future direction and other stuff regarding Squishdot and Zope.
Also a comment about the default topics and images I used: I hope Digital Creations and Zope.org can pardon the liberties I have taken with their logos. Feel free to throw them out the moment you see them (except that one image used for Zope Dopes).
I wish to thank the guinea pigs who tried using, as well as debugging and patching the earliest versions of the application -- they know who they are -- thanks for your patience. I also wish to thank Jeremy and John for helping me out with the 0.1.0 version of Squishdot with some of the graphics as well as the debugging.
Lastly, I'd like to make special mention of Bruce Perens, whose generosity has given Squishdot the resources to have a nicer home on the web, but also contributed to making the product better. Maraming Salamat.
-- Butch Landingin (Squishdot maintainer)
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