Hello Concrete CMS community! We hope you're enjoying the summer. As we head into the tail end of August, here's a recap of the key updates and discussions from our latest Town Hall.
Marketplace Updates and Core Releases
We’ve recently made several cosmetic and functional improvements to the Concrete CMS Marketplace and community site. These include enhancements to search, licensing, and account management areas, making it easier to navigate and use. While these might seem like minor tweaks, they significantly improve user experience.
We've also released new versions of the core—9.3.3 and 8.5.8. The updates bring some security enhancements and bug fixes, with the 9.3.3 version benefiting from notable community-driven improvements. Notably, you should experience faster installation speeds, a significant upgrade for those who've encountered delays in the past.
Version 9 and Beyond
Questions about the future of Version 9 were raised, and we’re excited to share that while minor updates will continue for the 9.3 branch, we’re also thinking about the groundwork for features and future upgrades. This will help bridge the transition as we prepare for Version 10, which is slated to include some big updates—especially around text management with the CK Editor. Version 9 isn’t going anywhere soon, so if you’re building or maintaining a site on this version, you can expect continued support and updates for the foreseeable future.
Community Shoutouts
A huge thank you to everyone contributing to our open-source project. This month, we want to especially recognize Mlocati, Pto, and BikerDave for their code contributions. Your efforts in improving the Concrete CMS ecosystem are invaluable!
- Code: mlocati, pszostok, bikerdave
- Issues: jbender0, mmartinpdx, hissy, yalbarzawi, haeflimi, tacktack, danklassen
- Documentation (discussions): Luane
Marketplace Highlights
In the marketplace, we’ve seen some interesting new add-ons, including:
- Old Windows Notify, Text Attribute with Regex Validation and Lock If Out Of Office by Fumito Mizuno.
- CK Editor Glossary by Xanweb.
- 3D Model Viewer by Alec Beella, which lets you embed 3D models on your site for free.
Check out these and other add-ons to enhance your site’s functionality.
Behind the Blocks: Data-Driven Decisions
In our "Behind the Blocks" segment, we dive into the importance of making data-driven decisions. Tools like Matomo, which offers advanced analytics, heatmaps, and A/B testing, have become integral to how we approach our work. We also highlighted Userback for gathering user feedback directly from the interface, allowing us to refine user experiences based on real-world interactions. This shift towards data-centric strategies is not only improving our product but also helping us better understand how users interact with Concrete CMS.
Website Showcase
Lastly, we showcased the Liechtenstein Olympic Committee website, a stunning example of what Concrete CMS can achieve. This site is a perfect blend of design and functionality, highlighting how Concrete CMS supports dynamic, high-profile projects. With the 2024 Olympics just finishing, it’s the perfect time to appreciate how this site has been instrumental in showcasing Liechtenstein's athletes and their achievements on the world stage.
That’s a wrap for this month’s town hall! We’re excited about the progress we've made and look forward to bringing you more updates in September. Thanks for being part of the Concrete CMS community, and enjoy the rest of your summer!
See you next month!