e107

e107 is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) written in PHP and backed by a MySQL database. It first appeared in 2002 as a tool for quickly launching portals and websites with a news system, user accounts and forums. At the height of its popularity it was one of the alternatives to PHP-Nuke and Mambo, offering rich content administration without writing code.

How e107 works

e107 runs on the classic server-side architecture: PHP code renders pages on the server, while all content — articles, comments, user accounts and settings — lives in a MySQL database. The system is built in a modular way:

• Core — handles users, permissions, menus and the basic content types.
• Plugins — add features such as forums, galleries, shops or newsletters.
• Themes — separate the visual layer from logic, letting you restyle the site without touching code.

Administrators manage the site through a browser-based panel where they publish content, moderate comments and configure the permissions of individual user groups. Newer versions moved to a responsive interface and added support for current PHP releases.

e107 in practice

e107 works well for news sites, community portals, club websites and any project with an active news section and member base. Running it requires nothing more than standard hosting with PHP support and a MySQL database — the same requirements met by most shared plans that also run WordPress. When considering e107 today, weigh whether its smaller community and plugin pool cover your needs, since the ecosystems of more popular systems are considerably richer.