New Website

After just one and a half week of tinkering, our new website is ready.

The main reason for making a new one being that the Content Management System that was in use is being discontinued. This is a bit of a shame, it was part of the Horde framework also used for webmail. The main advantage of the system being integration and simplicity. But since I don't have the time to maintain the software myself, I decided to switch.

There are many good CMS'es out there, but all are rather complex. I just want a system for a simple site with a proper interface. After some googling, I decided to try the SilverStripe CMS. The management interface is superb. Creating the site was really easy. Silverstripe only lacks in the availability of modules, like a proper photo gallery. We still use the photo gallery from the Horde framework. It isn't very pretty (the combination that is...), but it works. Another module is a good authentication module that allows for usage of external authentication sources like LDAP. Maybe I'll code that one myself when I have more time.

The other advantage Silverstripe has, is that is is from Wellington New-Zealand, our favourite holiday country. Kiwi's might recognize the backdrop in the header as being Mount Aspiring on the South Island. Lord of the Rings fans might recognize this mountain as Caradhras. Shot brilliantly by Peter Jackson at the start of the "Two Towers".

I shot this image myself whilst doing a Lord of the Rings tour named "Gwahir's Patrol", which consists of flying half a day by chopper over the Southern Alps and a half day driving around Queenstown.