FarCry provides a variety of out-of-the-box services including a comprehensive array of content management options. However, FarCry is in fact a web application framework that can be used to build sophisticated solutions that go way beyond a typical content management platform. One of the first steps to understanding what's possible is getting to grips with what installs by default. |
FarCry is a framework for building web applications. It comes complete with a huge number of services including data modelling, views, controllers, ORM, object caching, nested tree model, classification engine, plugin architecture and a host of other odd sounding but extremely useful acronyms and jargon.
In addition to the framework, FarCry developers assumed that nearly every application has some basic requirements. As a consequence, the standard install ships with some very helpful features to kick start your project.
The installation leaves you with a basic website based on the Fandango theme. We call this the Fandango Project Skeleton or just plain Fandango for short.
This set of designs, templates and sample content is completely optional and can be replaced with whatever takes your fancy. However, its a great place to start your development especially if you want to concentrate on the code. You can always implement new templates later and reskin your application when needed.
Fandango is based on the very popular 960.gs CSS grid framework and is a standards based template design released to open source by Daemon. |
FarCry Core has a built in administration area, called the "webtop". The webtop is completely configurable in terms of tabs, menus and options. Different configurations of the webtop can be secured to specific roles through the FarCry security model.
Every application, no matter how small, invariably needs a secured administration area for managing the application. Consequently the webtop is available for all installations and forms an integral part of the FarCry Core Framework.
An information hierarchy or, perhaps more simply put, "a set of menus", is critical for any application. FarCry provides a built in nested tree service for modelling hierarchical data sets. Although this is most commonly visualised in the webtop as the "Site" tab, the tree model can be leveraged anywhere within your application.
The FarCry nested tree is based on ideas for graphing hierarchical data by database guru Joe Celko. |
Despite the stigma attached to being seen as "just a CMS", the FarCry community believe that content management is a commodity requirement. Every application needs it - that's why content management options are a core feature of the FarCry Framework. Depending on your application these services can be ignored or utilised as often as required.
Walkthrough the default Fandango project installation and get a handle on what goes where.
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Publishing rules are a more advanced concept to develop but are nevertheless easy for non-technical editors to use. Think of them as Widgets (Yahoo) or Gadgets (Google).
Review with the instructor a cross section of applications built in FarCry that go beyond the typical content management solution.
One of the worlds largest steel manufacturers. Rich cross realated content, membership services, geo mapping, and subsites (colorbond.com). |
The home of the Summer and Winter Olympic Teams: |
Like a rock concert for geeks. Video multimedia (plugin), complex agenda, cross relation of content (agenda, session, speaker, sessions in previous years). |