Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Since we're talking 'geek,' I thought I would feed the fire a bit and fill you folks in on the technologies behind our redesign and the engine the Web site runs on.
All of our newspaper Web sites (The Craig Daily Press, The Steamboat Pilot & Today, The Lawrence Journal World, and the Payson Roundup) run on Python servers. The folks at our parent publication, The Lawrence Journal World in Lawrence, Kan., specifically The World Online, several years ago developed the open-source Django framework that runs on Python. You can read about Django here: http://www.djangoproject.com. Since then, all of our Web sites have been built using that framework.
More recently, the folks at the World Online have developed a commercial Content Management System called 'Ellington' that utilizes Django and Python. You can read about Ellington here: http://www.ellingtoncms.com/. Our newspapers were the beta testing ground for Ellington, and we're pleased to continue to use such a robust and flexible CMS for our online publishing.
Corduroy, you are partially correct. When we redesigned the website, there was no need to recreate the database framework that we've been using for years, so when it came time for a face lift it was mostly just a CSS update. No PHP changes since we use Django instead. Additionally, the Web site benefited from several core programming enhancements within the Ellington CMS, such as the new 'Active Discussions' area on the lower left rail. That feature uses an algorithm to determine our most active articles based on reader activity and comments.
Coming soon will be an upgraded media server that will better display our online videos and make them easier to view across multiple platforms, as well as some cool new features for our registered users.
Thanks for keeping the discussion lively, and we always appreciate your feedback.
Dan Divens
Internet Services Manager
970-871-4236
ddivens@steamboatpilot.com
Daniel Divens 5 years, 6 months ago on Steamboatpilot.com gets a new look
Steamboatpilot.com gets a new look
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Since we're talking 'geek,' I thought I would feed the fire a bit and fill you folks in on the technologies behind our redesign and the engine the Web site runs on.
All of our newspaper Web sites (The Craig Daily Press, The Steamboat Pilot & Today, The Lawrence Journal World, and the Payson Roundup) run on Python servers. The folks at our parent publication, The Lawrence Journal World in Lawrence, Kan., specifically The World Online, several years ago developed the open-source Django framework that runs on Python. You can read about Django here: http://www.djangoproject.com. Since then, all of our Web sites have been built using that framework.
More recently, the folks at the World Online have developed a commercial Content Management System called 'Ellington' that utilizes Django and Python. You can read about Ellington here: http://www.ellingtoncms.com/. Our newspapers were the beta testing ground for Ellington, and we're pleased to continue to use such a robust and flexible CMS for our online publishing.
Corduroy, you are partially correct. When we redesigned the website, there was no need to recreate the database framework that we've been using for years, so when it came time for a face lift it was mostly just a CSS update. No PHP changes since we use Django instead. Additionally, the Web site benefited from several core programming enhancements within the Ellington CMS, such as the new 'Active Discussions' area on the lower left rail. That feature uses an algorithm to determine our most active articles based on reader activity and comments.
Coming soon will be an upgraded media server that will better display our online videos and make them easier to view across multiple platforms, as well as some cool new features for our registered users.
Thanks for keeping the discussion lively, and we always appreciate your feedback.
Dan Divens Internet Services Manager 970-871-4236 ddivens@steamboatpilot.com