Blog Tipz

This is not a paid or sponsored post, but my opinion of a service that I find truly worth using – no compensation or affiliate links have been placed in or will be received for publishing this post.

Many bloggers and website owners are quite familiar with cPanel, one of the leading control panels for managing and administering everything on your website, along with Fantastico, an integrated system for updating and installing blog software, content management systems, customer relationship software, and more. Traditionally, it was supposed to make the process much simpler for people who were looking to install the software without manually configuring and setting up the software to work properly.

However, times have changed and we need as little downtime as possible between updates. As more updates are pushed out to combat security vulnerabilities, it has become even more necessary to always have an up-to-date version of the backend system working, or your visitors will see nothing more than a redirected page to a hacker’s site. For quite some time, Fantastico was the de facto standard when it came to automatically installing software, but there were quite a few limitations.

When I first began using Fantastico to install blog software such as WordPress, I found it limiting in the ability to install it in specific directories, updating wasn’t easy (often, it was days after the initial release before the system was updated), and there were often errors in the update process. Before long, I turned to manual installation over this system, and used plugins for updating the software automatically. Using this process, there were only a few instances where there were errors, although I still wasn’t satisfied how everything was setup – I wanted updates that were simple, had a good update schedule, and could be managed from a single location – simple factors that many people look for.

Then, my web host provider added Simple Scripts, a one-click installer for the web’s most popular applications – from blogs to photo albums, online stores, and forums. It truly had it all, but I still wasn’t convinced it was my perfect solution until I had used the new method for quite some time. The service isn’t exclusive to my host provider, but it is one of the few that has it (at least at this time), although you will still be able to take advantage of it.

Simple Scripts Screenshot

It’s Simple to Use and Efficient

Because I, like many other people, run multiple blogs, it is imperative that everything is as efficient as possible, eliminating the need to bring down your site for an update. In this setup, I have only had a few minor problems, and they were generally on my part, not using the correct database names when transferring/reinstalling an installation.

Here’s the process of installing a new piece of software (you can see it live by viewing the demo).

1. On the main page, to down to the bottom of the page, and find the script you wish to install. Upon clicking on it, you are brought to a page with more details, including License Information, Current Version (at this time, it has versions 2.3.1 to 2.7 of WordPress, and is able to install beta versions), External Links, Number of Current Installations, Installation Options, and Screenshots (to the right).
2. If you are satisfied with the main features, click “Install Now.”
3. In the next set of steps, select your version (preferably the most stable and most recent version), location it should be installed in (you can also select folders (http://cpaneltest.simplescripts.com/folder) and will display the location/access URL of where the installation will take place. A word of caution is given, stating a few of the main files that may be deleted should they exist.
4. Within the next set of options, titled “Additional Options,” you can give your site a name, create your administrator login, and specify the name of the database. 
5. Finally, make sure that your server meets the minimum requirements for the installation, and select the Legal Information to continue.
6. Through my experience, after clicking the “Complete” button, you’ll find that it takes anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two, depending on how large your database and files are – it backs them up every time you change or update your installation.

After Installation

Once you have completed an installation, they are all listed on the main page, so you can easily see which needs to be upgraded and when you originally installed it.

My Installations – Click for larger version.

In addition, you can navigate directly to the website, login to the admin, uninstall the file, view and configure advanced settings, find support, or restore backups (should they have been created).

Within “Update Preferences,” you can have updates sent via email or display Beta/RC scripts and upgrades (such as WordPress, etc.).

Software the Tool Can Install

Generally speaking, all the software that Fantastico can install, Simple Scripts can, too. Here’s a list of all the scripts it can install (see screenshot if you want to see the complete list).

• Blogs - WordPress, b2evolution, Textpattern
• Client Management - vtigerCRM
• Content Management - Joomla, Drupal, MODx, e107, TikiWikiCmsGroupware
• eCommerce – Magento, ZenCart, OSCommerce, OpenCart
• Photo Galleries - Zenphoto, Coppermine, Pixelpost
• Project Management - Mantis
• Website Builders - Soholaunch
• Mailing Lists - DadaMail, phpList, poMMo
• Wiki - WikkaWiki, PmWiki
• Forms and Surveys - LimeSurvey
• Forums - phpBB, bbPress, PunBB
• RSS - Gregarius, SimplePie
• Utilities - phpMyFAQ, ExtCalendar, phpFreeChat
• Webmail - Roundcube

Script List – Click for larger version.

How Can I Use Simple Scripts?

If you are using Fantastico to install files or you use a manual method, I’d suggest that you take a look at this powerful site that does all the work for you. There is an automatic conversion utility to migrate over to the new version. Otherwise, the manual method isn’t entirely difficult – create a backup, deactivate everything, then locate your existing installation, replacing all files with the new version (follow the instructions that are provided).

General requirements include a Linux-based operating system, Apache 1.3+, PHP 4.1+, 5.1+, and MySQL 3.23+ (for scripts), plus a SuExec environment for cPanel systems. 

Bluehost, Hostmonster, Fastdomain, LunarPages, HostGator, SiteGround, GoDaddy, WebHostingPad, LiquidWeb, StartLogic, iPowerWeb, Dot5Hosting, MidPhase, 1and1, and so on have all been tested and have passed qualifications for running SimpleScripts.

The Lite Version - Free (up to three installations, free Fantastico Conversions on select scripts)

The Pro Version - $15/year (unlimited installations, unlimited upgrades, upgrade notifications through email, and free Fantastico Conversion on select scripts)

Again, if you have SimpleScripts installed through your web host provider, you will likely receive the Pro Version for free or at little cost. If you are a web host provider, you can have a completely brandable and feature-rich solution for each user (End User version, in which users pay $15/yearly, you receive $5 or Host Supplement version, in which you are required to supplement the cost of each end user subscription at $5 each month for users with upgrade or overage usage).

More details can be found on the main page, under “For Website Owners” or “Web Hosting Addon.”

Overview

As I previously stated, as long as you don’t need an advanced setup, SimpleScripts should work fine for you. It installs most popular weblog software, forum software, and more, and is generally free to use. Updates are quick (within a few hours after release) and upgrades are also fairly straightforward and effortless. 

In one line – if you don’t know how to install a piece of software, this is your solution and has been used by more than 231,000+ other people.