Blog within minutes, without the hassle
Ever considered adding a blog to your site? Hosted by your service provider, like GoDaddy? Then you probably ran into frustrating or technical challenges too. Maybe fun for some people who like to spend time revising code. But if you'd rather blog in a breeze, you might embrace this special version for shared hosting plans. Either download without further ado or keep on scanning to explore the fine points.
In short: ModPack is a custom BlogEngine.NET to run on restricted web hosts.
Topics you'll pick up from here: (updated January 4, 2009)
- A complete guide to this modified version
- Built-in extensions ready to use in latest 1.4.5 release
- Capabilities on top of the core blog platform
First, you can find out why you might need a custom version. ModPack is free and open source as well, but modified to work on GoDaddy or alike hosting services.
Next, discover how you will benefit from the ModPack. At the end, you've got all timesaving resources for now and later, so let's get started!
Why You Might Need a Custom-built Version
BlogEngine's official 1.3 release works fine as long as your web host trusts such blog application. However, most hosting providers restrict their shared web servers with a Medium trust level policy. -So? Well, that's good for our privacy and security, yet troublesome for incompatible applications. You'd need to rewrite source code, test-drive every change and drink a lot of coffee to adapt our lovable blog platform.
Instead, you care for writing in plain language and not in code, right? I sure do too. We love publishing our stuff and preferably as easy and soon as possible. So who wants to reinvent the wheel just to make it fit? Exactly, ModPack to the rescue!
Simply Runs Out of the Box on All GoDaddy Plans
ModPack takes care of these necessary modifications for you. Our team customized BlogEngine.NET specially for Windows Shared Hosting. According to several GoDaddy customers, ModPack solved their previous showstoppers and:
Ready to Use Multimedia Extensions. It's Showtime!
Extensions for BlogEngine.NET are like what LEGO™ is to kids: building blogs. They rock! You can easily roll your own to turn posts into gems. Since ModPack is also about your leisure, we included handy extensions for you, to instantly:
- Add videos in Flash and embed from YouTube
- Include audio, like your podcasts or favorite MP3 music
- Make your photos and files stand out (darn, in next release)
Update: the single Mediaplayer extension replaced the individual FLV and MP3 players
Get the Latest Version of ModPack (1.4.5)
So you'd like to give it a go? Great, take your free ModPack copy! The small .zip file contains everything you need to become a lifetime blogger. If you're already using BlogEngine.NET: always create a full backup before you upgrade.
Note: ModPack works as stand-alone, custom BE.NET instance, i.e.:
- All required files are in the single .zip (so yes, the compatible .DLL too)
- Themes: new default (CoffeeHouse), mobile and BE.NET Standard
- No need to pre-install anything whatsoever ;-)
Easy Set Up Instructions for a Quick Start
In short: upload the .zip to your site, unzip it and write-enable App_Data.
Done! Your instant blog runs and shows a quick guide like this sample blog.
Step by step guide (especially for GoDaddy customers like me)
1. Create a new custom directory or subdirectory (skip if using an existing one)
2. Upload the .zip to your folder, so you can unarchive via File Manager
3. Reset to inherit write (and read) permissions on the subfolder App_Data
4. Examine the "how-to proceed" message to secure and personalize your blog
Now, What If ... ?
Oh, say the BlogEngine.NET masterminds releases a new version? Or you need it for a provider other than GoDaddy? Excellent questions and I hope you've got many more!
So let's continue our pleasant talks! Where and when would suit you?
You can follow ModPack on Twitter, always contact me, find me regularly at CodePlex in the BlogEngine.NET forum and at the new ModPack project under MikevZ. See or hear you soon!
Cheers and good luck!
Mike van Zandwijk
PS: Subscribe to the free ModPack feed to keep up with any new developments
(and I promise the posts will be at least 50% shorter :-)