Midgard 1.7.2 released.

Lodz, October 10th 2005 -- The Midgard Project has released stable  
release version 1.7.2 of the Midgard Open Source Content Management System.  

Midgard's 1.7 branch is a major overhaul of the whole Content  
Management System. Besides the stable and mature Content Management  
features of first generation Midgard, it also ships a preview version  
of second generation Midgard capabilities, allowing developers to  
have a glimpse at the new day of Midgard2.

1.7.2 is a bugfix release.

Midgard 1.7 for end users

For the end users, Midgard 1.7 brings the mature MidCOM Content  
Management interface version 2.4, and the new Midgard Site Wizard for  
easy website creation.

The new MidCOM has been developed with performance in mind, and has  
been moved from the Midgard database into the file system. MidCOM  
also includes a new output caching system.

In addition to performance, MidCOM's new features include a full- 
fledged metadata management system and integrated content search  
using Apache Lucene.

Midgard Site Wizard is the new default way of building Midgard  
powered websites. System administrator can use the easy web-based  
tool for setting up new organizations, websites and layout templates  
within the Midgard database.

Be in control of your content On the applications front, Midgard  
includes several new tools, including a social bookmarks manager and  
an online order processing and shop system.

Midgard 1.7 for developers

For developers, Midgard 1.7 brings the first preview of the Midgard2  
programming interfaces, including MgdSchema, Java support and the new  
Query Builder. The new programming interfaces ensure greater  
flexibility, and have already been tested in demanding environments.  

MgdSchema is the new object model for Midgard built on top of the  
GObject libraries. Define your own data structure in schema XML  
files, and get the full querying and extension mechanisms of Midgard  
available for them.

Midgard's new Java support provides full Java Content Repository  
support for the Midgard Content Management System. This enables  
integration and content migration between Midgard and other  
enterprise systems.

Midgard Query Builder is the new way to build database queries within  
the Midgard database. It supports grouped OR queries, and making  
queries from all properties of the MgdSchema objects.

The MidCOM component framework bundled with Midgard 1.7 includes also  
several developer-friendly features. The new Component Base Classes  
make component development fast and easy, and the sessioning service  
enables writing of continuous applications.

Changes from 1.6.0 releases:

   Midgard-core
   * MgdSchema (Data structure abstraction layer)
   * New internal types builded with GObjects and GType system
   * XML based types definition

   Midgard-apache modules
   * New MidgardSchema directive for pointing correct MgdSchema path.
   * Page and style elements are handled by midgard internals data  instead of  Apache tables.

   Midgard-php4
   * Classes are defined in XML file
   * New API methods for new MgdSchema objects
   * Ability to run midgard-php from command line
   * API changes:
     - mgd_auth_midgard does not send cookie anymore
       http://www.midgard-project.org/documentation/reference/ot...
   * MidgardQueryBuilder class creates and executes SQL queries

   Midgard-data
   * New file system based MidCOM 2.4 architecture
     - Integrated full-text search using Apache Lucene
     - Metadata management system
     - Several new components including bookmarks management and online store
   * New midcom-template package
   * Site Creation Wizard for easy Midgard site building
   * New style templates ready to use with the Site Wizard
   * Datagard's 'update database' option is changed to make updates from previous Midgard
installations
   * PEAR packages installation supported by Datagard

Changes from 1.7.1 release:

   Midgard-core
   * Fixed memory leak in style and page elements engine.
   * Fixed version string in midgard-config

   Midgard-php
   * Fixed memory leak in mgd_include_snippet	

   Midgard-apache ( both modules ) 
   * Style and page elements initialized only when midgard-root is served.

Planned for next releases

   * Next scheduled 1.8alpha1 release: October 2005
   * Automated testing releases
   * Automated database MgdSchema management and table initialization
   * Deprecation of the classic functional Midgard API in favor of
     MgdSchema and Query Builder

Download page for latest release:
http://www.midgard-project.org/download/1.7.html

Features and screenshots:
http://www.midgard-project.org/midgard/1.7/

Getting started with Midgard:
http://www.midgard-project.org/documentation/

Bugs reporting:
http://midgard.tigris.org/issues/reports.cgi

User and developers support:
Mailing list: user@midgard-project.org
IRC: #midgard on irc.midgard-project.org

About Midgard

The Midgard Content Management Framework was initially released in May
1999, and has since gathered a sizable user and developer community.
Midgard powers thousands of web sites ranging from simple organizational
websites to major portals like New Zealand eGovernment site and
Playbill.

Midgard is being developed by an international team of professionals.
Midgard's development team includes new media designers, system
integrators and content management consultants. Midgard development is
being supported by several commercial and governmental entities
including the European Union.

Piotr Pokora, Midgard release manager
pp@infoglob.pl

Henri Bergius, Midgard spokesman
henri.bergius@iki.fi

The Midgard Project
http://www.midgard-project.org/