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e107 is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) for building websites with pages, news or blog posts, forums, and downloadable files. It is written in PHP, uses MySQL or MariaDB, and is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The official download page lists e107 2.3.12 as the latest release.
What is e107?
e107 is software you install on your own web hosting to create and manage a website. The project describes it as a free, open-source CMS for publishing content online. It has been open source since 2002. The core software has no proprietary license fee, though hosting, development, support, or optional third-party extensions may involve costs.
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Unlike a hosted website builder, e107 runs on a web server you or your hosting provider manage. You need a compatible server environment and are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining the site.
What can you do with e107?
e107 brings several common website functions into one system:
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- Publish content: Create static pages, news or blog posts, and searchable downloads.
- Build a community: Enable user registration, forums, user groups, permissions, and content restricted to members.
- Manage media and layout: Work with images, audio, and video, including image resizing and cropping; organize menus and panels; and use responsive themes.
- Support multiple audiences: Use multilingual support and theme switching.
- Manage the site: Use caching, database backups, scheduled jobs, mass mailing, and searchable administration logs.
- Improve discoverability: Use SEO-friendly URLs, metadata tools, social sharing, crawler pings, and XML sitemaps.
- Move content: Use import or migration tools for systems including Blogger, Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, phpBB, SMF, and RSS feeds.
Which features a site can use may depend on the core version, its configuration, and installed extensions. Check whether a specific capability is built in or requires a plugin before planning around it.
Is e107 still maintained?
The official download page lists version 2.3.12 and offers full-install archives as ZIP and tar.gz files, along with upgrade packages for v2.x and v1.x. That is evidence of a current release listing, but it does not by itself establish a release schedule or guarantee the duration of future support. Check the project’s official download page for the version available when you install.
e107 system requirements
The project’s GitHub repository lists these minimum requirements for a current deployment:
- Apache or Microsoft IIS web server.
- PHP 7.4 or newer.
- MySQL 4.x or newer, or MariaDB.
- FTP access.
An older official FAQ lists PHP 5.6 and the XML, cURL, MB String, and GD libraries, as well as MySQL 4.x/5.x. Treat those details as legacy guidance rather than the requirements for a current release. Confirm the requirements for the exact e107 version you plan to install, and ask your host which PHP version and extensions are available.
How to install or upgrade e107
New installation
- Choose web hosting that meets the requirements for the e107 release you intend to install, including PHP, database, web server, and FTP access.
- Download the full-install ZIP or tar.gz archive from the official e107 download page.
- Upload and install the package on your hosting account, following the release-specific instructions and your host’s setup process.
- Verify that the site loads and that its administration area and required features work as expected.
The available information identifies the package formats and server prerequisites, but does not establish a single set of installation screens or steps that applies to every hosting provider. Follow the instructions supplied with the release and host.
Upgrade from an older version
The download page offers upgrade packages for v2.x and v1.x. Before upgrading, back up both the database and the e107 home directory. The official page warns that v1.x is not compatible with PHP 7 and recommends upgrading to v2.x before switching to PHP 7. Do not change PHP versions or run an upgrade without a recoverable backup.
Plugins, themes, and customization
e107 supports plugins and themes. In v2.x, the official plugin directory says administrators can search for and download plugins from Admin > Manage > Plugin Manager > Find Plugins. Catalog examples include download management, accessibility scanning, chatbot, two-factor authentication, and email validation.
The developer manual documents plugin and theme folder structures, templates, hooks, APIs, and a built-in plugin builder that can generate much of an administration area. Before relying on an extension, check that it is compatible with the e107 version you run and suits your security and maintenance requirements.
How to assess e107 for your site
e107 may suit a site that needs several functions—such as publishing, forums, member access, and downloads—in a self-hosted CMS. Evaluate it against the work you expect to do, not just the number of listed features:
- Compatibility: Confirm the current PHP and database requirements with both the project and your hosting provider.
- Feature source: Identify which requirements are met by core e107 and which need a plugin or custom development.
- Extensions and themes: Check that suitable, compatible options exist for your design and functionality needs.
- Administration: Decide whether its admin workflow fits the people who will publish and maintain the site.
- Migration: Verify that the available import tools cover the content and system you need to move.
- Self-hosting responsibilities: Account for upgrades, backups, security, hosting, and troubleshooting.
Those trade-offs matter when comparing e107 with another CMS: a broad feature list does not eliminate the ongoing work of operating a self-hosted website.
Quick Recap
Official e107 resources
- Official downloads — current release listing and installation or upgrade packages.
- e107 on GitHub — project repository and current requirements.
- Official e107 website — project overview and information.
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