Xaraya 2.1.0 Beta 1 (Jamaica) Released

The first beta release of Xaraya 2.1.0 (Jamaica) is now available at 
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xaraya/.

The main focus of this release is a rewrite of blocks in Xaraya. The 
other foreseen change area, that of replacing PHP code for DB table 
management with an XML based approach, has been pushed back to a later 
release to be defined.

The changes in Xaraya 2.1.0 Beta 1 are listed in detail below.


Changes with planned further evolution in future releases

1. Added an experimental htaccess file for Apache users.
2. Added a first draft at a guide to upgrading.
3. Converted the installation routine for modules into a class.
4. Refactored blocks: converted all blocks to classes and redefined 
blockgroups as a type of block.
5. Added the sitemanager group and user for superusers that are not admins.
6. Added the name dataproperty to roles for managing user names.
7. Revised the dependencies scheme with a view to making the 
installation routine for modules more intelligent in the future.


Completed changes and bugfixes with no currently planned further 
evolution in future releases:

1. Fixed DD search with quotes, support array in setWhere, new addWhere 
method.
2, Added an interface to the caching storage classes.
3. Moved DD hooks from upgrade to 2.0.0.
4. Put in an installer check to signal the MySQL version available.
5. Fixed host and site timezone functionality.
6. Removed the blockgroups table.
7. Added early checks for PHP and its required extensions. On bad result 
you are redirected to a requirements page.
8. Simplified the pager code; split it off from the core and turned it 
into a tag.
9. Moved the reminder block to the admin blockgroup.
10. Split the masks class into two classes: one that deals with security 
checks and one that contains the admin UI functionality.
11. Added a hooks tab to the modifyconfig page, making it easier to 
configure hooks for a module in situ.
12. Added functionality to export dd items of an object exported to a 
dedicated table.
13. Improved links to front and back ends.
14. Merged the logout and admin logout functionality.
15. Removed old image files in the roles module.
16. A number of minor changes and cosmetic adjustments to the default UI.


The next beta release of Jamaica, which can be expected in about the 
same time frame, will incorporate:

- Further steps in the evolution of the first group above
- Possible inclusion of the requestmapper scenario, a comprehensive 
approach to short URLs

Please direct all bugs to the new "App - Core Jamaica" product at 
http://bugs.xaraya.com/.