IT and Patience

After a ton of work, it gives me great pleasure to announce the first publicly available release of ePortfolio, the easy-to-use content management system for ASP.Net websites.  I made the 2/15 deadline, even finishing a few days early which was good because shortly thereafter I got sick with a severe cold.  Thanks to the loving care of my fiancée, Cheryl, I'm feeling much better now.  You can download the software at my website, Communicate Solutions.

ePortfolio is a content management system I've used to manage several of the websites I've designed.  It was designed for brochure-style websites that use Microsoft's ASP.Net framework.  Unlike other CMS's, ePortfolio works with Microsoft technology instead of around it.  After running the simple installation wizard, you get a fully functional website that is easily updated without needing a degree in computer science.  If you do have a degree or some design skills, ePortfolio offers a simple UI for changing the nitty-gritty details of the website.  Click to read more about ePortfolio's features.

Now that ePortfolio is out there, I'd love to get some feedback.  I certainly have some ideas on how to improve it but I'd like to hear what you think.  Anything is game: installation, configuration, usage, bugs, and new features.  There’s several ways to give feedback: post on this blog, post on the forum, shoot me an email, or submit a trouble ticket.  If you give me some valid feedback, I'll give you a free license.

That’s right; I said the four-letter f-word, free.  I appreciate your feedback :)

My stomach is doing somersaults.  My sweaty palms are sticking to my ergonomically correct keyboard.  I'm nervously checking people's away status on IM.  I can't believe I'm about to do what I'm about to do...

The first official production release of ePortfolio will be available on February 15th, 2009.

ePortfolio is Communicate Solutions' homegrown content management system (CMS).  It's designed so that .Net web developers can design beautiful websites and domain experts can add the appropriate content, all quickly and easily in one place.  Learn more here. 

It's a bit nerve-racking to formally announce the release date since now I've got to meet that date :)  It's very exciting though!  Previously, Communicate Solutions has only sold services; this will be our first shrink wrapped software available to the world.  I honestly have no idea what will happen.  I would not be surprised if we sold zero units in the first month or if we sold 1000.  I do think that any C# website developer would be crazy not to at least check out the trial version.  Also, it's not really version 1.0 since I've used it with several of my client's websites.  I also use it for my company's website, Communicate Solutions.com.

So, check back in mid-February, download the trial, and let me know what you think!