{"id":3911,"date":"2019-02-04T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/?p=3911"},"modified":"2019-10-29T15:31:49","modified_gmt":"2019-10-29T22:31:49","slug":"how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go\/","title":{"rendered":"How far does the history of these 4 open-source platforms go?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/open-source-e-commerce-platforms.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3912\" src=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/open-source-e-commerce-platforms.jpeg\" alt=\"open-source e-commerce platforms\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/open-source-e-commerce-platforms.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/open-source-e-commerce-platforms-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/2019\/01\/14\/lets-take-a-look-at-the-historical-timeline-of-e-commerce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">historical timeline of e-commerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dates back over 50 years, open-source e-commerce platforms are still a relatively new and expanding technology. Yet, since the growth of online businesses is constantly increasing, open-source e-commerce platforms are quickly improving their adaptive usage and performance abilities to adhere to the progressive shift. Although there are quite a few platforms that offer business owners and consumers numerous selling and buying benefits, we\u2019re going to focus on the following four platforms and their historical timelines. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go\/#OpenCart_1998\" >OpenCart (1998)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go\/#Zen_Cart_2003\" >Zen Cart (2003)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go\/#Magento_2007\" >Magento (2007)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-far-does-the-history-of-these-4-open-source-platforms-go\/#WooCommerce_2011\" >WooCommerce (2011)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"OpenCart_1998\"><\/span><b>OpenCart (1998)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>What is it?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opencart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OpenCart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an online store management system that is Hypertext Preprocessor-based (PHP-based). The components were originally developed in 1998 by Christopher G. Mann for Walnut Creek CDROM and later used by The FreeBSD Mail. Although the domain expired in early 2005, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_open_cart.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the software continued<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be used and developed into an innovative, open-source e-commerce platform. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How does it work?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OpenCart is known for being rather straightforward and its easy-to-use usability is especially beneficial for first-time business owners. Not only does OpenCart support a number of categories, products and currencies, but it also allows you to manage multiple storefronts under one admin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new with this platform?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Version 2.0 of this software released at the end of 2014, which featured an extensive update to the interface. Two years later, version 2.2.0.0. of the software was released, as well as their fraud management services. As of 2019, there are now over 14,000 extensions available to download.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Zen_Cart_2003\"><\/span><b>Zen Cart (2003)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>What is it?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zen-cart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zen Cart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an online store management system that is PHP-based and uses HTML components. This open-source e-commerce platform branched off from osCommerce in 2003, aesthetically changing the appearance of the software as well as architecturally changing the template system. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How does it work?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zen Cart is commonly used because it\u2019s simple, easy to modify and the installation process is uncomplicated. Business owners that are looking to develop a small to medium, user-friendly online store are encouraged to start out with this reasonably priced platform. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new with this platform?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zen Cart releases a new version every year in order to tackle higher security and increase website speed. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_zen_cart.html?utm_source=Blog_February2019_OpenSourceECommercePlatforms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">platform technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also focuses on bugfixes and other enhancing, template, admin and core improvements. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Magento_2007\"><\/span><b>Magento (2007)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>What is it?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/framework.zend.com\/manual\/1.10\/en\/learning.quickstart.intro.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built using the Zend framework,<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magento is an open-source e-commerce platform that was written using PHP. The software was originally developed in early 2007 by Varien Inc., in California and was later released to the general public in March of 2008. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How does it work?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Web developers have the ability to implement core files and extend their functionality by adding new plug-in modules that are provided by other developers. This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_magento.html?utm_source=Blog_February2019_OpenSourceECommercePlatforms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">basic e-commerce platform<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is powerful, flexible, rather cost-effective and is used by many popular businesses around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new with this platform?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2015, Magento 2.0 was released aiming to heighten user engagement, provide smoother webpage navigation and improve conversion rates for online shop owners. There were also some features that were changed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 reduced table locking, improved page caching, easier customization, a more structured bode base and many more. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WooCommerce_2011\"><\/span><b>WooCommerce (2011)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>What is it?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/woocommerce.com\/?utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=search&amp;utm_campaign=woocommerce%20branded&amp;utm_term=woocommerce&amp;utm_content=ca&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=search%20prospecting&amp;utm_campaign=woocommerce&amp;utm_term=woocommerce&amp;utm_content=uk&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq9fZxon43wIV-SCtBh0TIwxOEAAYASAAEgIbxPD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WooCommerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an open-source e-commerce platform plugin that is used for WordPress storefronts. It was designed in 2011 for merchants with small to large-sized shops and it has quickly become a simple and customizable installation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How does it work?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WooCommerce is used by a number of high traffic websites and has rapidly grown worldwide over the past few years. This integrated plugin was designed for websites that contain blogging and selling interfaces and is aimed at providing excellent administration and product management system and a few additional features for marketing and promotion. WooCommerce is increasingly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_woocommerce.html?utm_source=Blog_February2019_OpenSourceECommercePlatforms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">becoming incredibly popular<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for those with high-level knowledge and background with coding. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new with this platform?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just last year, WooCommerce provided over 1,000 plugins in addition to a numerous number of premium themes and extensions. There are currently 1,923 themes available that are associated with the WooCommerce plugin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to understand that the installation and upkeep process behind the following e-commerce platforms requires extensive knowledge and know-how in terms of coding. For business owners that don\u2019t understand this intuitive field, we recommend <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/development-c-397\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hiring a professional web developer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to handle the installment and on-going repairs and updates of your online website. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you know any other interesting facts about these four open-source e-commerce platforms? Tell us in the comments section below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the historical timeline of e-commerce dates back over 50 years, open-source e-commerce platforms are still a relatively new and expanding technology. Yet, since the growth of online businesses is constantly increasing, open-source e-commerce platforms are quickly improving their adaptive usage and performance abilities to adhere to the progressive shift. Although there are quite a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":269,"featured_media":3912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[818],"tags":[633,960,632,635,8],"class_list":["post-3911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-commerce-platforms","tag-magento","tag-open-source-e-commerce-platforms","tag-opencart","tag-woocommerce","tag-zen-cart"],"modified_by":"Numinix Developer","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/open-source-e-commerce-platforms.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/269"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3911\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}