GoblinPortal

  Web: www.cambridge24.co.uk
  Date: in development


GoblinPortal is a community building software solution for non-programmers, currently being developed by Goblinfactory. We plan to release GoblinPortal for beta testing in the next few weeks. We are currently building Cambridge24.co.uk using the beta version of GoblinPortal. GoblinPortal will allow non-programmers to easily share website data, so that website developers can "share data" instead of trying to re-invent the wheel every time someone starts a website about Cambridge. For example, a Cambridge guitar website owner could query the GoblinPortal engine driving Cambridge24.co.uk, and fetch only the data for second hand musical instruments, and display this data on his website.

Goblinfactory plans to hold free workshops open to any Cambridge based website developer, to define the "shape" of data, so data can be easily shared and exchanged. As an incentive for adopting the data definitions (Schemas) that are produced, Goblinfactory will be giving away free content. Great care is being taken to ensure that all "consumers" (users) of data strictly conform to the Data Protection Act. No contact details or personal data will be shared, and Goblinfactory have some secret "magic" up their sleeve to ensure that data remains accurate and up to date, allowing advertisers to withdraw their information at any time, secure in the knowledge that the information is automatically withdrawn from all partner websites.

Cambridge24.co.uk users will be able to place their adverts at Cambridge24 and select which partner websites they want their adverts to also appear on, with the confidence of knowing that when they mark their item's as sold, or update their details, that all the partner websites will have 100% up to date information.

Goblinfactory are planning to release a free version of GoblinPortal. Users using the free version of GoblinPortal can download fully set up websites that will run "out of the box" for property management, classifieds, motor vehicle listings, restaurant guides, amongst others, complete with content! This will avoid the classic problem that small towns have, more websites and guides about Cambridge, than we have residents! <grin>


GoblinPortal is fully skinnable, with the presentation totally separate from the data. A powerful skinning engine developed by GoblinFactory drives GoblinPortal, allowing for the complete redesign of the look and feel, as well as the layout of the website by the customer, without affecting any of the functionality. Users using GoblinPortal that have GoblinPortal completely rebranded for them, can install a new release or update (on the same version) of GoblinPortal without losing their skin and layout customisations. Upgrades to new versions will include new functionality that may require some modifications to any customised skins.

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