N2 is a lightweight CMS framework that helps you build great web sites that anyone can update. Web content editors can enjoy a simple and empowering web interface. Developers will benefit from a programmer friendly API that makes building web sites quick and fun.

Right out of the box N2 brings a balanced set of CMS functionality such as News, Event Calendars, Photo Galleries, FAQs, RSS, Data Entry, Polls and more. All of this and the editing interface are included with the Templates. demo.

The editing interface works equally well with the Templates or a custom solution you build yourself. Its very easy for anyone to manage the content of their web site. Features include full control of content and nodes, drag&drop, versioning, wizards, export/import, security, globalization and more.

Templates and Edit Interface alike relies on a standalone CMS Library with powerful data definition and database support, data binding and templating on ASP.NET and very much more.

A Programmatic CMS

N2 is an opinionated piece of software. The core principles are "code speaks" and separation between templates, content model and database.

One assumption is that you expect total control over the presentation layer, prefer to develop your content model using .NET classes and can survive without developing in the database or doing every input form.

N2 CMS speeds up development by analyzing your code at runtime and generating input interfaces based on attributes on your content classes. Having this in code rather than a database gives you the benefits of intellisense, source control, ftp deployment and greater maintainablility.

The CMS library itself is extendable through API events, the content classes themselves, custom editable attributes and other enabling hooks.

Behaves on ASP.NET

Like any well behaved CMS N2 doesn't mess with your user interface. It just provides a useful set of APIs and ASP.NET controls to insert content data in the right spots. A front controller maps url's to the appropriate ASPX template.

The framework plays well in shared hosting environments and with most databases including SQL Server and MySQL (through NHibernate ORM).

One benefit of it's modular and lightweight approach is that the CMS can be integrated into existing ASP.NET solutions and ASP.NET MVC. Download

Happy Publishing!

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