Dummies - DotNetNuke For Dummies

Welcome to the world of DotNetNuke!
DotNetNuke is not just a great piece of free (yes, free!) software: It’s your key to a vibrant and ever-changing community of software users, designers, and developers. How deeply you choose to get involved with the DotNetNuke world is up to you. If you opt for little involvement, you can simply download the code or find a hosting provider who can set you up with a domain and hosting where you can build your DotNetNuke Web site. In fact, you may never visit the official DotNetNuke Web site! Alternatively, if you do catch the DotNetNuke bug, you may find yourself taking the red pill along with many other excited and dedicated community members and seeing just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

DotNetNuke (DNN) is a Content Management System (CMS) that enables you to build and maintain dynamic Web sites by using a Web browser. It’s a powerful tool that can meet most business or personal Web site needs, as well as being customizable to suit specific requirements. DNN is supported by a dedicated and ever-growing community of computer users who are constantly improving the product, creating complementary add-ons and services, as well as offering their time and support to you and other DNN users. Because it’s an open-source project, there is always a lot going on in the DotNetNuke world. Companies and individuals offer help and advice, free resources are available on the DotNetNuke Web site, and helpful blogs, Web sites, and movies are everywhere!

So with so much help everywhere, why are we writing this book? First, this book has been written to provide you with a simple entry path into using DNN. This book helps you to get familiar with the fundamental concepts of DNN, guides you through the basics of building a Web site, and points you to other Web sites where you can find more information. Second, this book aims to plug you in to the wider world of DNN where an ever-growing range of free and commercial resources including content, content management, Web site design, and hosting services are available to enhance your DNN experience.