This isn't going to be a popular response for a CF list, but if you are going to use a packaged app for your store, I'd suggest staying with PHP and using X-Cart. I'm a full-time CF developer and have been for years, but when it comes to a storefront application, this is the best out there. I've used X-Cart for 7 different projects and will recommend it every single time I ever get a chance. I've NEVER seen a storefront app that is as good as X-Cart. It's incredibly feature-rich right out of the box and it's really easy to customize once you learn the system. It takes me about a week to setup and customize an X-Cart installation, though the main setup is accomplished in just a couple of hours. The bulk of the implementation time is spent on look-and-feel design and importing product/customer data. Oh and did I mention that it only costs $199? I think they've got an Xmas special right now where you can get some add-ons with your X-Cart Gold for only $299. Also, there are tons of add-ons both by Qualiteam and by third parties. If you are going to end up sticking with PHP, do yourself a huge favor and take a look at this product.
I know this isn't what you really wanted to hear, but when I first worked with X-Cart I was in the same boat as you are in now. It took me no time at all to not only learn how to work with the software, but to figure out how much I really liked it. I'd never worked with PHP at the time, but I was up and running in just a day or two. The Smarty template engine is very cool and you can do an enormous amount of customization in the tpl files before even needing to touch the PHP code. http://www.x-cart.com --Ferg Josh Nathanson wrote: >Hello All, > >I'm the web dude at a small clothing company in San Francisco. Although my >boss is now CEO of the company, he started out as a C programmer and so is a >PHP fan. Currently our storefront is Miva Merchant. > >I on the other hand am a CF devotee (intermediate level) with very little >background in PHP (having discovered CF before PHP). I would like to >transition our company's online store to a CF based app, so that if we need >to do any customization (pretty much inevitable), it's not a problem for me. >However my boss would like me to learn PHP and use a php based system -- he >is very hesitant to go to CF because he has no CF background or knowledge >(and so doesn't know how cool it is.) > >So I am hoping the CF pros on this list could offer some compelling reasons >to use CF instead of PHP for our storefront, that might help me convince my >boss. Of course shortening development time is the obvious one, but if >anyone knows any actual figures on that (CF vs PHP) it would be very >helpful. Also I'd love to hear about any good storefront apps in CF >(willing to spend some dough if needed) that anyone has experience with. >The only one I know about is CFWebstore. > >TIA, >Josh Nathanson > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:227414 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
