This document provides an overview and introduction to Craft CMS, an open-source content management system built on Yii and Twig. Key features highlighted include one-click updating, live preview, Matrix fields, a responsive control panel, sections and channels, and element types which allow custom fields on any content type. Craft takes a flexible approach by not requiring specific templates or fields. Support is available directly from the developers on Google Plus or via email.

1. Lets talk about Craft!
Presented by Jason McCallister

2. No, no - not that kind
of Craft….
this kind…

3. intro
• Developed by Pixel & Tonic (pixelandtonic.com)
• Makers of popular ExpressionEngine add-ons Playa,
Matrix and more.
• Version 2.0 was released on April 1st
• Built on Yii (http://www.yiiframework.com/)
• Twig Template Engine (http://twig.sensiolabs.org/)

4. a few features
• One-click updating
• Live Preview
• Matrix
• Responsive Control Panel
• Sections and Channels
• Entry types

5. different..
• Built completely around your content - assumes
zero about your website and content (no required
files or templates - or even fields!)
• Support on Google Plus and via email directly from
the developers
• Element Types

6. element types
“File systems manages files. iPhoto manages photos.
iTunes manages media. Blogging systems manage
entries. And content management systems manage…
“content”. But what is “content”? Historically it has
meant “entries…”
http://pixelandtonic.com/blog/craft-element-types

7. element types
“While other content management systems are busy
managing entries, Craft manages elements. Everything in
Craft – your site’s users, assets, categories, tags, globals,
even Matrix blocks, and of course, entries – they’re all
elements. That’s why everything is so consistent in Craft.
It’s not that entries and users both individually have custom
field support, it’s that they share the same system-wide
custom field support that’s available to all elements. Same
with relations, and a slew of other things.”
http://pixelandtonic.com/blog/craft-element-types

8. element types
“…People expect more and more out of their websites.
Even “simple” content-only sites aren’t so simple
anymore. It’s not just about entries having custom
fields; it’s about custom fields everywhere – on assets,
users, categories, tags, even custom fields within
custom fields (a la Matrix). We’ve been at the forefront
of the custom field craze at P&T – our FieldFrame for
ExpressionEngine ignited it…”
http://www.producthunt.co/posts/2526

9. craft/config/db.php
’server' => 'localhost',
'user' => ‘awesome_squirrel',
'password' => ‘Sup3rSEcritP@$$‘,
'database' => 'myAwesomeCoolDB',
/** only required configuration for installation */

10. craft/config/general.php
‘omitScriptNameInUrls' => true,
'cpTrigger' => ‘the-cloud’,
'siteUrl' => ‘http://domainname.com‘,
'fileSystemPath' => ‘/path/to/folder’,
'devMode' => true,
/** more http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/config-settings */

11. multi-env general.php
return array(
’*' => array(
'omitScriptNameInUrls' => true,
'cpTrigger' => ‘secretAgentMan'
),
'mydevwebsite.local' => array(
'devMode' => true,
'environmentVariables' => array(
'siteUrl' => 'http://mydevwebsite.local',
'fileSystemPath' => ‘/path/to/mydevwebsite.local’
)
),

12. multi-env db.php
return array(
'*' => array(
'tablePrefix' => 'prefix',
),
‘domain.local' => array(
'server' => 'localhost',
'user' => 'user',
'password' => 'password',
'database' => 'dbnamegoeshere',
),
‘domain.com' => array(
'server' => getenv('DBHOST'),
'user' => getenv('DBUSER'),
'password' => getenv('DBPASS'),
'database' => getenv('DBNAME'),
)),

13. twiggy, twig, twig…

14. OMG UNICORNS!
“..its like a magical walk down candy lane with unicorns…”

15. resources
Straight Up Craft
http://straightupcraft.com
Craft Cookbook
http://craftcookbook.net/

16. exit;
the boring part is now over….

17. thank you!
Jason McCallister
http://themccallister.com
or
@theMcCallister