phpEdu beta-5 was released late last night and it was yet another struggle getting it out. However, it's a lot simpler now with the new packaging system on drupal.org. Installation profiles automatically pre-package Drupal core with all dependencies and once unpacked, the installation of the profile starts. Get beta-5 now: http://drupal.org/project/phpedu_profile. No need for separate downloads, unless you need just the phpEdu modules which can be downloaded from http://drupal.org/project/phpedu

Right. Another beta version's just been released after another long wait. What's really going on? Is there going to be another 2-month wait for the next one?

Let me start with the dream goal - a definite release cycle, similar to what happens with Ubuntu. I'm not making a promise that phpEdu will (or won't) guarantee a 6-month release cycle but building a user base on such trust and guarantee is worthy of commendation.

Download phpEdu beta-4

The full package includes Drupal 6.12 and the latest versions of all contrib modules. The download page also has 2 other packages: phpEdu modules only (if you'd like to upgrade to beta-4) and phpEdu installation profile (if you'd like to install phpEdu yourself and are ready to download all the dependent modules).

README.txt and INSTALL.txt files are included. Installation of phpEdu isn't any different than Drupal. Only make sure you have the dependent modules in the right place and you're ready to go.

To upgrade, unpack the tarball and replace your sites/all/modules/phpedu directory with the new files. Then go to [your site]/update.php and follow the instructions.

Get a full package of beta-3 here. It includes Drupal 6.10, phpedu_profile, all phpedu and contrib modules you require to install the application.

After installation, apart from making sure activated modules, content types, taxonomy, menus, permissions etc meet your needs, there are a number of things to do, to finish setting up phpEdu:

Beta-3 is coming out very very soon and I'm really excited about what this means. This is where the fun begins as all content types and fields are in place and there shouldn't be any major changes in the near future. Upgrade paths can then be provided from starting from beta-4 i.e. you will be able to upgrade from beta-3 to beta-4 without a complete reinstall or updating it yourself.

I'm really excited to see the recent changes in phpEdu and this project site (http://phpedu.org.uk). A couple of weeks ago, the old project website had to be taken down and re-organised into 2 closely related parts.

1. Project site - http://phpedu.org.uk - to publish news and information about the project. This is where the definitive documentation on the application will be located. Releases will also be announced here as well as on http://drupal.org
2. Demo site - http://demo.phpedu.org.uk - to demonstrate the application in a simulated environment of the fictitious University of phpEdu.

http://demo.phpedu.org.uk launch is approaching fast and we're nearly there. This is a useful exercise not only in demonstrating what can be done with phpEdu but will also show how it can be done for any academic institution.

Download phpEdu Beta-4

It's exciting to see the growing interest in phpEdu. With the growth of the project there has been a need to reorganise the site and our implementation of a demo site where people can see what phpEdu can do. The site, http://demo.phpedu.org.uk will be updated to the current release of phpEdu as soon as an update becomes available.

What's this site for then? Well, this remains the project home and will carry news of latest developments and documentation with tips and tricks of implementing your own phpEdu. Also this is where you can get a pre-packaged tarball of everything you need to run phpEdu: Download phpEdu Beta-4