What Is It?

AgoraCart is an Open Source e-Commerce shopping cart software solution that offers a wide range of “out of the box” features. This software was developed in 1999 by Steve Kneizy’s code redesign of the Web_Store created by Selena Sol and Commerce.cgi developed by Carey Internet. The first release of AgoraCart was in February 2000, and it was folded into the Cpanel housing controls in 2001. In 2002, K-Factor Technologies and “Mister Ed” took over development, immediately releasing the successful 4.0K series that is known today for its flexibility and power.

Who Is it For?

Individuals and small to large commercial operations can use AgoraCart, as it is now based upon a dynamic MySQL database. The advantage to using this product is that it is user-friendly, yet experienced programmers can manipulate the program to make it vendor-specific. The Open Source application is wide open for developers to participate in the project as well by becoming ASPP (service provider) who can contribute in various aspects.

Features

AgoraCart features a wide range of customization and design capabilities, including the ability to change the look and feel of the project through CSS. Web designers can control headers and footers and dynamically generate product pages from store’s MySQL databse. AgoraCart also contains the ability to use custom product page layouts for individual product categories by simply adding the category-named files to the html-templates directory. Even if users aren’t programmers, they can make subtle changes throughout the store application to integrate the store into an existing Web site and to add products/services through the store database system. Alternately, AgoraCart can operate without a database, although this feature requires that visitors utilize cookies or to complete a shopping experience fully completed.

AgoraCart also utilizes a Javascript-like language called AgoraScript that allows for the use of Perl in store parsed pages (those displayed by the AgoraCart) for greater flexibility of design and function. In all, AgoraCart utilizes a wide range of dynamic features that complete the look, feel and operation of the store. These operations encompass merchandising and inventory management, processing and shipping applications, order processing and order management, shipping that supports real-time USPS, UPS , FedEx, DHL, Canada Post, AUS Post, shipping rates FedEx, DHL, Canada Post, and AUS Post. It also supports shipping internationally with USPS.

Users can also manage payment gateways and five to ten configurable other fields for profit tracking, indicating specials and featured products, showing additional images, and more. Gold version has 10 fields with link to convert an existing agora.cgi or commerce.cgi database if an old style database is detected. AgoraCart installs via FTP or SSH - your choice – and runs 100% on your Web server.

Compatibility

Installation of AgoraCart requires Unix, FreeBSD, OpenBSD or a Linux based hosting account (or server). Perl 5.6.x or higher for Version 5.0.x (most Web hosts will have this installed already), FTP or online file manager with access to the ability to set permissions on files, and the ability to run CGI scripts under a user ID and/or the ability to install the cart wrappers (user-oriented through SSH2 or by a server administrator at user request).

As a side note, although AgoraCart is free to use, it may not be free to upgrade to premier versions. Users can purchase the AgoraCartPro or a Booster Pack through various memberships that help to support this Open Source project. You can learn more about membership packages through the Web site.

Featured Web Hosts that Offer Agora

All Web Hosts that Offer Agora