One thing that seems to cause an exceptional amount of problems with using ZenMagick seems to be zen-cart’s missing page check. This check, which is enabled in a default installation, validates all requests. If no zen-cart template file found that corresponds to the value of main_page, the homepage will be displayed (via a redirect).

Since ZenMagick is using a number of custom page names, for example static for define pages, define pages will not work as expected if the check is enabled. Another example are the Ajax requests.

So, when using ZenMagick it is important to disable this feature. The setting  can be found under admin: Configuration -> My Store

Since working in parallel on ZenMagick and getting the wiki set up properly doesn’t seem to work I have decided to take a break once 0.8.4 is out and concentrate on restructuring the ZenMagick website.

There will be a few major things to start with and then the usual nitty-gritty stuff:

• Find another hosting provider - any suggestions?
• Create a simple static site that contains the basic information about ZenMagic
• Link to sourceforge where appropriate
• Create the wiki and seed with the existing stuff plus all the things that accumulated here on the blog
• Create a new demo store

Other than that I will, of course, provide bug fixes if necessary. There are also some ideas about some new plugins like:

• Theme switch based on hostname or other criteria
  This is rather trivial and perhaps more some sample code for people that want to rebrand the site based on different criteria
• Move the phpBB code into a plugin
  This is an idea I really like as it will clean up the core code a bit more. Also it may be used as boilerplate to hook up other applications that you might want to share account information with in a similar fashion phpBB is currently integrated into zen-cart
• Perhaps a couple more plugins to support more mods, but that really depends on the still missing feedback

Oh, and I am currently working on a couple of contracting jobs that are directly related to ZenMagick, which is immensely satisfying to see your code used to build some good looking websites

So, I do not have any estimates other than 0.8.4 being in the queue for sometime next week. After that, we’ll have to wait and see.

A little heads up that I am still here (if somewhat hidden), working away on ZenMagick and zen-cart.

The last few weeks have been quite busy for a number of reasons: bug fixing (I still think it’s somewhat illegal to raise most of the bug reports myself!), contracting (and more to come!) plus some deserved holidays (even though I am trying to build a wooden deck right now, so I am not sure if that counts) and some regular family live!

A good list so I hope I am excused for not having released the next ZenMagick version yet you have all been waiting for

Having said that, it will take perhaps another two weeks before 0.8.4 is going to happen. I can already tell that it is going to be  smaller than the last couple releases - more of a maintenance version. If you are curious, checkout the CHANGELOG - most of the stuff is already checked in, it’s just a question of finding the time to wrap it all up.