Setting up an e-commerce system

Open Source Store

© Lead Image © Kirsty Pargeter, 123RF.com

© Lead Image © Kirsty Pargeter, 123RF.com

Article from Issue 284/2024
Author(s):

Thirty bees offers a feature rich, open source e-commerce solution for setting up your online store.

If you are planning to create an online store, you will find plenty of free, open source (FOSS) platforms you can use to host your e-commerce site. In a previous Linux Magazine article [1], I reviewed OpenCart, the shopping cart service that currently powers my online store. While OpenCart works well enough, I find it a bit lacking after running it for a couple of years.

Often, FOSS e-commerce solutions are distributed on a disguised freemium model. While the core of these solutions are free and open source, they have just enough features to get by. If you need additional features, you must purchase downloadable modules and extensions, which are often pricey and developed by third parties. OpenCart in particular needs a lot of modules and add-ons to turn it into a useful web store. After installing all these extra plugins, you soon realize that you have either spent a bunch of money buying the extensions, or a bunch of time developing them yourself.

In addition to the issue of extra plugins, the person in charge of OpenCart has been involved in some controversies regarding security advisories [2, 3] and version upgrades [4]. I once had OpenCart break during a minor upgrade, which did not inspire confidence.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • OpenCart

    With OpenCart, a free, open source e-commerce system, you can put a store online in a matter of minutes.

  • e-Commerce Platforms

    If you're looking to start your own web store, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on software. We test three affordable e-commerce platforms.

  • osCommerce

    sucLooking to build an online store for yourself or for a client? If you’re thinking about cobbling together a customized solution with a database and a home-built shopping cart, don’t bother; look no further than osCommerce.

  • New eCommerce Software Magento 0.6

    California-based Varien has released a preview version of its Magento eCommerce software as Open Source.

  • Integrating Online Payment

    These days you don’t have to build your whole e-commerce system from scratch. Several companies offer online shopping support for vendors who want to stay light on in-house overhead.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News