Smith Project: Open Source ColdFusion engine Part: 1

I got some free time, at home,  this last week to play with Smith Project. Gee, (or should I say geek.) I get some free time and what do I do? I install a Free Open Source ColdFusion® engine and play with it. I really like the idea of Smith Project for several reasons. But, for right now, ...let me point out the thing that interests me most... ah its free. And as I will soon be looking for a new web hosting provider. The thought of getting a $29 a month VPS from godaddy and installing Smith Project is very tempting. So, I thought I would take a look.

Smith Project's web site seems to be just a little out of date, they have implemented several more tags and functions than they list in the Currently supported lists

I downloaded the stand alone version to my macbook and ran the start up script.  Got a error right off the bat. Mckoi database Port already in use. Ok, go tweak a config file, rerun start script, Success, it lives!

Now for the test. I moved a Model Glue based CMS (BytespringCMS more about that later) to the webroot of Smith Project. ... and load index.cfm.... hard drive chatters for a second... ERROR. Oh, well I guess I did not expect any thing else. Lets trak it down. Seems that one of the error is due to Smith Project being a bit more strict on exact tag structure. I even found a slight issue in the Model Glue frame work files that used a bit of short hand code for one of the error handling tags that I have never seen before and according to the Adobe Docs is not documented. After a bit of tweaking,  Smith Project threw the error, Tag CFRETHROW not found.  CFrethrow??? What it that? I did not even know that tag existed... Seems it does. And with that I ran out of time to play.

When I got back to playing with Smith Project, I thought I would try a different CF application. Sticking with the theam of Open Source CMS I downloaded Katapult. Loaded up the index.cfm on katapult, error. A few vars not defined. Doh, looks like katapult uses an Application.cfc and it looks like Smith Project does not support the New Application "Framework". 

This is part one of the review, I don't want to any one who reads this to think Smith Project is as bad as the above two tests show. I just happen to pick two apps that are not yet ready ready to run. Keep watching, I'll post part two of this review in a bit. I think Smith Project has very great potential..