Open Source CMS MODX Launches Cloud Service

Today open source content management company MODX is launching a hosted cloud service to commercialize the product, much as Acquia and WordPress.com have done for Drupal and WordPress.

MODX started out as a volunteer open source project in 2004, but also became a company in 2010 after its first user conference. The service is focused mostly on attracting agencies that build websites for clients and emphasizes the ability to extensively customize the appearance and structure of a site.

Users can just sign up for an account and start building sites for their clients without ever worrying about what’s under the hood, but for those who want it, MODX is trying to add a much deeper layer of customization than I’m used to seeing from hosted web CMSes.

The service runs on SoftLayer‘s infrastructure. And much like PagodaBox (coverage), the MODX Cloud is attempting to blur the lines between different types of cloud computing. In MODX’s case, there are advanced features that enable users to manage the underlying cloud infrastructure and even install additional software if they so choose.

Some of the features include:

• The ability to take a “snapshot” of a configuration and save it to be used as a template for projects. Users will also be able to buy and sell these snapshots.
• Scheduled backups.
• A dashboard that lets users see the load on various servers and manage infrastructure.
• The ability to control version upgrades through a one-click process.

Not only is the service hosted by SoftLayer, but MODX also participated in SoftLayer’s Catalyst startup incubator.