Content management systems (CMS) are critical tools for web development. Over the past decades, more options have entered the market, expanding the software solutions offered to users worldwide. Founded in 1997, TYPO3 CMS is an open-source enterprise content management system that strives to support smaller sites through multinational companies. Keep reading as we look back at TYPO3 CMS’s history and what we can expect from the company in the future.
Origins and Early Development
TYPO3 was developed back in 1997 by Kasper Skårhøj, a Danish developer. At this time, content management was not widely available or discussed. As websites were becoming more complex, this CMS aimed to have a system separating content and design to offer reliable websites, intranets, and online applications. Skårhøj identified a need for a new CMS system where site owners could maintain the content on their website without disrupting the design. TYPO3 offers a full range of features that allow for the creation of reliable and scalable projects. While Skårhøj no longer develops the product, he is still part of the global community for TYPO3.
By 1998, three different prototypes were in place, and the final concept of TYPO3 emerged. The web agency superfish.com supports the commercial development of the product and then teamed up with Saatchi & Saatchi to bring TYPO3 into the internet business as well. In 1999, the technical foundation of TYPO3 went to completion, but Skårhøj left superfish.com in August of this year with the development rights to the project. Going solo, August 2000 saw the launch of the public beta version for the first time. By the end of this year, the quality of TYPO3 will be verified, and the community will begin to grow in support of this exciting development.
Growth and Evolution
Over the years, there have been many milestones in TYPO3’s development, with it becoming open source in 2001. In the following year’s winter, the first TYPO3 community meeting took place in Austria, and the company’s snowboard tour was created. The additions of extensions and modular architecture were highlights of the development phase, increasing interest in using this new CMS. The Extension Manager continued to face refinement, and the release of TYPO3 version 3.x and its following updates saw growing support and excitement for the brand.
As more features were added, enterprises and large organizations were naturally encouraged to adopt TYPO3. In 2004, the TYPO3 Association was formed, and it reached 1,000 members by 2020. The transition to open-source, community-driven development boosted the brand’s popularity with users and organizations globally.
Major TYPO3 Releases and Innovations
Over the years, the updates and new releases have shown the world just how innovative TYPO3 is as a company. TYPO3 4.x offered enhanced usability and new features, including an improved user interface. The system was considered an accurate enterprise content management system and could benefit more complex projects within large corporate organizations. TYPO3 6.x and 7.x saw the modernization of the CMS and the introduction of features, including PHP namespace support and drag and drop within the Page Module. From there, TYPO3 8.x and 9.x improved performance and scalability for companies. As we head into more recent times, TYPO3 10.x and beyond focus on security, accessibility, and long-term support (LTS), offering all of the tools that businesses need to thrive and grow in this day and age.
TYPO3 in the Modern Era
TYPO3 continues to stand among highly-respected CMS platforms such as WordPress. TYPO3 may be a more suitable option for many businesses, thanks to its ability to separate content and design quickly. While WordPress is ideal for beginners and simple websites, more complex projects will be able to reach their ambitious goals with TYPO3. More recent releases of TYPO3 continue to add and improve features to fit the modern needs of companies, and the TYPO3 Association has grown from strength to strength. Various membership types, such as academic and community memberships, are on offer, strengthening its position within various industries.
The Future of TYPO3
Thanks to ongoing developments and its roadmap for success, TYPO3’s future looks bright. New releases strive to focus on emerging trends in CMS, and the company works to adapt its offerings to meet current expectations in this demanding marketplace. The TYPO3 community plays a huge part in voicing its opinions about what the company must do in the future, and open-source collaboration continues to attract new users yearly.
Migrating from TYPO3 to WordPress
Consumers often ask us about the option to export content from TYPO3 to WordPress. TYPO3 does not have a direct export feature for WordPress. Therefore, you must follow a few simple steps to complete this work. Firstly, use the TYPO3 backend to export pages and posts, which you’ll often need to do as XML or CSV. Then, you can manually extract media files from the fileadmin/directory. If you are using an SQL database, you’ll want to export data from TYPO3’s tt_content, pages, and sys_file_reference tables.
Since its initial launch, TYPO3 has experienced an incredible journey. It continues to develop each year to meet and exceed the expectations of companies worldwide. We highly encourage developers and businesses to explore TYPO3 to see how it can support their future projects.
About Websults
Are you looking to build a new website or improve your current site this year? Contact Websults to outsource the management of your website. We’ll save you time and resources while giving you peace of mind that your online presence is in expert hands. Managing a website requires ongoing updates, security monitoring, and performance optimization. Here at Websults, we take care of it so you can focus on growing your business. With expert support, proactive maintenance, and data-driven improvements, Websults ensures your website stays fast, secure, and up to date.
