A Path Less Taken

When it comes to software you might argue that thin is in! One category of software that interests me is small footprint software. This includes products that don’t use databases or that come in very small packages. Here are 3 that I’ve noticed lately. If you know of others then please let me know.

• TiddlyWiki – This remarkable piece of software was created by Jeremy Ruston. It is a Wiki that is completely contained in an HTML file. You read that correctly. The Javascript in the file (along with the correct permissions settings) allows you to add, edit or delete the content in this self contained Wiki program. I have used TiddlyWiki and it is really a smart program. It’s not good for every situation, but it is great for small or medium sized projects that you want to keep track of.
• Wiki on a Stick (WoaS) – Inspired by TiddlyWiki, this program created by Andre Wagner is also a Wiki in a single XHTML file. WoaS strives to be, in the authors words, more “wiki-like”. Andre felt TiddlyWiki was too “blog-like” for his tastes. I have not tried WoaS, but if it suits your fancy then give it a go.
• NanoCMS – This PHP based Content Management System (CMS) written by Kalyan Chakravarthy bills itself as “The tiniest flat-file cms in php.” At only 24kb in size it certainly seems like a contender for the title. This interesting program uses flat files for data storage so it is a breeze to setup. I have not tried NanoCMS yet, but I expect to give it a go soon.

One thing to note about two of these programs is they appear to be closed source. TiddlyWiki is copyrighted by UnaMesa and NanoCMS is copyrighted by Kalyan Chakravarthy. I think WoaS is also a closed source project, but I could not tell from a quick glance at their site. This is not a deal breaker for me, but it is worth noting.

If you too have an interest in small footprint software then you can give these unique programs a go. If you know of other solutions like this then please post a comment and share with me.

Peace