ImpressCMS 1.2 Alpha 2 available
After a slightly longer wait than foreseen, the ImpressCMS project has released the second Alpha of the upcoming 1.2 version into the wild. This is the next step towards a beta release, which will be coming if no major problems are found in the next few weeks with this alpha.
The ImpressCMS 1.2 branch is particularly interesting, as it marks the end of Xoops compatibility. That doesn’t mean the developers are trying to break as much of the Xoops functionality just for the heck of it of course. It does mean that ImpressCMS can choose its own path to greatness, without having to think each time if the proposed change won’t break Xoops compatibility. The ImpressCMS 1.2 branch will have some very interesting additions and changes, especially for module developers
jQuery inclusion in the core: The standard inclusion of the jQuery library guarantees the developer that AJAX functionality will be available without any extra dependencies. The fact that the jQuery library is set as standard also means less potential juggling with different AJAX libraries and versions of those libraries.
IPF: The classes which started some time ago as the SmartObject framework, have evolved and extended to form the ImpressCMS Persistable Framework (IPF). These are classes that serve as a solid foundation for modules, without having to re-invent the wheel (or the hot water, depending on your preference).
EYODF or Eat Your Own Dog Food. A very healthy principle (unless you really start eating dog food, don’t exaggerate) that has been taken up by the ImpressCMS core and addon developer teams.
The first steps are already made towards converting the entire core of ImpressCMS towards using IPF. Most im* modules (imTagging, imBlogging) are also heavy users of IPF. That’s also the best way of testing the IPF design. Eating our own Dog Food 
When the bugs found in Alpha 2 are resolved, ImpressCMS 1.2 will evolve towards the beta cycle. That means that no breaking changes will be made anymore. This doesn’t mean everything will be frozen. Already some nice layout work is being prepared on the installation procedure.
3Mension will be compatible with the 1.1.2 version of ImpressCMS at the moment, as the first release of the site is imminent (a few weeks at most). The new features in iCMS 1.2 look better and better as we get nearer the new release.
I can hardly wait.