ExpressionEngine 2.0: Get ready for a technological leap forward!

ExpressionEngine 2.0 will bring with it a more powerful new engine under the hood and an elegant new control panel to drive it with!

Click the image above to see a preview video of the control panel, and read the FAQ below for answers to many questions.

When will ExpressionEngine 2.0 be released? (*)

ExpressionEngine 2.0 will be released when its done! However, the release will not be a surprise. Currently we plan to release 2.0 in three phases. First, there will be a Developer Preview for EE Add-on Developers. The primary purpose of this release is to give EE add-on developers the time they need to update their add-ons for 2.0. Second, there will be a invitation beta. The purpose of the beta will be to stress test 2.0 in a wide variety of situations. And third will be the official public release.

The Developer Preview and Beta are not available yet. We’ll announce their availability on the EE Blog along with instructions on how to apply for the Preview and Beta programs. The actual release date of 2.0 will depend on the length of the Preview and Beta programs.

What are the new features of 2.0? (*)

ExpressionEngine 2.0 will be built with CodeIgniter as its new underlying architecture.  This is great news for both the ExpressionEngine and CodeIgniter communities.  ExpressionEngine users will now have access to a huge community of great PHP developers, and CodeIgniter users can now offer a full-featured CMS to their clients. 

The ExpressionEngine Control Panel is being redesigned with a strong focus on improved usability, greater productivity, more logical controls, and easier theming and customization. The movie at the top of the page showcases one of the default new themes and gives you an idea of the great changes taking place.  There is also a new File Manager. Please keep in mind that there is much that could not be shown yet since EE 2.0 is still under development.

As more features get finalized we will reveal some of them, although we do plan to keep some secrets until the final release! 

How much will ExpressionEngine 2.0 cost? (*)

ExpressionEngine has had the same price for over three years. During that time the capability of the application has vastly increased, the number of modules more than doubled, and our development and support team has grown much larger.  While our final pricing decisions have not been made, we expect that there will be a modest price increase.  For those users who own an existing ExpressionEngine license,  your license status will be taken into consideration when upgrading.

If I’m interested in ExpressionEngine, should I wait for 2.0 or purchase now? (*)

It is always best to buy the current release, rather then waiting for a future version.  The vast majority of what you learn and develop in the current version of ExpressionEngine will also apply directly to 2.0, and the upgrade process will be easy.  Further, your recent ExpressionEngine purchase will be taken into consideration when upgrading, so there will be no penalty to buying before the release.

What can I do to get ready for ExpressionEngine 2.0? (*)

We intend to make upgrading from 1.6.x to 2.0 as smooth and seamless as possible. You can prepare by keeping your existing ExpressionEngine installation updated to the latest release. When ExpressionEngine 2.0 is released we will make any additional steps necessary for the upgrade available in the User Guide in our usual thorough fashion.

Should I renew my Download Account now or wait? (*)

You can renew now without any fear that you will lose time after upgrading.  Your Download Account gives you access to the versions of EE that you own. If you only own 1.x, that’s the version you’ll have access to. If you upgrade to 2.0, you’ll have access to 1.x and 2.0.

What is CodeIgniter? (*)

CodeIgniter is our Open Source PHP application framework. CodeIgniter is a toolkit that lets PHP developers write code faster and more productively. Think of it this way: ExpressionEngine is a fast way to develop powerful, dynamic websites. CodeIgniter is a fast way to develop powerful, secure web applications like ExpressionEngine. Derek Allard outlines the benefits of EE on CI on the EE blog. If you are a developer please join us at CodeIgniter.com. 

Will 3rd Party Add-ons work with ExpressionEngine 2.0? (*)

We will be releasing a Developer Preview of ExpressionEngine 2.0 prior to ExpressionEngine 2.0’s public release. This will give developers the opportunity to update their add-ons to ensure compatibility with ExpressionEngine 2.0. Although third-party add-ons for the 1.x version of ExpressionEngine will not work with 2.0, the changes necessary to make them work are minimal.  We will provide a list of add-ons that have been updated for 2.0

If you are a developer for EE please subscribe to the ExpressionEngine Blog as we will post information on how to apply for the Developer Preview there when it’s available.