What was eZ Publish and how it evolved into Exponential?

eZ Publish was the successful open source enterprise community based software stack for the open source PHP + Web-server (LAMP, MAMP, WAMP, etc) + OS (all unix based + windows) that was highly designed object oriented class designed PHP Classes together into a general purpose web application + cms + e-commerce development framework of systems. The company who created eZ Publish was called interestingly enough eZ Systems (now Ibexa). They stood out as experts in design of software to make the most complicated workflow of tasks required simple and easy to end users through complex abstraction and extensively documented code.

How eZ Publish Open Source Version evolved into Exponential?

eZ Publish life came to a end at the deprecation of it's core software features provide the kernel then called legacy in early 2014. This software was designed for PHP5 to run without issues. This software was easily maintained and upgraded to PHP7 and then by Ibexa control the open source version maintinence efforts were halted around 2019 effectively ending hopes from the creator that this older version would be supported and updated to continue to function as designed originally for end users without technical skills. This was a trying time of local changes by 7x to continue to run without interruptions eZ Publish based solutions, applications and end user facing website portals and stores with minor patches (to be combined later into Exponential 6.0.0). World wide, eZ Publish usage quickly declined as users were left with little option but to upgrade or port away to alternatives.

Frustration and Freedom seeking for others without funding to do either lead many to 7x to alternatively continue to drive for a free open source product continuation that resulted in a free eZ Publish (minus the trademarked name) in the open source world separate from eZ Systems / Ibexa.

In 2023 7x released a new version of eZ Publish to be rebranded as Exponential 6.0.0 which was compatible with all of eZ Publish extensive API(s) and features to be a drop in upgrade that required no database changes only core kernel release files installation needed (and clearing caches lol) for PHP 7 - 8.4+ effectively ending the user concern that eZ Publish could and should be maintained even if it was under a different open source enterprise software product project name and branding.

On, 08/11/2025 At the specific request of Ibexa, 7x is changing the project name to "Exponential" or "Exponential (CMS)".

In 2025, 7x release a new updated version of eZ Publish now Exponential 6.0.10 which continued to drive new developments in the eZ now Exponential Community / Ecosystem. This release provided a debug toolbar, php bugfixes to the kernel, design template improvements and replaces almost all uses of the trademark protected text string, 'eZ Publish', 'ezpublish', 'eZPublish', etc from the software entirely. This affects front facing key information regarding product name and it's project name, copyright(s), design image logos, settings values, template code, php code, documentation to 'Exponential' instead of the previous trademark at Ibexa specific request of 7x / The Project for the Open Source Fork of eZ Publish.

Please Note: This project is not associated with the original eZ Publish software or its original developer, eZ Systems or Ibexa.