Microsoft Delivers Version 1.0 of its Open-Source CMS Platform

January 13 is the launch of Microsoft’s WebMatrix open-source-friendly Web-development tool bundle. But that’s not the only new open-source Microsoft deliverable that’s hitting today.

Microsoft also is releasing the 1.0 version of its free, open-source “Orchard” content-management system (CMS). Like WebMatrix, Orchard’s goal is to require users to do less coding, making the product appealing for a less techie audience, Microsoft is hoping.

Orchard was the successor to Microsoft’s “Oxite” open-source CMS system. In December last year, Microsoft moved Orchard from its own CodePlex repository to the Outercurve Foundation. Microsoft “donated” Orchard to the Foundation, saying it was making a three-year support commitment. The dedicated project team, comprised of a handful of Microsoft employees, is being assigned full-time to the Foundation for that period.

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