Foreword

Roller is not the most popular blog server out there, or the one with the most plugins and themes—that distinction goes to WordPress—but Roller can be the best choice in many situations. For an IT department seeking a Java-based blog server to run on their existing Java EE application server, Roller is the most complete open source option out there. It's also the best choice for developers looking to build full-fledged blogging features into an existing product. Roller's business-friendly Apache license means you can use Roller's code in your product even if your product is closed-source and commercial.

Alfonso's book fills a very important need for those of us who do find Roller the best choice. Roller has a basic installation guide, user guide, and template author guide. Roller also has user and developer mailing lists where you can ask questions and get some support from other Roller users. What this book provides, you won't find in the stock Roller documentation: illustrated, in-depth, and step-by-step instructions that explain how to setup, customize, and start blogging with Apache Roller.

Whether you're setting up an Apache Roller site for your own personal use or helping to set up a site for thousands of bloggers, this book is a great starting point for everybody involved.

David M. Johnson

Founder of Apache Roller

http://rollerweblogger.org/roller