History of SLAED CMS
The evolution of SLAED CMS from its inception in 2005 to the present day, highlighting key milestones and development philosophy.
Table of Contents
Origins and Early Development (2003-2010)
SLAED CMS was created by Eduard Laas, a German developer who recognized the need for a content management system that prioritized performance, stability, and security over flashy features. The history of SLAED CMS actually begins earlier, in 2003-2004, when Eduard was developing his own projects.
He frequently encountered the problem of high server load with high traffic volumes. Issues with PHP-Nuke and many of its clones began to appear at approximately 500 unique visitors per day. The systems produced heavy load on the server, forcing Eduard to change hosting providers frequently. Some hosts blocked accounts, issued warnings, or simply asked him to leave.
To address these issues, Eduard began working on optimization and modernization. His initial work focused on reducing database load, particularly the number of connections, which was the primary cause of server load. Gradually, he introduced deeper modifications to both functionality and overall appearance. He made numerous changes to the system's core, as well as all scripts, modules, and blocks. To improve attractiveness, he completely replaced all graphics. Standard modules and blocks were typically removed to enhance security and speed. The system's core without additional modules and blocks began making only about 4 database requests, depending on settings.
The system was tested, optimized, and modified over time. At a certain point, Eduard decided to share it with the community. Thus, the first version of SLAED, version 1.0, was released in early 2005.
The early versions of SLAED CMS focused on:
- Minimal resource usage
- Fast page loading times
- Secure coding practices
- Modular architecture for extensibility
During these formative years, SLAED CMS gained a loyal following among developers who valued its efficiency and reliability. The system was built with PHP and MySQL, technologies that were becoming increasingly popular for web development.
Growth and Community Building (2010-2015)
As SLAED CMS matured, it began to attract attention from a broader audience of developers and website owners. The period from 2010 to 2015 saw significant growth in both features and community adoption.
Key developments during this period included:
- Enhanced module system for easier customization
- Improved template engine with greater flexibility
- Expanded language support for internationalization
- Stronger security measures and regular updates
- Active community forum and user-contributed modules
By 2015, SLAED CMS had established itself as a serious alternative to larger, more resource-intensive CMS platforms. Its reputation for speed and reliability attracted users who needed high-performance websites without the overhead of complex systems. The system was recognized for its:
Simplicity
Intuitive interface that allows managing a website as easily as working with documents or email.
Functionality
Extensive functionality with mass additional modules, blocks, extensions, and themes.
Efficiency
Low server resource consumption and high system speed.
Security
Powerful security system with flexible settings and logging of all visitor actions.
Reliability
Stable operation under various conditions with minimal downtime.
Community
Active developer community contributing modules, themes, and extensions.
SLAED CMS gained significant adoption with numerous implementations across various types of websites, from media sites to business portals. The system's file archive contained over 685 additions from third-party developers, demonstrating the active community around the platform.
Modernization and Technical Evolution (2015-2020)
The years from 2015 to 2020 marked a period of significant modernization for SLAED CMS. As web technologies evolved, so did SLAED CMS, incorporating new standards while maintaining its core principles of performance and efficiency.
Major updates during this period included:
- Compatibility with PHP 7 and later versions
- Enhanced database abstraction layer
- Improved responsive design capabilities
- Better integration with modern web standards
- Streamlined installation and upgrade processes
During this time, SLAED CMS also began to embrace modern development practices, including:
- Git version control for development
- Automated testing procedures
- Improved documentation and user guides
- Regular security audits and updates
The system continued to evolve with new features while maintaining its core strengths. By 2020, SLAED CMS had established itself as a mature platform with:
- Open Source Model - Transition to an open source model that provided unlimited modification possibilities for experienced users
- Active Community - A growing community of developers contributing modules, themes, and extensions
- Performance Focus - Continued emphasis on low resource consumption and high-speed operation
- Security Enhancements - Advanced security features including automatic tracking of malicious requests, injections, and unauthorized actions
About the Creator: Eduard Laas
Eduard Laas is the creator and lead developer of SLAED CMS. As the sole developer and maintainer of the project, he has been responsible for all aspects of the system's development since its inception in 2005. Based in Germany, Eduard has dedicated nearly two decades to creating and maintaining SLAED CMS.
His approach to software development is characterized by:
- Performance Focus - Prioritizing speed and efficiency over feature bloat
- Security Consciousness - Implementing robust security measures at all levels
- Simplicity - Creating intuitive interfaces and straightforward functionality
- Reliability - Ensuring stable operation under various conditions
Eduard continues to actively develop and maintain SLAED CMS, personally overseeing all major updates and security patches. His hands-on approach has been a key factor in the system's consistent quality and reliability.
Development Philosophy
Throughout its evolution, SLAED CMS has maintained a consistent development philosophy centered on four core principles:
Performance
Optimized code with intelligent caching mechanisms for fast page loads.
Security
Multi-layer protection against common attacks with built-in security features.
Modularity
Flexible system with independent modules that can be activated or deactivated.
Efficiency
Minimal resource consumption with maximum functionality.
Extensibility
Easy to extend with custom modules, plugins, and themes for specific requirements.
Customization
Powerful templating system with support for custom themes and layouts.
Future Directions (2020-Present)
As SLAED CMS continues to evolve, it faces the challenge of adapting to modern web development trends while maintaining its core values. Recent developments have focused on:
- API-first architecture - Developing RESTful APIs for better integration with modern web applications
- Headless CMS capabilities - Enabling use as a backend for JavaScript frameworks like React and Vue.js
- Enhanced performance - Continued optimization for even faster loading times and lower resource usage
- Modern security standards - Implementation of the latest security protocols and practices
- Cloud compatibility - Improved support for deployment in cloud environments
The development roadmap for SLAED CMS includes plans for:
| Area | Planned Improvements |
|---|---|
| Performance | Further optimization, HTTP/3 support, advanced caching |
| Security | Enhanced authentication, improved encryption, automated security scanning |
| Developer Experience | Better documentation, improved module development tools, CLI utilities |
| Modern Standards | GraphQL API, WebSockets support, Progressive Web App features |
| Ecosystem | Expanded module marketplace, theme directory, community tools |
Recent developments include the release of version 6.2 as the current stable version, with version 6.3 in development. The system continues to maintain its focus on:
- Low server resource consumption
- High-speed operation
- Powerful security system with flexible settings
- Comprehensive logging of all actions
- Automatic tracking of malicious requests and injections
SLAED CMS remains committed to its founding principles while embracing innovation. The goal is to provide a content management system that offers enterprise-level features with the efficiency and reliability that have defined the platform since its inception.