Individuals FAQ
This page is for individuals who want a quick answer before reading a whole page. Each answer links to the page with the detail.
Warning
.htaccess slows down every request. When .htaccess files are enabled (AllowOverride anything but None), let alone
used, Apache looks for them and reads and evaluates them on every request, in every directory of the path, and
page loading times go up drastically (measured). The only real fix is to switch the feature off for
the virtual host: AllowOverride None in the HTTPS virtual host, and the rules in the virtual host's own
configuration as mod_rewrite rules. That is far faster in production speed tests and well worth the time it takes
to optimize a production configuration. Switch over right away: copy the rules of the
example HTTPS virtual host into your virtual host (with the static cache, also
staticcache_offload.conf), set AllowOverride None, run apachectl configtest, reload Apache and
test the site. The same rules for other servers: nginx, LiteSpeed,
Caddy, IIS, Velocity (built in); where virtual host rules go in a control
panel: Plesk, cPanel, DirectAdmin, ISPConfig.
On LiteSpeed or OpenLiteSpeed, the server's own page cache can also answer anonymous visitors and crawlers without PHP: Page caching with LiteSpeed and OpenLiteSpeed.
Contents
Cost and hosting
Does Exponential cost anything? No license fee. It is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later (Licensing for buyers). You pay for hosting, a domain name and, if you want them, outside services such as a mail provider or an AI provider.
What is the smallest setup that works? PHP 8.0 or later (PHP 7.4 usable without support), SQLite 3 (no database server) and either a common web server or no web server at all with Velocity (Requirements at a glance, Running on a small budget).
Can I use cheap shared hosting?
Often yes, with Apache or LiteSpeed and .htaccess, installed through the setup wizard. Velocity usually does not
fit shared hosting because it needs a long-running process
(Shared hosting or a small server).
Do I need a database server? No. SQLite 3 is the default and stores everything in one file. PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, Oracle and MySQL are also supported if your host offers one (Database support).
Can I try it before paying for anything?
Yes. Install it on your own computer with exp:install and its defaults (SQLite, the default site package)
(Choosing an install method).
Building the site
Do I need to know how to program? Not to write and publish. To change how the site looks beyond the theme's options you edit templates and stylesheets, which is closer to HTML than to programming (Choosing a site package and theme).
Which theme should I start with?
The default installation uses sevenx_themes_simple. The older ezwebin design is kept for sites built on it
(Site packages and the themes that ship).
Can I lay out pages visually? Yes, with Exponential Layouts, the page builder (Layouts editor). Many personal sites never need it; folders and articles are enough.
Can I register my domain name through Exponential? No. Domains are bought from a registrar and pointed at your server. Exponential only needs to be told its address (Domain names and HTTPS).
Blogs and portfolios
Does a blog have comments?
The shipped Blog post class has an "enable comments" checkbox, and comments are Comment objects stored under
the post. Who may write them is a permission you set. There is no separate ezcomments extension in this
distribution (Comments on your blog).
Can I import my WordPress blog? Not with one click. There is no ready importer; the documented path is an export, a small conversion script and an import tool (Moving from another blog platform).
Does it make RSS feeds? Yes, RSS 2.0, Atom and podcast feeds are built in under Setup > RSS (RSS feeds for your blog).
Can I crop and rotate photos in the browser?
Yes, with the ezie image editor inside the edit form (Editing images with ezie).
Can I upload many photos at once?
Yes, with the multi-upload page of ezmultiupload (Uploading many images).
Family and club sites
Can I make a site only my family can see? Yes. Either one private area (a section that anonymous visitors may not read) or the whole site behind a login (Private areas with roles and sections).
Does the birthday extension send birthday reminders? No. It adds a field that stores a date of birth. Reminders would need custom work (Birthdays and family dates).
Can club members sign up themselves? Yes, with the registration page and activation by mail (Members and registration).
Can I send a club newsletter?
Yes, with cjw_newsletter. It needs a cron job and outgoing mail that works (Club newsletters).
Can members pay dues or buy event tickets? There is no ticketing or membership-fee module. The built-in shop can sell items; anything more needs custom work or an outside service (What exists and what does not).
Running it
How do I back up? The database and the uploaded files, together, kept somewhere else (Backups for one person).
How often must I update? Watch for releases and apply security fixes promptly; a monthly look is a good habit (Updates for one person).
Is two-step sign-in available? Yes, with authenticator apps or a code by mail (Two-factor sign-in).
Will the AI assistant write my blog for me? It writes drafts, never publishes, and needs a provider key or a local model that you set up (The writing assistant).
When should I pay someone? When a task touches the server, mail delivery, a migration or custom code you cannot test (When to hire help).
Related pages
- Individuals: start here
- Individuals glossary
- What exists and what does not
- Website creator FAQ
- Customers FAQ
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
Become an Exponential Partner
Partners share their information, provide funding, contribute back and develop the products with us, and that is how Exponential grows. A partner website and dashboard are planned for mid-2027: please become a partner today to speed up our growth rate and land new features faster.