Overview
You can build and manage your website with a wide range of third-party software on DreamHost — site builders (Big Cartel, Cargo, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix), content management systems (Concrete CMS, Joomla!, MediaWiki, Moodle, phpBB), eCommerce platforms (Shopify, Zen Cart), and file management (Nextcloud), among others. This article describes how to prepare your site, links to setup guides for each tool, and how to check PHP 8 compatibility.
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The DreamHost WordPress support team can create a custom WordPress site for you. See this article for more details.
How do I prepare my site?
Before you install third-party website software, you may first need to prepare your website to run it.
The needs of each software are different, so consult your software's documentation for any necessary requirements.
SSL certificates
All modern websites should be configured with an SSL certificate.
FTP topics
The following articles explain how to log into your server to manage your software's files.
Adjusting domain settings
Some software may require specific DNS configurations in order to function.
Adding custom DNS records — including A and CNAME records
SSH topics
Some software may require you to run SSH commands on the server.
MySQL databases
Many types of software require a database to function.
What third-party software can I use?
The following table provides information and links to various third-party software.
| Tool | Type | Description | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel | Site builder | Specializes in creating an online store for your merchandise. | |
| Cargo | Site builder | Personal publishing platform that helps artists create simple websites to display their work. | |
| Concrete CMS | CMS | Content management system that allows you to build a simple website. | |
| Drush | Scripting tool | Command-line shell and scripting interface for Drupal. | |
| Joomla! | CMS | Content management system that allows you to build a website. | |
| MediaWiki | CMS | Collaboration and documentation platform. | |
| Moodle | CMS | Open-source learning management platform. | |
| Nextcloud | File management | Open-source software that allows you to share and manage your personal files with others. | |
| phpBB | Bulletin board | Open-source forum bulletin board software. | |
| Shopify | eCommerce | Site builder that specializes in eCommerce website solutions. | |
| Squarespace | Site builder | SaaS-based content management system (CMS) which is composed of a website builder, blogging platform, and hosting service. | |
| Tumblr | Microblogging service | Microblogging social networking app where users can blog about their ideas and interests via text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos. | |
| Weebly | eCommerce | Site builder that quickly creates a website, blog, or online store. | |
| Wix | Site builder | Cloud-based web development platform that allows users to create HTML5 websites and mobile sites through the use of drag-and-drop tools. | |
| Zen Cart | eCommerce | Online store management system. |
How do I check if my software is compatible with PHP 8?
You can also check if the version of the CMS you're using is compatible with PHP 8. If not, it may need to be manually upgraded.
Concrete CMS
Version 9 is compatible with PHP 8.
Joomla
Version 4+ is compatible with PHP 8.
MediaWiki
Versions 1.39 is compatible with PHP 8.
phpBB
Versions 3.3.10 is compatible with PHP 8. You can locate the version in your admin area. It is also located in a file located at example.com/phpbb/docs/CHANGELOG.html.
ZenCart
Version 1.5.7 compatible with PHP 8.
