OpenCart Development

Battery Powered LED Lighting for Decks and CupboardsOpenCart is my newest venture into the world of Open Source platform development (as of December 2011), but I’m enjoying it.

OpenCart is a very nicely laid out and constructed Open Source platform that is written using PHP and MySQL and free to the public. The system is fully themable, meaning that a full set of custom graphics templates can be developed and the site can be reskinned to look however an artist envisions it.

It is a robust ecommerce system offering online-store owners a comprehensive solution that includes:

  • Unlimited Categories
  • Unlimited Products
  • Unlimited Manufacturers
  • Templatable
  • Multi-Language
  • Multi-Currency
  • Product Reviews
  • Product Ratings
  • Downloadable Products
  • Automatic Image Resizing
  • Multiple Tax Rates
  • Related Products
  • Unlimited Information Pages
  • Shipping Weight Calculation
  • Discount Coupon System
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Module System
  • Backup & Restore Tools
  • Printable Invoices
  • Sales Reports

OpenCart ecommerce websites can be setup pretty fast, particularly if a pre-developed theme is used. Setup involves:

  • Development of custom artwork or installation of a pre-designed theme
  • Installation of the OpenCart software
  • Setup of the OpenCart store including taxes, shipping, payment gateway, etc
  • Training and assistance with uploading products and categories

The OpenCart system is a great, economical solution for a business wanting to get a store online under an economical budget and fairly standard product catalog requirements.