Requirements
CS cart isn't environment hungry script and doesn't demand much of specifics on Linux boxes. It runs pretty well with shared hosting as well dedicated and relatively easy to handle in small hosting companies too. Based on LAMP it's always advised to host CS cart on Linux platform. Oddly enough CS cart can work on Windows too however it will be little tricky to get it working in right order because of some file permissions and secondly it wont be as secure as it will on Linux.
CS cart needs PHP 5.1 or above and works just like normal on MySQL 4.1. If you have MySQL 5.0 then it's really not a big deal. Some specific configuration settings are still required such as safe_mod (off) and CURL set to on. Additionally it needs GD library installed and file_uploads to be set ON. In all this CURL seems necessary for operations of most leading payment gateways there.
The Installation
If you have taken care of what we just mentioned in Requirements then installation is quite easy and just like any other open source package. Unpack files locally and then upload or upload the tarball on server and then unpack. No sweat! You do need to set the permission for the config file to 666 and some of the folder to 777. Note they need to be recursive and the job can be done easily with good ole filezilla or using shell if you are a geek. There is a confirmation screen which checks the Linux configuration what we mentioned and shows tiny cute OK text next to it. Cute because you will see these setting Ok in most of the cases so nothing goes much scary. The next screen is giving a database settings and this is the point where you mention the HTTPS url for your site. If you are using shared SSL then see what you need to do here after talking with hosting company. Being on shared SSL it still works all fine for transactions and site owners can save some money here but most of the people desire Dedicated SSL. In that case the URL remains same and just adds HTTPS there. You can also select more languages for your shop if you are running a multilingual store and can define secret keys for other references if needed. You will be asked to paste the license key during this time and this is something what you have paid for. The next step is installing the Data and if you have already created a database then just go ahead, establish the connection and bingo. It should go smooth if you can make upto this point of an installation. You are sparky for CS cart just like wordpress tells you during installation.
Features
Being a moderately priced paid solution CS –CART has got most of the standard features as well real life scenarios handled pretty well in minor details. Some of the important functions what we liked most about CS Cart is the Import CSV feature which make making BIG site going with complex inventory possible in relatively far less time. If you know excel well and ready to put some brains you wont need to hire a data entry operator at all and by any means at all.
Some of the usual features what you can expect from a paid shopping carts are here.
- Bulk uploading of categories, products and images
- Full import and export of product/user/order/language databases in CSV format
- Several ready to use preset templates. Go ahead and change the logo
- Easy addition of new languages
- Ability to switch date and time formats
- Search Engine Friendly URLs
- Generation of HTML catalog of static product and category pages
- 100% template driven storefront and admin panel
- Addition of custom content pages via administration interface
- Built-in template editor
- Product cloning
- Featured products list and cross selling
- Membership based access to every category
- HTML enriched product descriptions
- Affiliate program, Featured/Related products, cross selling, Product reviews and ratings and Gift Registry wish list
- Full product stock control
- Flexible shipping customization (based on the number of items, weight or order amount)
- Multiple levels of administrative access
Apart from this features CS-Cart has got all of the basic features of any shopping cart and gets the job done well. While being a paid version CS-CART still lacks on revolutionary innovations like Magento does and isn't setting up any new benchmarks for the market. Some of the unique features what we noticed in CS cart which aren't that much available with others are as follows
- Ability to create unlimited number of localizations
- Extensive usage of AJAX technologies, minimizing screen refreshes
- Debug console: displays a tree of templates for all pages
- Reward points addon
- Ability to add tags
- Customizable tax calculation and 'Tax exempt' feature
- Ability to act on behalf of other users
- IP-based access restrictions
- SMS notifications
While these features aren't that big deal its good to have them in order have some more chances for improved store performance. CS cart has been designed keeping the current trends and users in mind as well the other shopping cart softwares. Additionally whatever features integrated does the right job what they say and aren't in still beta or experiments. So it's really like What you see is what you get.
Extra Advantages
CS cart has got a very friendly Administrative panel which makes day to day chores of ebusiness quite easy and enjoyable. Its import and export features makes managing inventory a far easier task and doesn't eat time. Besides that CS cart is pretty much of a stable Cart system and should work straight for person with moderate expectations and least programming knowledge. Yes you don't have to be master of a programming to run CS cart.
Design
The Cart comes up with several of its own pre defined skin and should be suffice to get the job done. There aren't enough third party templates available for this one so you may need to rely on what comes in the box. Also developing templates completely from scratch is not an easy job and you might end up in frustration if you had design ready and then selected a CS cart to go with that. After looking at the Admin interface you can tell CS cart people are pretty good in Ajax however they seems just good function wise and don't wanna use that knowledge for benefit of the web 2.0 designs. While you may come across some web 2.0 features in template none of its premade design brings a joy of pure web 2.0 features. The reason could be CS cart being present in the market far earlier than web 2.0 boom and the minds behind are all mixed up in classic web and web 2.0. This can leave us in some web 1.5 template which can't be called as web 2.0 and not classic web either. Being said that it still is in fluid width and if selling is a priority than design A and design B then you may wont feel complaining in first place. Customization of existing templates is easy too and all you need is an enough understanding of smarty template engine and some language called as HTML. You can very much configure CS cart local and server in Dreamweaver, do the changes real time and see how the works. Few of the parameters those looks like part of design actually gets changed via Database and you might need to go search for patterns and change values there.
SEO
CS cart offers URLs clean enough with the product names coming in slug. Its URL engine seems producing enough good results for people already having CS cart. If you are specific niche of a product with a larger inventory then chances to get authority is pretty high. You may need some more templates tweaking for other onsite elements but if you know the science you are in game.
Pros
CS cart does what it says in functions flawlessly. Its CSV import and export function is pretty good.
Cons
How many times will you prefer reading the entire Software License Agreement? Well you should read this one with CS cart and discover what are they needing in order to let you use their software. The company is not from United status so you cant expect support answered promptly. CS cart is prohibited to use in certain countries so if you are outsourcing your development to some other country see if its in the white list of theirs. They hunt for IP and ban the members who let the developer access the forum from those countries. CS cart is good software as long as you are not running to support. If you are going for support then getting perfect support cant be 100% assured.
Overall
CS cart does what it says. It may slow down a little on certain shared hosting providers. The templates aren't trendy like the other new cart systems there however can work together if you don't have high expectations on the design.