This patch fixes support for MySQL v5.7.x 'strict' mode which may have prevented new customers from logging in to checkout and increases PHP v8 compatibility, in addition to many other fixes and tweaks. It updates several 3rd party libraries. ...

Version 2.6.0 or 'Quarantined Quandary' is now under the tree in time for Christmas! We added support for PHP v7.4 and initial support for PHP v8.0 and Twitter Bootstrap v5 (optional download required). We also fixed quite a number of issues since the last patch especially with MySQL v5.7 'strict' mode., and some other things have been tweaked. We've also added an optional simplified permissions system and optional support for CDN links to our major libraries. If your server PHP version supports it (v5.6.0 or later), we strongly encourage all Exponent installations be upgraded to v2.6.0 as soon as practical! ...

Though 2020 has left most of us longing for something better, the majority of us have made it through the year. To celebrate, we'll be releasing a new version of Exponent CMS shortly.. Version 2.6.0 will add support for PHP v7.4 and MySql 'strict' mode. It will also add initial support for PHP v8.0 and Twitter Bootstrap v5. Additionally it adds a new optional Simplified Permissions system to help speed up large (eCommerce) sites by reducing every user to either an Admin or a User...you either have permissions or you don't! We've also added optional support for loading most of our main libraries (jQuery, Bootstrap, YUI, and Font-Awesome) by CDN link to help speed up some sites. Several of those features had crept out in patches to v2.5.1, but have been robusted quite a bit since the last patch was released back in the spring. While PHP v8 support has been tested, there may still be some unidentified quirks, but it will allow your site to run under PHP v8 which Exponent v2.5.1 will not allow. Additionally, the Twitter Bootstrap v5 support requires an additional, optional package which will include a sample theme. This will initially be an 'beta' level release since Bootstrap v5 is still beta and there may be some breaking changes before it reaches 'stable' in the next months.  ...

Now that Twitter Bootstrap v5.0.0 alpha 1 has been released we have begun integrating support into Exponent CMS. The next release (v2.6.0) will include optional support for the new framework. Though it will initially be shipped as an optional addon, the basic support will be included in the main package. Just as with the initial integration of Bootstrap 4 there will be a separate 'beta' package to add the additional files including a sample theme. Please bear in mind that until Bootstrap 5 reaches a release stage there may be breaking changes with their implementation. ...