negative(-11) Documentation

Installation

Installation is easy. Simply download the latest version of the framework and perform the following actions:

Extract the framework contents into your working directory with your archiver utility.
Set the application folder as the document root of the virtual host.
Open the application/index.php file and define the value of ENVIRONMENT_ROOT to the absolute path where you extracted the framework. This should be the first line of executable code in the file. An example should already be defined for you.
Open your browser and load the host you defined for the framework. E.g. http://www.example.com. You should see the welcome page for the framework. If you do not, ensure the steps above have been followed precisely, and refer to the troubleshooting section below.

After Installation

Now that you have a working framework, there is more to do. The welcome page provides a link to this documentation, and it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with it. Treat it like the owner's manual to a new car, browse it at first, and refer back to it when you run into a problem. Depending on the download you selected, one or more examples will be available for you to check out. Just follow the link from the welcome page.

Enabling URL Rewriting

There is a sample.htaccess file located in the application folder of the framework. If you have the Apache mod_rewrite engine installed and enabled on your server, you can use this file to force all requests to go through the front controller, index.php. Simply rename this file to .htaccess, which will remove the need to refer to index.php in each URL request. This makes for a much sleeker, professional-looking application.

Troubleshooting

Can't see the framework welcome page? Try going over all the steps again, and then retry. If you are still hitting a wall, see if one of the following scenarios applies to you.

I extracted the framework to my web directory, all I see is a bunch of folders when I go to the site

Ensure that your virtual host's document root is pointing to the application folder. This folder contains index.php, the front controller for the application.

I am getting require_once() errors on every page

Ensure that you have defined the correct path to the framework in index.php. It should be the first line of real code after the initial comments, and looks something like this by default: define ('ENVIRONMENT_ROOT', '/var/www/vanilla');. The defined directory must contain the system folder, or the framework won't load.

I am just getting a blank page

Ensure that error reporting is turned on in your php.ini, and that the 'display_errors' parameter is set to 'on'. A good level of error reporting is error_reporting(E_ALL);, but we like to code with error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT); because we are extra uptight. The index.php file also sets error reporting near the top of the file, just after the setting for the environment root. Ensure that this is set to an appropriate level such as E_ALL.

I am getting 'forbidden' errors on all pages

Ensure that the appropriate permissions have been applied to the framework directories you extracted. This is a system adminstrator task, and you may have to contact yours to accomplish this.

I am getting server errors after renaming sample.htaccess to .htaccess in the application folder

Ensure that mod_rewrite is installed and enabled in your Apache configuration. You may have to contact your system administrator to accomplish this.