"If you're seriously considering it, I'd say download and install the self hosted server; you won't be able to download any source code until you have an active API Key, but up until that, you can do whatever. " I just downloaded the buzztouch v2.1.7. And am currently installing it. But ran into a problem. Im on the installation step 1, where you put in Application PHYSICAL PATH, Application ROOT URL, etc... I keep getting an error that says: "There was a problem connecting to the database server. Are you sure you entered the proper user credentials? Server is usually localhost, User Name and Password could be just about anything! Ask your server's administrator if you're unsure." I haven't paid for the membership yet, is that the reason I keep getting the message? Do I have to pay to install the software only and get the feel of it, even though I know I am not able to dl the source code until I pay for the API? What have I overlooked?

Nope; that's an SQL thing. Your 'physical' path may vary depending on who you're hosting with. I use Network solutions, and that section is 'pre-filled'. If you're running a server out of your house, then it will be the physical path to your BT Servers 'root' directory. So for instance, if you're running some kind of WAMP/LAMP config, and your bt server root is "C:\www\htdocs\" then use that as your physical path. If you don't get it right, it won't let you past that point... so that's good and bad at the same time. You won't get further until it's correct; but if you get further, you'll know you're right. Good luck! Cheers! -- Smug

Nevermind. I figured it out!! :)

Thanks Smug :)

Ok. Everything went great, until I tried to log in for the first time. It keeps saying "log in failed" What did I do wrong? Am I to put in "user" as my user name as I did in the previous sections? It says its usually an e-mail address. (Please don't laugh at my newbie'ness) j/k I can hear you laughing from here I went back and made sure I put in the correct info in the config.php and re-uploaded it. Everything else looks nice 8/ NEVERMIND AGAIN. Figured it out. :) Got a little too excited and got ahead of myself. Had to finish up the instructions :)

Now, you should be able to do almost everything... except download source code. You'll probably also notice most plugins are not available; those need to be loaded separately. I'm not sure if you can get them without being a BT Member; to be honest I'm not sure. The best way to find out is to try, I suppose. You can get them from your 'official' BT account page (on buzztouch.com, NOT your self hosted server), on the left menu where it says 'installed plugins'. If you select any of the plugins, it should take you to a 'description page'. On that description page, in the upper right, there will be (if applicable) a link to download the plugin. You would then turn around and upload that into your self hosted server via the 'plugin manager' link on the left 'Admin' menu... It's usually easier if you download 'ALL' your plugins, unzip them all, and FTP them at once to your <BT_Self_Hosted_Root>/files/plugins directory, then do a 'refresh' from your plugin manager page. Hope this helps, let us know if you have any issues! Cheers! -- Smug