What Is NGX-Ramblers?

Introduction

NGX-Ramblers is a completely free and open-source framework for building Local Ramblers Group websites using the latest Ramblers Branding, without the webmaster needing any technical or programming skills. It's the culmination of over 10 years voluntary work by members of Kent Ramblers, but is free to use by any other group.

• To see some examples of existing group websites that have been built using NGX-Ramblers see here and here and here and here.
• An example of an area website is here.
• Here are some typical screenshots of what an NGX-Ramblers website looks like:

What does NGX-Ramblers do?

• NGX Ramblers provides a way to create a website for your group without your webmaster ever needing to do any programming at all. Yes, you read that right! You will be able to build any aspect of your group’s website without ever having to write a single line of HTML, Javascript or CSS!
• You will be able to add any number of pages to your site to any nesting depth, and on these pages you will be able to add and format text, images, action buttons, and albums using an advanced content management system that will automatically produce pages that embody the new Ramblers Brand.
• All page, text and image changes can be made in real-time to the live running site and software releases are not required to be applied by webmasters in order to put changes live.

How can it help my group?

• NGX-Ramblers features comprehensive but user-friendly Admin and Committee modules that sit above the technical aspects of the solution.
• These modules allow Webmasters and Committee members to manage the website content, group members, walks and social events, committee information, and all aspects of group to member email communication, but without needing to understand the technology that underpins these functions.

What Third Party Systems can NGX-Ramblers connect to?

There are a mature set of server-side APIs to third party systems and social media platforms used by the Ramblers community. These include:

• Ramblers Walks Manager — for listing walks and groups. For publishing walks in CSV format.
• Ramblers Insighthub — for importing member data and email lists.
• Facebook — feed plugin for recent posts and likes.
• Instagram — recent image posts feed.
• Meetup — publishing of walks and venues, listing of events.
• Mailchimp or Brevo — synchronisation of mailing lists from member data, sending of transactional and campaign emails to members.
• Google Maps  — visualisation of walk start and endpoints, driving directions from home to walks.
• postcodes.io — calculation of postcodes, grid references and Lat/long Geocoding.
• OpenStreetMaps / OS Maps — map views of walks, editing of routes and saving in GPX format.

Why the name NGX-Ramblers?

The NGX-prefix is there because the web framework that underlies the NGX-Ramblers project is called Angular and ngx is the prefix traditionally used when an angular component or library is created and made available to the wider community. However, as a webmaster or committee member, you don't need to worry about this or anything to do with angular at all. NGX-Ramblers has been designed in such a way that you only ever need to interact with user-friendly admin screens and pages built by angular so all of the technical sophistication will be hidden away!