How to Automatically Install 400+ Apps with Softaculous

Softaculous

The average page online is around 2MB up 15% from several years earlier. These pages consist of thousands of scripts and apps that can take hours to install correctly.

Luckily there’s an easy and quick way to install almost any script on your site. From popular content managers like WordPress to simple web hosting Softaculous provides over 1000 PHP and 400 scripts to help you build a beautiful site.

But unluckily with so many options, it can be challenging to navigate and know where to start.

If you want to understand everything that Softaculous can do for your website, then check out our guide to automatically installing more than 400 apps using Softaculous.

What Is Softaculous Application Installer?

Before we get into our Softaculous guide, let’s answer some basic questions like what is Softaculous?

Softaculous is software that allows you to install scripts applications and more by logging into your cPanel account. The script automates the installation of open source and commercial web apps.

The Softaculous installer allows you to make tables in a database, changes configuration files of web servers and adjusts permission settings.

There are 2 versions of this program the free version and the pro version. The free version allows you to install over 50 applications while the pro version lets you install over 400 applications. These apps can include anything from online marketing to forums.

How Does Softaculous API Work?

Let’s first define what an application programming interface is. An API is a variety of procedures and protocols that allow you to create and build software and install scripts.

Basically, an API allows applications to communicate with each other. It also acts as an access point where an app can access a database.

Picking the Right Softaculous Script for Your Company

Softaculous offers hundreds of different scripts to use from its library. This makes it essential to choose the right script for your websites needs. This software lets you install scripts without the hassle of having to upload files.

Softaculous makes choosing the right script easy by providing a rating system and a demo for your convenience. These ratings give the easiest way to select the right script.

If you want to look at the demos or if you want to see each script’s ranking then follow these simple instructions.

  1. Sign into your cPanel account.
  2. Go to the Services/Software section.
  3. Open Softaculous
  4. Go to the top and click on the star sign.
  5. Then click on a logo to see any ratings or to rate the script yourself.
  6. If you want to see demos press the large arrow before the star sign.
  7. Then click the logo, and you can see the demo.

You also have the option of viewing a comparison of different scripts based on category.

To do this click on the Softaculous link and this will let you see the category view. From here you can see a comparison of different scripts side by side and choose the one that appeals to you.

How to List and Manage Your Scripts

Softaculous also lets you list all previously installed scripts so you can keep track of the hundreds of apps you have access to. Once you have access to these scripts, you can use Softaculous to manage them.

You can use the list feature to keep track of when you installed each script and which version you’re currently using. If you have any inactive scripts that you don’t want anymore, you can remove them from within your cPanel account.

If you want to display your lists of scripts then follow these simple instructions:

  1. First, log into the cPanel account.
  2. Then navigate to the Services/Software section.
  3. Press the Softaculous icon.
  4. Then go to the list icon at the top.
  5. Now you can see and modify any of your scripts from this list.

Import a Script

Softaculous also lets you access scripts that you’ve already installed either manually or through an auto installer. You can easily import the script and manage it by using Softaculous.

After logging into the cPanel go to the services/software option.

Then select the Softaculous apps you want to install (for example ModX). Press the import tab and choose the domain where you want the script imported. Type in the directory name where the script was already installed. Last, select the import button.

Installing Wikis Using Softaculous

If you’re looking to create a website where your users can modify the structure and content from their web browser the adding a wiki to your site may be for you. Softaculous apps installer lets you quickly add a wiki to your site and has the most popular wiki’s you can add to your website for free.

DokuWiki

One of the main benefits of using this wiki is that it works mostly with plain text files. This means that you don’t need a database to store the information. This application is written in PHP programing language primarily used for web development.

DokuWiki uses a GNU General Public License this allows you to modify or use without having to pay any royalties.

If you want to install this free app on to your site, then follow these instructions using Softaculous.

  1. Sign into cPanel interface.
  2. Go to the Services/Software section.
  3. Press the icon labeled Softaculous.
  4. On the left panel, there should be a section labeled wikis. Under this section, there should be an option labeled DokuWiki for you to click on.
  5. Next, go to the Overview page and click on the install button.
  6. Make sure that your site has SSL certification and select the HTTPS as protocol.
  7. Choose the domain where you want the wiki installed. Make sure to select the correct domain name if you have more than one.
  8. Type in a directory name.
  9. Pick your Wiki name and ACL policy.
  10. Then enter an Email, Username, Password, and real name.
  11. Lastly, press the Softaculous install tab.

After this, your wiki should be installed shortly, and you should receive a confirmation email.

MediaWiki

Want to create the next Wikipedia? Then why not use the same software as Wikipedia. Luckily, the software that Wikipedia uses is opensource and can be installed with Softaculous.

  1. Log onto cPanel.
  2. Navigate to the Services/Software section and go to Softaculous.
  3. On the left panel under wikis click on MediaWiki.
  4. Then on the top of the page press the install button.
  5. Make sure that your site has SSL certification and select the HTTPS as protocol.
  6. Choose the domain where you want the wiki installed. Make sure to select the correct domain name if you have more than one.
  7. Type in a database and directory name.
  8. Then enter both an Admin name and Admin password.
  9. Pick your Wiki name and email.
  10. Lastly, select the install tab.

You should receive a confirmation email after it has been installed. MediaWiki also has the advantage of having an active online community.

Using Softaculous to Install ECommerce

With Softaculous you can install e-commerce apps like Magento, OSCommerce, Zencart, and Cubecart.

The process doesn’t differ much for each individual app so we’ll give a brief overview of how to install e-commerce script and not when the process differs between each.

First, log in to the cPanel next go to the category labeled Software/Services and find Softaculous. Click on the E-Commerce on the left plane choose any tool that you want you should get a brief overview of the app you’re choosing. Next, select the install button it will then redirect you to a form where you can fill out the details about the installation.

Last fill out the details and select install. Once you’ve done this log into the administrator page for your shop and start to manage your store.

Using Softaculous to Install Content Management Systems

Content management systems help you support to manage and collect information in any form or media. These include popular programs like WordPress and less popular programs like Textpattern. Thankfully Softaculus lets you install almost any content management system easily.

We’ll help explain how to install the most popular content management systems on your website.

WordPress

Because WordPress is the popular content management system, we’ll tell you how to install WordPress and WordPress Multi-User.

If you want to install WordPress follow these quick steps.

  1. Sign into your Softaculous account
  2. Go to the section labeled Services/Software
  3. Press the icon labeled Softaculous
  4. On the navigation menu to the left click on WordPress or WordPressMu
  5. At the top of the Overview page, you’ll find a tab that says Install click on the button.
  6. Next, choose the domain where you want WordPress installed.
  7. Type in both the description and name of the site.
  8. When prompted enter your email, Admin username, and password. Note that if you’re installing WordPressMu leave the Admin username as admin.
  9. Lastly, press the button that says install.

WordPress/WordpressMu will install in several minutes and after you’ll receive a confirmation message.

Need Help Hosting Your Site?

Now that you know how to install hundreds of apps on your site using Softaculous we hope we’ve made the process quick and easy. But if you want to know how to perfectly publish your site or if you need help hosting then contact us today.