General requirements

• open source
• LAMP based (linux, apache, mysql, php)
• strong developer/user community
• actively being developed
• lots of contributions
• easy to install/configure
• easy to use (even our interns can operate it)

Code quality 

These are rule-of-thumb, there are exceptions where one of these being missing could actually be a good thing. Suggesting that a technical person do this review.

• Properly abstracted object oriented PHP
• Code well commented and clearly defined over files
• Descriptive variable/function names
• Proper indentation sticking consistently to the same style (which style is as important as consistency)
• Variable names following standard industry practice naming conventions.
• Abstracted API for extensibillity
• Security conscious design: for example not relying on register_globals
• Code/API documentation - as complete as possible.
• Dependency balance: e.g. don't reinvent the wheel, but don't rely on many esoteric libraries either.

Specific requirements

• integrates with joomla
  • Order forms for members 
  • hosting status page from which upgrades/cancellation can be done (see specs)
• integrates with civicrm
  • civicrm data
  • activity logging 
  • accessed via civicrm backend
• domain hosting ordering process (from domain whois through to ordering packages and addons - check out this hosting spec for details)
• typical hosting billing features like upgrade/downgrade, add features etc.
• recurring billing - we currently bill on an annual process - with invoices sent out by email with links to payment options. Other typical recurring billing issues like "cancellation" are also not available out of the box.
• free options - we currently offer free hosting packages ("starter" package on a Kabissa subdomain and limited disk space etc) as well as paid ones, but still require an annual renewal process to be completed to keep the domain hosting account active.
• templated emails (see specs)