Below are a few content management systems that I researched a few months back. I hope it saves you time and money knowing which system to use! In short, a Content Management System, once installed, allows your average hill billy to manage their own website without a knowledge of html, css, javascript, php, or what would otherwise require study. As CMS has evolved, the best ones allow for user-added plugins and, through these plugins, have extended themselves so that if you want to add a forum or gallery, it only takes about 5 minutes with a plugin that somebody else made for you to use for FREE! WordPress is, without a doubt, the best CMS out there and if you can use it, do so. This is what I have used with my blog.
WordPress
http://wordpress.org/
Wordpress is a simple blog system. It is extremely easy to setup and install. It uses smarty templating. It does have a reputation for being vulnerable to hackers, though this is most likely because there are so many people who use it and, thus, so many opportunities for hackers to find glitches and exploit them. There are also literally thousands of free templates available on the net. There are also many community-made add-ons that allow you to integrate other systems (like twitter/facebook) with the site. It is programmed using PHP/MySQL.
| Benefits Very easy to install Very easy to use Low system resources lots of pre-made templates Lots of pre-made plugins PHP/MySQL |
Costs Not really any. Most of its limitations have been eliminated |
Drupal
http://drupal.org/
Drupal is a powerful CMS. It, behind WordPress, has the most templates. It occasionally has bizarre glitches when installing, but an entry-level programmer can figuring them out with a little googling. It is HIGHLY configurable and has A TON of add-ons available, like wordpress. Its main difference is that it allows multiple users to use the system, unlike wordpress. WordPress is meant for mostly one-way communication whereas Drupal allows for a little more group communication. It is programmed using PHP/MySQL. It is SERIOUSLY LACKING a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) editor in order to let the user edit content without knowing HTML.
| Benefits Moderately easy to install lots of pre-made templates lots of pre-made addons PHP/MySQL |
Costs high system resources (slower) No WYSIWYG pre-installed A bit confusing to manage addons can be confusing |
WordPress Multi-User
http://mu.wordpress.org/
Wordpress is a great tool. WordPress multi-user is an even better one. It allows you to have multiple wordpress sites or one site with multiple wordpress authors (or a combination of the above). It is meant for newspapers, but can be used for many other systems. It is PHP/MySQL and, because it is used less, relatively secure.
| Benefits All the benefits of wordpress can manage many sites can have many users |
Costs Doesn’t wash your clothes for you or do the dishes |
Joomla
http://www.joomla.org/
Joomla is another EXTREMELY powerful website system. It is functionally similar to Drupal, though the backend is much different. It has many addons and templating can be a bit more difficult than Drupal, though it is much cleaner to manage. Seems to have less pre-made templates available, but don’t let that stop you from using it. Also PHP/MySQL.
| Benefits Moderately easy to install Moderately easy to manage Addons (Extensions) more clear |
Costs Less templates available smaller user community |
CMSMadeSimple
http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/
CMSMadeSimple is the new guy on the street. It combined the strengths of Drupal with the strengths of WordPress. It is VERY easy to use compared to Joomla and Drupal and it has more features than WordPress. It is newer and, thus, has less addons and less pre-made templates than both. It also has a smaller user base and less “community” features than Drupal or Joomla, but it is EASY EASY EASY. Its is PHP/MySQL.
| Benefits easy to install easy to use multi-user administrating |
Costs Not community-oriented (yet) less pre-made templates less addons |
