CMS, or Content Management System, have become one the internet's most powerful web developer tools since PHP.
CMS is a computer program that allows publishing, editing and modifying content on a website as well as maintenance from a central page. Such systems of content management provides procedures to manage workflow in a collaborative environment. It uses a database (usually MySQL) and the content is created and edited on the web in an administration portion of the web application (referred to as the Backend). The resulting content is then displayed to the viewers on the regular site (referred to as the Frontend).
The core function of CMSs is to present information on websites with features that vary from system to system. Simple systems highlights a handful of features, while other releases, notably enterprise systems, offer more complex features with more powerful functions.
Why CMS?
In a market where websites need to be built faster and easier, and when people are demanding to customize and maintain their sites in an easier manner rather than depending completely to their developers, open-source CMS is currently a popular choice for many developers to get the job done. Unfortunately there are now many CMSs available and finding the right one has become somewhat of an ordeal.
There are several possible reasons for using a Content Management System, but the main reason for using a CMS is to make creating and editing of a website content in a way that it is simple, more user friendly and easier. A good CMS will allow its users to spend more time focused on the design of the frontend then on implementing extensions or functionality.
Understanding CMS
Most CMS have communities that supports its developments. What really matters when choosing the right CMS for your project is to understand the people behind the product and that they are the right people for the job. Not how many people it has behind its developments.
CMS have features that can be further enhanced with additional extensions. You should always check that the CMS you are going to use include extensions with the functionality you will need. Extensive research before settling on a CMS can give you more information about the advantage and the disadvantages of your chosen CMS.
Whether you are a big company or small group of freelancers, it is always best to consult web developers to get information on how user friendly your chosen CMS is and how it can give you better chances in your market. If you are hiring a web developer to create your site, you should first provide a list of requirements and then have them present you with your CMS options before the project starts.
Looking Inside CMS
There are many things to look for in a CMS. Most CMS have the same features, and each CMS can have additional features that others don't. There are a few of the more important ones to look for:
- Installation precedures.
- Administration interface.
- Extension for extra functionality.
- Template manipulation.
- User community.
Always look for the CMS with the best options that meet your demands from the list above. Friendly user interface may appeal more but may have some "unseen" flaws, and complex features with more codes may have features that you will not need. It is advised for you to do your research before investing your time and energy into any particular system.
A good CMS should have a standardized format, laid out logically in each of its section at the backend. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors are becoming a standard to many CMSs since not everyone understand HTML codes to create for example, different font styles and headings. A good CMS also allows you to design pages the way you want and should work around your needs.
Popular Choices
The development of open-source Content Management Systems is continuing at an increasing rate. There are new systems emerging constantly and many of these systems are beginning to show promising results. The "Big 3" players in the open-source CMS world such as Joomla! and Drupal have been popular and widely chosen. While WordPress has been one of the most popular choice for a blogging tool, and also one of the most popular CMS overall in the world.