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Top 5 Content Management Systems

July 28th, 2009 in Web Software

What exactly is a Content Management System?

Content Management Systems (CMS) are web software built primarily for managing the day to day data operations of a website, or group of websites. They are frequently used for storing, controlling, and publishing information such as news articles, manuals, guides, source code, brochures and much more. A content management system’s most desirable features include:

  • Efficient and maintainable code handling: The framework is likely to consist of a number of separate code files. It is essential that they be loaded when needed, and preferable that they are not loaded if not needed. The mechanisms used need to be capable of handling extra code files added as extensions, plugins or widgets. 1
  • Database Interface: Many web applications need access to a database to be able to function efficiently. The framework itself needs a database to perform its own functions. While PHP provides an interface to various databases, there is much that can be done in a CMS framework to provide higher level functions to meet common requirements. These are needed both by the framework and by many extensions. 1
  • Menus: These are a common feature of websites, especially when taken in the wildest sense to include such things as navigation bars, and other ways to present lists of links. It is not desirable for the framework to create final XHTML, because that pre empts decisions about presentation that should belong to templates or other extensions. But it is desirable for the framework to provide the logic for creating and managing menus, including a standard interface to extensions for menu creation. The framework should also provide menu data in a way that makes it easy to create a menu display. 1

There are six (6) categories of Content Management Systems, with their respective domains of use.

The Top Five

In this article I have selected some of the most popular open source free to download and use CMS tools. You can choose any of them for your website depending on your particular needs or organizational requirements. I also listed a list of available resources for each CMS on the list. Feel free to comment below.

  1. Joomla!

    At the top of the list is Joomla! currently at version 1.5.1.3. Having previously used Joomla! and assisted with developing a custom template for the Joomla! platform, I found that Joomla! had a lot to offer to me as a developer and the end user as well.

    Programming Language: PHP
    Main advantages: Professional standards, internationalization, customization.
    Disadvantages: too many commercial products for Open Source development, difficult to learn.
    Outlook: Strong challenger for the top CMS spot, commercialization of extensions should continue to provide many income opportunities for 3rd party developers.

    List of Joomla! Template Sites

    Other Resources

  2. Drupal

    Second in the list is Drupal currently at version 6.13. Tens of thousands of people and organizations are using Drupal to power scores of different web sites, including Community web portals, Discussion sites, corporate web sites, Intranet applications, Personal web sites or blogs, Aficionado sites, E-commerce applications, Resource directories, Social Networking sites.

    Programming Language: PHP
    Main advantages: core CMS, Views, CCK, Organic Groups, & huge library of contributed modules.
    Disadvantages: complex, needs more top quality themes, frequent security upgrades.
    Outlook: Huge potential to continue growth and expansion on this platform over time.

    List of Drupal Template Sites

    Other Resources

  3. Wordpress

    WordPress is a simple and elegant CMS, perfect for single user blogs, with a large number of themes and modules available online. WordPress is also a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. What a mouthful. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time. More simply, WordPress is what you use when you want to work with your blogging software, not fight it. N.B.: WordPress’ default capabilities can be increased many times over (and new functions can be easily added) through its easy-to-use plugin architecture

    Programming Language: PHP
    Main advantages: Easiest CMS to use, customize, and extend.
    Disadvantages: Lacks many of the social networking functions, ecommerce, forums, wikis, etc. used on more expansive sites.
    Outlook: Best for personal publishing, huge user community, will continue to be the preferred choice of bloggers for years.

    List of WordPress Template Sites

    Other Resources

  4. Typo3

    One of the most complex and professional CMS platforms out of the box, TYPO3 is popular for business websites, especially with European companies.

    Programming Language: PHP
    Main advantages: design, extensions, customizations, flexibility, professionalism.
    Disadvantages: too difficult to learn for most, too many proprietary conventions.
    Outlook: Strong CMS for web development, sure to continue with a core of specialized developers and corporate clients, but losing support and market share to other platforms.

    List of Typo3 Template Sites

    Other Resources

  5. Mambo

    Mambo is a full-featured, award-winning content management system that can be used for everything from simple websites to complex corporate applications. It is used all over the world to power government portals, corporate intranets and extranets, ecommerce sites, nonprofit outreach, schools, church, and community sites. Mambo’s “power in simplicity” also makes it the CMS of choice for many small businesses and personal sites.

    Programming Language: PHP
    Main advantages: Multiple Languages, Mature with 8 years plus in service, Open Source, Easily Customizable
    Disadvantages: complex, not for beginners
    Outlook: Huge potential to continue growth and expansion on this platform over time.

    List of Mambo Template Sites

    Other Resources

References:

  1. Brampton, Martin. PHP 5 CMS Framework Development. June 2008. Packt Publishing Limited

Leave a Reply

5 Responses to “Top 5 Content Management Systems”

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  3. prepaid tarife says:
    June 27, 2010 at 5:55 am

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    August 13, 2010 at 4:14 am

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