Lemuel Stevens - Freelance Web Designer & Developer » Blog http://www.lemuelstevens.net Professional development that exceeds client's expectations. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:03:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 A Word On Progressive Enhancement and Graceful Degradation http://www.lemuelstevens.net/166/web-design/a-word-on-progressive-enhancement-and-graceful-degradation/ http://www.lemuelstevens.net/166/web-design/a-word-on-progressive-enhancement-and-graceful-degradation/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:12:32 +0000 Lemuel Stevens http://www.lemuelstevens.net/?p=166 There is no doubt that the world of website creation is complicated. Even back in the day when almost everyone was using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, you still had several old versions floating around with one version supporting one plug-in and another browser not. Although it can be extremely frustrating to have to create websites and content for users of all shapes, sizes, and ability levels, those outdated Internet users can be absolutely key to the success of your page or your product, so you exclude them at your own risk.

To ensure that as many people as possible are reached, designers have their choice of two main browser support strategies: progressive enhancement or graceful degradation. These two systems sound very similar to the untrained ear, but designers know first-hand how different they are.

To look at progressive enhancement vs graceful degradation, it would be easier to understand them as they are applied in a practical approach before understanding them in a technical sense. Graceful Degradation is a widely used term which ideology is basically using the latest technologies first, and then fix anything that needs fixing for older browsers. Developers do this on a daily basis: most code for Firefox first, then fix Internet Explorer. On the other hand, Progressive Enhancement refers to the habit of building first for the less capable, outdated browser and then enhance for the latest technologies. Developers generally, use this on a daily basis. For example, when writing code for a website, most of the times a developer will start with the markup and then apply an external CSS file where he/she adds all the styling. That is Progressive Enhancement in the practice.

So what are these two terms all about? Graceful degradation is based on how a web page looks, or the presentation of the data you have posted on your website. If someone with an ancient browser accesses your site, they will receive as much data as their browser will support. With progressive enhancement, the content of your website will come through loud and clear, but it may not look the way you intended. What this battle really comes down to is presentation versus content. What is more important to you and your company? The information you have on your site or the way that information is presented?

You can also look at the two through the scope of user experience. Today’s websites are about a lot more than just giving sports scores and the latest news headlines in a static, almost newspaper-like environment. They are about entertaining, about immersing the user in an environment that is user-friendly, fun and exciting. Graceful degradation will allow as much of that total presentation, the total website experience, to come through to users as possible, while progressive enhancement will screen out the goodies that make your website exciting and get the nuts and bolts, the information and the basic functionality through.

Both technologies usually go hand in hand and have been part of the ways we do things for years. It’s just the terms that are not that well-known. And now, both of these practices need to evolve due to the new languages that are approaching. If you want to go deeper into both of these terms, check a related article on accessites.org.

]]> http://www.lemuelstevens.net/166/web-design/a-word-on-progressive-enhancement-and-graceful-degradation/feed/ 4 Top 5 Content Management Systems http://www.lemuelstevens.net/76/web-software/top-5-content-management-systems/ http://www.lemuelstevens.net/76/web-software/top-5-content-management-systems/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:24:44 +0000 Lemuel Stevens http://www.lemuelstevens.net/?p=76 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
]]> http://www.lemuelstevens.net/76/web-software/top-5-content-management-systems/feed/ 5