Content Management System
by Keith "kccricket" Constable · in Technical Issues · 06/09/2004 (12:14 am) · 13 replies
I'd like to know what Content Management System you would recommend for a game development company website.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to my websites. There are a few things that a CMS must be able to do before I will seriously consider using it:
-- The ability to create pages that can be accessible via clean URLs. For example, if I create a page titled "Games", I want to be able to access it using http://somesite.com/games/ instead of http://somesite.com/components/view/page/123. Something Wiki-based would probably be good for this, no?
-- The ability to create templates that do not make use of tables for layout. Most can probably allow this, but I just like to make sure.
-- It must have community oriented features: visitors should be able to register and login. If the CMS doesn't provide a decent forum, it should be able to integrate with phpBB or another high-quality piece of forum software.
-- It must make use of either MySQL or PostgreSQL.
-- Unfortunately, it can not require root access for installation. This takes projects like JBoss and Midgard out of the question. I may be able to ask my host to do something fairly simple for me, but I'd rather not go that far.
Now, these features don't have to be built into the product; rather, if the functionality I require is available as a plugin/module/component, I'm happy with that. I'd prefer something written in PHP, but I'll take Python or Perl if the CMS is good enough.
I've most extensively fiddled with Mambo Open Source and Drupal. Drupal looks promising, but it's very confusing to use, IMO.
Also, I prefer something Open Source (mostly because there's no pricetag :-] ), but I'll consider a commercial product if you guys recommend it. Thanks for your suggestions!
I'm pretty picky when it comes to my websites. There are a few things that a CMS must be able to do before I will seriously consider using it:
-- The ability to create pages that can be accessible via clean URLs. For example, if I create a page titled "Games", I want to be able to access it using http://somesite.com/games/ instead of http://somesite.com/components/view/page/123. Something Wiki-based would probably be good for this, no?
-- The ability to create templates that do not make use of tables for layout. Most can probably allow this, but I just like to make sure.
-- It must have community oriented features: visitors should be able to register and login. If the CMS doesn't provide a decent forum, it should be able to integrate with phpBB or another high-quality piece of forum software.
-- It must make use of either MySQL or PostgreSQL.
-- Unfortunately, it can not require root access for installation. This takes projects like JBoss and Midgard out of the question. I may be able to ask my host to do something fairly simple for me, but I'd rather not go that far.
Now, these features don't have to be built into the product; rather, if the functionality I require is available as a plugin/module/component, I'm happy with that. I'd prefer something written in PHP, but I'll take Python or Perl if the CMS is good enough.
I've most extensively fiddled with Mambo Open Source and Drupal. Drupal looks promising, but it's very confusing to use, IMO.
Also, I prefer something Open Source (mostly because there's no pricetag :-] ), but I'll consider a commercial product if you guys recommend it. Thanks for your suggestions!
About the author
#2
As for CleanURLs, this is not just a feature of a CMS but has to be enabled in your webserver too (I think).
For the "Templates without tables"-thingy, well, YOU create the templates, so I'd think that any CMS could do without tables.
06/09/2004 (11:46 am)
I'd suggest Mambo, my personal fav! As for CleanURLs, this is not just a feature of a CMS but has to be enabled in your webserver too (I think).
For the "Templates without tables"-thingy, well, YOU create the templates, so I'd think that any CMS could do without tables.
#3
By the way, thanks for your suggestions! :)
06/09/2004 (2:07 pm)
Quote:I would suggest you make your own.I've thought about that, and it is a very appealing thought. I do have the skills to make something suitable for my needs, but that would take a lot of time. It'd be an interesting and very educational adventure, though. If it comes down to it, I will make my own (and to be honest, it's looking that way).
Quote:As for CleanURLs, this is not just a feature of a CMS but has to be enabled in your webserver too (I think).Yeah, mod_rewrite must be available and enabled in an .htaccess file, and all that; however, the CMS must still support cleanURLs because it is the thing that creates the links and hands them off to the user. You can make RewriteRules all day, but if your CMS doesn't support it, then it will still hand gibberish links to users instead of nice ones.
By the way, thanks for your suggestions! :)
#4
12/29/2006 (8:41 pm)
CommunityServer is what I would recommend, thats what I provide to my clients.
#5
If you need help of have any problems give me a shout at www.cubixstudios.net
02/10/2007 (11:27 am)
I would recommend Mambo, you ca find it at www.mambo.com I would also take a look at joomla its basically the same idea, both have really good tools and once you get the hang of things you will soon be able to put together a fresh looking CMS site.If you need help of have any problems give me a shout at www.cubixstudios.net
#6
Joomla (and Mambo as they are basically the same) are easy to get started with.
02/10/2007 (11:41 am)
Joomla or Typo3 - especially Typo3 is super good, but harder to get started with.Joomla (and Mambo as they are basically the same) are easy to get started with.
#7
I would reccomend a custom solution, but Joomla isn't bad. Or better, hire out a firm to do it for you.
07/26/2007 (4:47 pm)
Community Server is *rough*. I'm working with 2007 SP 2 for a client right now, and it's just too tough. Custom functionality means knowing how to work inside the API, and front-end component is counter-intuitive for a true custom design.I would reccomend a custom solution, but Joomla isn't bad. Or better, hire out a firm to do it for you.
#10
10/08/2007 (8:15 pm)
Xoops is great, except for the security holes that will allow anyone to take over your server.
#11
Try drupal, its easy to use and easy costumizable. It works mainly with divisions than tables, so you can make any design you want without this 3-colummn-standard. There is a good community too. And: It is open source.
Link: drupal.org
04/06/2008 (12:55 am)
HeyTry drupal, its easy to use and easy costumizable. It works mainly with divisions than tables, so you can make any design you want without this 3-colummn-standard. There is a good community too. And: It is open source.
Link: drupal.org
#12
Used it as a base for a web developing business for the last 3 1/2 years & have found it very customisable, secure and stable. Its easy to enable clean urls (as long as your on Apache/PHP & have mod rewrite enabled), and there's hundreds (if not more) add-ons (modules in drupal speak) to add most functionality you could wish for.
If you did opt for drupal, the latest version (6) has some very nice features making it easy to manage and organise different data within the site. They do have add-on themes to customise the look, so you could download one of those and try to mod it yourself. Everything's template based, so its easy to add custom layouts (so you choose to use tables or not ; )
Agreed drupal can be a little daunting at first (all CMS's will have some sort of learning curve), & needs a little reading up, there's plenty of documentation & videos, but that shouldn't take too long if you can handle using the GG products ; )
Perhaps if you go with one of the open source varieties you could pay someone to set up the initial site, or even just theme it. Then customise it how you like (or a bit of both?).
Which ever CMS you opt for, I'd strongly recommend an open source one, as they should have a strong community to help you, with paid expertise available if you needed something very bespoke. It means your not locked into any one companies code, which is the trouble with closed source commercial products. If that company goes walkies later down the line, your often left with often un-documented/commented code that could be expensive to customise yourself, or employ a developer to learn & modify (been there - never going back!).
Just my opinion, good luck with the site!
Phil
11/23/2008 (2:13 pm)
I 2nd the drupal vote ; ) Used it as a base for a web developing business for the last 3 1/2 years & have found it very customisable, secure and stable. Its easy to enable clean urls (as long as your on Apache/PHP & have mod rewrite enabled), and there's hundreds (if not more) add-ons (modules in drupal speak) to add most functionality you could wish for.
If you did opt for drupal, the latest version (6) has some very nice features making it easy to manage and organise different data within the site. They do have add-on themes to customise the look, so you could download one of those and try to mod it yourself. Everything's template based, so its easy to add custom layouts (so you choose to use tables or not ; )
Agreed drupal can be a little daunting at first (all CMS's will have some sort of learning curve), & needs a little reading up, there's plenty of documentation & videos, but that shouldn't take too long if you can handle using the GG products ; )
Perhaps if you go with one of the open source varieties you could pay someone to set up the initial site, or even just theme it. Then customise it how you like (or a bit of both?).
Which ever CMS you opt for, I'd strongly recommend an open source one, as they should have a strong community to help you, with paid expertise available if you needed something very bespoke. It means your not locked into any one companies code, which is the trouble with closed source commercial products. If that company goes walkies later down the line, your often left with often un-documented/commented code that could be expensive to customise yourself, or employ a developer to learn & modify (been there - never going back!).
Just my opinion, good luck with the site!
Phil
Robert Brim