at http://drupal.org/getting-started we find following statement:

Welcome to Drupal! Drupal is a powerful content management system ...

then in http://drupal.org/node/265726 "The Drupal Overview"
we read in the paragraph titled: "A Content Management Framework"

this:

Drupal is a Content Management Framework. This is somewhat different from a Content Management System (or CMS)

Aware that I'm am a no english native, I understand that both definition of Drupal may apply as in different statements environments, but this brought me to ask if it is better to follow one definition for "Getting started" people in order to not overhelm them with a lot of technical stuff before appropriate learning curve stage?

Cheers

Comments

dman’s picture

dman commented

Yes, those statements are contradictory.
Although I see what it's saying, in English there's very little actual difference between 'system' and 'framework' in this context. It's just trying to distinguish the thing away from common CMSs and their limitations. However, CMSs are not automatically limited ... it's just that most of them are.
:-}
No, I can't word it any better either.

I do think that that second essay is a bit unreadable. I know what it's saying, but I don't know if it can help any beginner understand the point... Maybe it needs more pictures.

Anyway, to fix the obvious contradiction you point out, perhaps it should be something like:

Drupal is more than just a Content Management System (CMS). It's more of a Development Framework (or platform) which contains a number of content management features. As well as this 'core', it also can be used to build interactive online applications or community tools - features that go beyond just "managing content".

... which is how I think of it. Drupal is not 'different from' a CMS, as it clearly IS a CMS at the core.

However I'm not game to edit that entire article, nor can I really improve it - I'm also a verbose writer so I'd just make it worse :-\

Maybe we can find some key points or pullquotes to break it up...

Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented

Thank You Dman, for your explanation. Really appreciate that you always find the patient to help me.
And I agree with you, with some picture Beginner and Newbie could make out the difference and characteristic
of the two statements. If I find some expample in Internet I will try to propose to add them.

Cheers

jbrauer’s picture

jbrauer commented
Component: User Guide » Correction/Clarification

New component categorization

Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented
Priority: Normal » Critical

As we all know Drupal is going to be more "framework" driven that "Content Managements" the next Drupal version (7)
is prooven that, so provide feedback and lets take a decision to redifine Drupal.

Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented
Status: Active » Postponed

Changed to postponed because I'm aware that such a definition matter about what is Drupal, will take time to be definitively defined by who know Drupal at deep.

Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented
Status: Postponed » Needs review

FYI:
Some new definitions
see --> Drupal.project,
provided by Angie Byron (Status - waiting approval)

Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented

Actual text on Getting started

Welcome to Drupal! Drupal is a powerful content management system, meaning you can power many different types of websites with it without knowing any coding languages.

If you're new to Drupal or having your own website, then this guide is for you.

The following pages should introduce you to the Drupal project, some best practices the community has accumulated and basic installation and configuration.  

A PDF of the Drupal 5 version of the Getting Started handbook can be found <a href="http://drupal.org/getting-started/5">here</a>.

Actual text on The Drupal Overview

paragraph: "A Content Management Framework"

Drupal is a Content Management Framework. This is somewhat different from a Content Management System (or CMS) in that it is by nature geared more towards configurability and customization. Picture a range of measurement where the one end of the scale is labeled “specific” and the other end “abstract”. On the “specific” end of the spectrum, you would have something whose form is very specialized because it’s meant for a specific purpose – like, say, a hammer. On the other end of the spectrum, you would have something much more abstracted, that is available to be configured any way you like, for a variety of purposes – like some wood and a chunk of steel. You could make a hammer, or any number of other things with the wood and steel.
Wolfflow’s picture

Wolfflow commented

FYI: As for the actual and further development of Drupal and in prevision of that many new characteristics of Drupal we should provide a coherent definition of Drupal in every pat of the documentation this might be appropriate and needed. IMHO: As for this intent I re mention here what I have so far inserted in the "Common Terminology" page for
defining in simple words what the Drupal project is and can represent.

as published in Common expressions & acronyms used on D.O.

Drupal Project
  1. A content management system: The forms you fill out, the buttons you click, and the content you work with. The stuff you interact with every day while you manage your site.
  2. A content management framework: The low-level APIs that let you extend and modify Drupal to make it do everything from ratings to image galleries to your dishes.
  3. A community: The thousands of documentation writers, developers, testers, support providers, designers, and evangelists from all over the world, working together to make Drupal a better platform every single day.

More info about "Drupal Project usage overview": A summary page of the usage information for the projects on this site.

Note: this definition is being extracted from an Article on Lullabot.com authoring by Angie Byron

leehunter’s picture

leehunter commented
Status: Needs review » Fixed

Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)

Automatically closed -- issue fixed for 2 weeks with no activity.