By gomer56 on
Which CMS should I use. I need a CMS for a highly complex web 2.0 site. I have been reading that Drupal is harder to learn than Joomla but it can do more things eventually. I am looking for a professional CMS that I can start myself but eventually hire professionals to make custom modules and scale it. I need real answers from the people that use it. I am posting this on other CMS forums as well. I did a through google but I am still not sure. Please help or link me to some info.
Comments
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There are already a multitude of comparisons that can be found with google.
There are a multitude of sites that can be looked at already running CMS's that can be found in the same manner
Another suggestion would be to stop at your local book store and page through books on the CMS's you are considering.
The best way to figure out what does what and what doesn't do what is to test them in a development setting. Doing so avoids any bias (fanboy or not).
Make a list
You might want to start with a "must have" and a "nice to have" list of features and check out the cms options you are considering to see whether they are supported, either in core or in an add-in module that appears to have current support.
Almost any of the CMS's can be persuaded to do almost anything, it's really a question of how much custom work you'll want to do.
Yes, Drupal is a startup challenge compared to some other tools like Wordpress. Those of us here found it worth it.
If you have questions about specific categories of feature, someone here will likely be able to help.
:)
My must have
I want to create an internal web site with a PHP Framework.
This framework "must have " the ability to
* use external modules like Pear Modules ( Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer, Net_FTP, ...)
* integrate easily in module php scripts:
I use a php SAP module (SAP_RFC) to extract data from SAP into an array
I don't know if drupal can easily do it
* to create "rich content"
The content I need is a report generated by a php script after filling a formula (ie name of the SAP system)
with eventually a comment entered by the user
I want to know if Drupal fullls those requirements.
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should likely be a separate thread.
api.drupal.org is where you will likely want to start your investgation as well as the documentation area.
Depends on what you want
Yeah I also recommending posting more features that you're looking for. Drupal's biggest asset in my opinion is the development community. So many of the modules here are fully opensource and free which means if you set up a site with most of the drupal modules you need and want to tweak it. You can get someone to work on the modules, and then even submit that work as a patch and have it supported like all your modules.
Joomla has lots of fantastic modules, but many modules have cross-purposes because many of them cost money. So if you can find joomla modules that do EXACTLY what you want then for a very low cost joomla is better. But if you want free and highly flexible, drupal is better.
Dunno if that makes sense
Here's what you'll do
Download and set up both Drupal and Joomla on a test server. Then download and install the modules/extensions you need and install.
Play with both systems creating the type of site you're looking for. Find out which one feels better to you - which one is more in tune with the what you like (since both are quite different.)
Then come back the the forums and ask specific questions.
When you find the one you're comfortable with, go with it.
~silverwing
Generally, whatever other CMSs can do, so can Drupal.
A few things are in Drupal's favor, in my personal experience:
-As mentioned by others, you do not have to search all over the web to buy modules.
-You have a central repository of releases, modules, themes, showcases and documentation here at Drupal.org.
-Drupal is more expandable than Joomla, especially with performance tuning and multisite support, should you decide to branch out later.
-The community is more enthusiasm-motivated than money-driven, and therefore, in my opinion, you are more likely to get unbiased, sincere advise about what tools to use.
-Most of the time, whatever function you want your site to have, someone has already thought of it and there is a Drupal module.
-Just go to a search engine, and type in the site functionality you want, followed by the words "Drupal module", such as "calendar Drupal module", and the first link usually leads you to the Drupal module site with the function you are looking for.
-Drupal has excellent search engine optimization features if you want your site to show up higher in search results.
Of course, you can easily test different CMSs out on even the most modest of computers with a local test install.
Thanks everyone. I have
Thanks everyone. I have decided to go with Drupal. I am very excited about all of the possibilities that it offers! I bought the perfect domain to hit the ground running. I look forward to being on this site asking questions and helping when possible.