Joined on 06-11-2007
TechSoup Member
Can anyone comment on how well these integrate with dynamic content, particularly a PostgreSQL database? I have a custom CMS written in python, but the programmer is the only one who understands it, and it is risky to always be dependent on this one person. Thanks!
I can't speak for the others, but Drupal works great with PostgreSQL.
Drupal all the way. I've used Drupal to design seven sites so far. We just finished building http://www.denverculturefeed.org for the City of Denver and we're not looking back.
Drupal is insanely configurable. Oh, and I use it for my Nonprofit Tech Blog.
Joined on 07-18-2008
TechSoup Member
Hi,
I'm a non-techie person (communications director) and we are looking at an overhaul of our website to be done by an outside design firm. One proposal was for using Joomla. Will using that be difficult in terms of implementation and maintaining on an ongoing basis as opposed to the more-conventional paid services?
Marty
I have used several different ones, both Open Source and not.
Open Source I like Drupal because of all the modules and because it's been around a long time and is well documented and lots of answers on the web if you search for them. It handles dynamic content, is very easy to set up your own customized templates/Look and Feel, and it's pretty easy to teach others to administer it once developed and set up.
I also like LifeRay, though it's more complex, Java based and a bit of a system hog - but it's very easy to use and customize also and has lots of modules. Just not as well documented as Drupal.
If all you need is a little something though instead of a complex system, MoveableType or WordPress are easy to make work as a CMS though they're actually Blogs.
"Will using that )Joomla) be difficult in terms of implementation and maintaining on an ongoing basis as opposed to the more-conventional paid services? "
See www.MyJoomlaCast.com for online video tutorials for Joomla.
Within minutes, your staff, from the comfort of their own home, can learn how to edit the site, add images and much more.
Hope that helps,
Joined on 04-02-2008
TechSoup Member
I would hands down suggest Drupal. It is very scalable, easy to theme and has a huge community behind it. I have worked with most of the open source content management systems out there (I also work for a commercial CMS provider).
The code is not near as nasty as Joomla's, so if you need someone to go in and customize your installation they are going to have a much easier time doing it. Drupal's admin interface is also much more intuitive than many others out there. I have setup over a dozen installations and have had no problem setting up sites for single administrators all the way up to 12-15 small groups for a church's ministry leaders.
You can use Drupal as a simple blog or you can ramp it up into full customized CMS mode and host a full, community site with multiple modules, member profiles, forums and custom databases being used.
Joined on 02-19-2009
TechSoup Member
I've been exploring various CMS options for my non-profit. While test-driving Joomla, I've found it nothing short of extremely difficult to use (and I'm a designer w/ HTML & CSS knowledge). The Joomla instruction is very messy. Feedback I've received suggests that Drupal or Expression Engine are both much better.
Joined on 09-29-2004
Washington, DC
TechSoup Member
We regularly use both Drupal and Joomla, depending on the site we're working on and its particular needs. For our own site, we've used Drupal to take advantage of the powerful taxonomy/tagging system so we can cross reference partners and projects and other random keywords. To oversimplify, I would say Drupal is for a more complex site and Joomla is for a simpler site. (@jluszcz, there will be a learning curve with both of them...it gets much easier).
They both have their particular strengths and weaknesses, and they both keep getting better and better.