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1. Content Management Systems
BITM 3730
Developing Web Applications
11/8

2. What is CMS?
• Content Management Systems (CMS) are commonly used to create and store data
online
• The most commonly used CMS tools allow individuals to create their own website
without knowing anything about web development [coding in HTML, CSS, JS, etc.]
• Individuals merely install the CMS software to their website and type in specific
information to create websites

3. Two Common Reasons to Use CMS
• User-friendly browser-based publishing tools
• No technical skills required
• Compliance with Accessibility requirements
• W3C standards

4. What is Content?
• Any type or unit of digital information.
• Text, images, graphics, video, sound, documents, records, etc
• Anything that we would like to manage in an electronic format.

5. Why CMS?
• Web Content Management System
• Create/manage HTML & images
• Authoring tools
• Templates for presentation

6. Common CMS Requirements
Database Code Server

7. Most Common CMS

8. Differences in CMS
• Every CMS has its own unique way of organizing and managing content.
• It helps you to create/edit/delete content in a shared repository (database).
• It contains much improved CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
• CMS enables content to be shared across the Web sites.

9. Why Use Them?
• Drupal, Joomla, WordPress use a database (tables) to store information
• CMS uses a different technology than standard html/css sites
• The technology is open-source (free!)
• Allows people to update their owns sites
• You are the master of your own domain!

10. Joomla
• The name Joomla is derived from the Swahili word "Jumla", which means "all
together" or "as a whole".
• Joomla! is one of the most powerful Open Source Content Management Systems. It
is used all over the world for everything from simple websites to complex corporate
applications.
• Joomla! is easy to install, simple to manage, and reliable.

11. Joomla
• Joomla is written in PHP, uses object-oriented programming structure
(OOPS) techniques and software design pattern, stores data in a MySql
database, and includes features such as page caching, RSS feeds, printable
versions of pages, news flashes, blogs, polls, search, and support for language
internationalization.
• It is based on a model-view-controller (MVC) web application framework
that can be used independently.

12. Why Joomla?
• It is designed to work perfectly in basic shared web hosting environments, a package that is
least expensive and most common. Installer is simple and just like any other common
desktop software.
• It is supported by several extensions, add-on, and plug in. They are written in PHP, which is
most widely used, general purpose scripting language and best suited for web development.
• Joomla supports SSL logins and SSL pages.
• Joomla probably has a pre built module to transform it in a social bookmarking website.
• Joomla's greatest advantage is availability of a large number of extensions that you can use
to Plug-in extra features into your website and transform your website into anything you
like.

13. WordPress Issues
• The WordPress content management system is an ideal platform for
bloggers as it is easy to install and use.
• Adding or removing post dates, need to be changed in design mode and it
requires knowledge of WP scripting.
• You can add membership functionality in WordPress.

14. Why WordPress?
• With WordPress, any type of website can be created like a personal blog or
website, a photoblog, a business website, a professional portfolio, a
government website, a magazine or news website, an online community, even
a network of websites.
• Website can be made with beautiful with themes, and can be extended with
plugins.

15. WordPress
• Free website on WordPress website
• Installed to your website if you own a domain
• Themes can be uploaded or created for use

16. Drupal Issues
• Learning curve is bigger than Joomla and WordPress
• Less support available than Joomla and WordPress

17. Other CMS
• Shopify
• Squarespace
• Wix
• Blogger
• Weebly
• Moodle

18. Learning Curve
• WordPress
• Easy, No experience required
• Joomla
• Medium, Easier than Drupal, harder than WordPress.
• Drupal
• Requires technical expertise. Major updates are an effort

19. E-Commerce
• WordPress
• Yes, with plugins
• Joomla
• Extensions for managing products and content
• Drupal
• the latest version, does not support a stable e-commerce module yet

20. SEO Friendliness
• WordPress
• Excellent
• Joomla
• Basic
• Drupal
• Good

21. Speed
• WordPress
• High traffic can cause limitations
• Joomla
• Faster and less resource intensive
• Drupal
• Consumes resources if not tweaked properly

22. Plugins
• WordPress
• Extensive. 41,579 plug-ins
• Joomla
• Few. 7000 extensions
• Drupal
• Many. 32,568 modules

23. Themes
• WordPress
• Extensive. Tens of thousands of themes
• Joomla
• Few. Thousands of themes
• Drupal
• Many. Thousands of themes

24. Mobile Friendly
• WordPress
• Good. Simple responsive starter themes
• Joomla
• Good. Many mobile extensions to choose from
• Drupal
• Good. Going mobile is simple.

25. Once Installed
• Easier to have website host install for you to avoid potential errors
• Login through Admin Panel, such as wp-admin
• All actions occur with the Admin panel, impact how website looks and is
accessed

26. WordPress Admin

27. Joomla Admin

28. Drupal Admin

29. Homework
Assignment 9:
Of the Content Management Systems described in class, pick one and explain why you would choose that
CMS over other options.