Shopping for Open Source Content Management Systems

Reprinted with permission from The Rockley Bulletin, May 2005. Subscribe today, it’s free!

Finding the right open source web content management system isn�t an easy task. There are literally hundreds of products from which to choose. With so many choices, it�s no wonder there�s a lack of understanding about what web content management systems are available and what these tools can actually do.

Before you begin a web content management shopping spree, it�s best to educate yourself about the different types of CMS systems available today and what they can and can�t do. Many web content management products (both commercial and open source systems) claim to manage web content. But what exactly does �manage� mean to you?

Depending on your organizational and content needs, and your definition of manage, you might select a simple open source web content management tool designed to publish content to a web site and an online newsletter. Or, you might need a more robust solution—one that provides advanced capabilities that can help you author, publish, and manage reusable content, track its progress through your content lifecycle, keep track of versions, provide security, support XML, and automate your workflow. No matter what your needs are, there�s likely to be an open source tool that can help you accomplish your goals.

Open source content management tools include �modules� (pieces of functionality you can add to your web sites few clicks of your mouse). Some common modules include:

Archives
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Membership directory
Search
Register
Event calendar
Site statistics
RSS feeds
Chat
Links
Refer-a-friend
Printer-friendly pages
Polls
News
Comments/discussions
User preferences

Some open source web content management systems also include a selection of �skins� (layout designs) from which to choose. Others offer predefined content types while some others allow you to define your own.

Most functionality is administered through an �admin� or �control� panel, a web interface to the inner workings of the system that allows system administrators to add new content, set rules, control security, turn functionality on/off, even configure role-based access to content.

Try It Before You Buy It!

Educated consumers are smart consumers. Learn everything you can about open source web content management tools before you make any decisions. The World Wide Web is chocked full of information about these tools and their capabilities, but before you decide what to buy, check out these online product demonstrations (managed by OpenSourceCMS.com).

Online Demonstrations

DragonFly - View a sample DragonFly web site; visit the DragonFly home page

e107 - View a sample e107 web site; visit the e107 home page

ENvolution - View a sample ENvolution web site; visit the ENvolution home page

Exponent - View a sample Exponent web site; visit the Exponent home page

Geeklog - View a sample Geeklog web site; visit the Geeklog home page

JetBox One - View a sample JetBox One web site; visit the JetBox One home page

Mambo - View a sample Mambo web site; visit the Mambo home page

Plone - View a sample Plone web sites; visit the Plone home page

OpenCMS - View a sample OpenCMS web site; visit the OpenCMS home page

Xaraya - View a sample Xaraya web site; visit the Xaraya home page

Additional Resources