On 26 June 2014 13:58, Steve Harker <shar...@gmx.com> wrote: > A but if background. The firm I work at are dumping our current web > development firm and their custom cms solution. So we are undertaking a > review of developers and cms solutions. We keep getting told go open source > ( nice) and keep getting recommended WordPress > > Could anyone offer up advise? Preferably independent advice? >
Without question I would strongly recommend a switch from proprietary to open source. I doubt anyone here will suggest otherwise on that one. Wordpress? It has to be a strong contender. If PHP suits the skillset of your staff then I'd personally say that Wordpress is the best choice (I really don't like Joomla, for example), but you can of-course take advantage of their prices to try some out. The biggest negative for Wordpress is that it is designed for blogging, and doesn't always make the best starting point for a website that doesn't include a blog or anything like it (eg news, etc). That's not to say that all that stuff can't be turned off, but if you need to disable core features of any product I'd question whether you chose the right product! Who will be doing the design work? If you have someone in mind already then take their capability into account. If not then you will have no problem finding someone who can work with any of the major platforms. If PHP isn't the skillset you go with then obviously there are alternatives on Python etc. Either way, either decide to only use tested plugins and themes or learn how to make your own. A whole world of pain will come down on you if you start hacking core files to add features based on random forum posts or "a little bit of knowledge". You need to make sure that you can upgrade your core installation as bug fixes and security updates are released, and (for example) hacking the default theme rather than creating one of your own using the default one as a template will come back to bite you. For what it's worth I let Wordpress do its own upgrades and haven't had any major problems doing that (although backups are a must just in case!) I would suggest setting up Wordpress, Drupal and Joomla on a test box (a Linux virtual machine will do it quite happily) and "play". Mark -- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) @ 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG
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