Use of CMS versus building a website from scratch

July 10, 2010 by I. Njoku

The other day, I came upon this heated argument on one of the popular forums about use of Content Management Systems (CMS). One web designer branded all CMS users lazy and lacking in imagination. Personally I dont see any reason why I should build a website from scratch if its going to have just basic features like on a blog or even a social network. Unless a utility is not available with existing software, it would be akin to re-inventing the wheel if one codes from scratch. Is it really worth the effort? In any case, a simple custom plugin will add any functionality to existing core codes.

Unless one is planning a service as big as and innovative as twitter, there is hardly any venture available CMS cannot handle. Time saving is important and any good developer or designer would know that. Today, CMS like Joomla, Drupal, Wordpress are so sophisticated they can help you build a website in minutes. They can be customised in almost any way too. They are open source and by Creative Commons licence, you may be allowed to modify and repackage them as you wish. (unless you are told not to). It is every developers dream come true.

Browsing through the thread, I separated the points thus:

For CMS use
1. Very fast deployment of websites using already existing, well developed and tested core codes.
2. Launch several sites at the same time in less than no time. For a web designer this is a dream come true because he can service many more customers in less time.
3. No need to re-invent the wheel. Work with what is on ground already.
4. Access to expert advice from the community around the CMS. Drupal, Joomla, Wordpress etc all have an active community website constantly churning out plugins, advice and ammendments to core code. The support systems are very active and helpful.

Against use of CMS
1. Vulnerability. Most Content management systems are open source and therefore easy meat for hackers.
2. No grounded, well rounded knowledge of how the codes work since you did not write them yourself.
3. Lack of uniqueness. Every other person uses the same site format like you. Most CMS is free.

This line of thought typically comes from hard core programmers unhappy that their arcane trade has been infiltrated by ordinary people. They belong to the old and dead age of closed and encrypted software packaging that restricted knowledge only to a select few. Open source lay it all open. New age content management systems made it available for all.

There are quite a few popular CMS available today - for every type of requirement:
Drupal, Joomla, Mambo, Modx, Xoops etc.

A few are specifically built for a type of website. For example, Wordpress, Typepad are very good for blogs. SMF, phpBB, bbPress, VBulettin,PunBB are all good for forums

The use of CMS especially Joomla is very common among Nigerian web developers. A few of the very popular sites were built using this.