A Good CMS Should Make It Simple To Create Links
Have you ever found yourself trying to teach a client a little HTML so they can add and edit pages for the website you just created?
I’m guilty… or I used to be - before creating a better content management system.
It’s one of the things that really bothered me about other CMS apps:
- Clients shouldn’t have to learn html if they hire me and pay me big bucks…
- Clients don’t want to learn HTML and most can’t even if they tried - or they don’t have the time…
- Creating a link from one page to another should be friggin’ easy - but it’s not.
Obviously I wouldn’t be griping if I didn’t have a solution.
So here it is:
Jean Moniatte says:
July 2nd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
So you are using a rich text editor (looks like FCKEditor), like many CMS systems out there. Nothing that ’special’ unless I missed it?
jackborn says:
July 2nd, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Jean,
I don’t know of any other CMS apps that allow you to create a link from a drop down menu that consists of:
1- Existing pages in the database, nicely organized by category
2- Files in the file system that are automatically “skinnned” by the templating system
Most have neither. Some may have one or the other. Mine has both.
There are other reasons why my CMS is ’special’ but I’ve already outlined them in the other posts and pages on this blog so I won’t repeat it here.
The fact that I use FCKEditor isn’t the point of the movie…
Jean Moniatte says:
July 3rd, 2006 at 12:06 pm
ok, thanks for the clarification.
Once of the biggest content management issue seems to be the upload/selection of pictures and graphic files. Can you give us a hint on how you are going to make it work in your implementation?
Fotis Evangelou says:
July 10th, 2006 at 9:27 am
Yes there is.
Try Joomla! CMS with TMedit or JCE editors. They both can “read” existing articles from database, shown to the user through a popup window.
jackborn says:
July 10th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Been there, done that.
Look, Joomla is Mambo rehashed. Mambo is notorious for security issues. I’ve used Mambo and I left frustrated. I wouldn’t have “rolled my own” CMS if Mambo fit the bill.
When you take a system prone to SQL injection attacks, bloated code, fugly urls (http://www.joomlajunk.com/component/option,com_contact/catid,12/Itemid,49/), plus other headaches… and you slap some bells and whistles on it, you’re not going to get an end result that I would consider a big improvement.
I won’t give you my 21 point manifesto on all the things I hate about Mambo/Joomla. You found a CMS you like. I am very happy for you.
For everyone reading this post and my comment -
Go try Joomla.
If you fall in love with it, my CMS is not for you.
On the other hand, if you want something easier to use, built with you in mind from the ground up, the simplest templating system on the planet, the ability to use static files out of the box, nice urls out of the box, private label admin, and something your clients can start using in 5 minutes, then my CMS might be just what you’re looking for.
jackborn says:
July 10th, 2006 at 10:41 am
I’ve been creating websites since 1999. I’ve tried Mambo, Typo3, Nucleus, Wordpress, Drupal, yada, yada, yada.
I know what I like - I know what I don’t like.
All of these have strengths. Some of them have strengths that mine does not — at least not yet.
But all of them have gaping holes. Monumental problems that I hope to address.
I wouldn’t have created my own if I’d found what I was looking for already. (Gee, I think I’ve said this once or twice before ;))
I left this comment from Fotis up because I really truly gave Mambo every opportunity… but in the end I found it to be a complete waste of time and very detrimental to the search engine ranking of the site I was using at the time.
I’m just shocked that skilled experienced programmers would fork Mambo instead of starting from scratch.
Fotis Evangelou says:
July 11th, 2006 at 6:22 am
The good thing about open source content management systems like Joomla is their expandability. You can find loads of stuff or even make your own for yourself. The code is there and it is open.
What would you answer to that? Is your content management system expandable or plugable, like Shaun Inman’s Mint for example? You pay for the package but you also have the ability to “play” and experiment with it and if you have the knowledge, expand it!
If the commercial CMS you are preparing is simply one to write articles and easily attach static pages, have beautiful URLs and a super easy templating system, then excuse me saying that other CMSs, totally free, already exist and do exactly that. Cutenews or Wordpress perhaps?
I believe what is missing from a commercial CMS is true expandability!
Don’t get me wrong on that. My original comment was made in a very friendly tone, but you seem to have misunderstood me. I didn’t say “Joomla is the best, go get Joomla!”, I simply pointed out that the feature you mentioned is not something new. And since you have setup this blog to engage people in what you are doing in an obviously helpful and friendly way, than you should accept comments the same way
Fotis
Fotis Evangelou says:
July 11th, 2006 at 6:29 am
P.S.
If the reply to the above question is “Yes, it will be expandable”, you can count one more customer and I’d be happy to post a banner for your CMS in my little Joomla blog at here (Alexa ranking:187.000) to show my support
.
jackborn says:
July 11th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Fotis,
No problem - I didn’t misunderstand the intent. I’m glad you’re here posting, commenting, and challenging. The worst thing on a blog or forum is deafening silence.
So I’m glad you’re here - even if we disagree.
Yes, the CMS will be expandable. But let me give you my impression of the kind of expansion you might see.
My system, because it handles static pages natively, will allow any coder to create a page with PHP code and have it wrapped inside of the template. So, if you write
<?php echo 'hello world';?>save as hello.php and upload, it will wrap right inside the template - no muss no fuss.
This native support of static files gives a LOT of flexibility.
However, I do not expect you will see the same proliferation of plugins that you see with open source systems that require plugin creation in order for the system to be extended.
For example, WordPress has a multitude of plugins for contact forms. Why would mine have that when you can use any form processing code and just upload it and start using it? There’s no need for a “plugin”.
But my plan is to have a collection of scripts that I have found or created that folks can share and add to their system as they see fit.
The docs will have information on how to access the system variables. So, if you want to query the database, for example, I’ll give you the recipe to use the db class that is built into the system. Naturally, you’re free to use your own home grown db class or write it out long hand, but it will be your option.
Fotis, the big area of disagreement I have with you is something I can’t really prove until I launch the Beta testing (soon). But my issue is that you seem to be saying that such systems already exist.
Obviously, I disagree.
My two points:
1- I truly do not believe there is a system that has every advantage my system has. That said, there are going to be PLENTY of folks that try out my CMS and say, “Nah, I’ll stick with XYZ”. That’s cool, because I know there are others that are going to say “Thank you for reading my mind”.
2- Small improvements in several areas don’t add up… they multiply. So a 10% improvement in four or five key areas is more like a 100% or 200% improvement, IMHO.
If the commercial CMS you are preparing is simply one to write articles and easily attach static pages, have beautiful URLs and a super easy templating system, then excuse me saying that other CMSs, totally free, already exist and do exactly that.
Cutenews or Wordpress perhaps?
I have only just now looked at Cutenews, but looking at the templating system, doesn’t impress me much… and it appears to be a “static files only system”.
WordPress I’m very familiar with. I’ve posted on this blog (powered by WordPress) that anyone wanting a blog should use WordPress. I consider this to be the defacto tool for blogging.
But WordPress (although it can be hacked into a CMS) is not designed to be a CMS that a web design freelancer or web design agency can turn over to a novice client and have them feel at home with the admin. Post vs Page?
And then there’s the templating. 12 or more files for a skin?
Static files? Can be done… but only after hacking. (Actually, I wrote a plugin for static files… but that’s another story)
What I’m selling is extreme convenience. No muss, no fuss. An admin just the way a web design agency or freelancer would want - not that end users can’t use purchase a license, but I’m gearing this towards the multiple license crowd. And since web design freelancing is what I do, I have a pretty good idea of what is missing and what others like me might want.
Want to slap your logo on the admin? Please do.
Hired a new web designer yesterday? In 5 min they can skin a site. No learning curve.
Need to roll your own plugin? Screw the API… write some PHP code and upload that bad boy.
Version 0.1 ain’t gonna be perfect… but it’s time to roll this thing out and get some feedback.
I’m putting some finishing touches on the user admin and then I’ll be asking for Beta testers.
Fotis, glad you’re here. I enjoyed your site. You’re obviously a very smart cookie from what I see from your plugin development and articles.
I hope you stick around and test out my CMS so you can give me your thoughts - even if you opt to stick with Joomla.
Fotis Evangelou says:
July 11th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Jack, thanks for your reply!
To tell you the truth, I am not only working with Joomla! I’ve deployed Cutenews in many “less demanding” projects that I needed to develop fast (check out this site for example).
I find your way of thinking very interesting, concerning the expandability of your CMS and the easy deployment of external code without messing with any API. And I certainly think your CMS will make a difference, otherwise I wouldn’t bother commenting in the first place, right?
I hope you stick around and test out my CMS so you can give me your thoughts - even if you opt to stick with Joomla.
Yes, Jack, I’ll “stick around”
- I’ve already enjoyed “15 days of JQuery” - and I would also like to help you beta test your CMS. I am not a Joomla only designer/developer!
I would especially be interested in developing “plugins” and perhaps help a bit -if needed- with the admin’s user interface (I belong to the few designer/developer breed of people :), ha ha!)
You have my e-mail and can contact me whenever you want.
P15 says:
September 8th, 2006 at 11:07 am
Nonetheless, we act as if this is an obvious thing while it isn’t. Jack got on the client chair and wondered how things could be done better.
I like the feature. I think a good CMS should support something like this. Nice job.
Btw, i like the video’s a lot. I am currently working on my own CMS so i might lend an idea or two.
Josh says:
November 13th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
The whole idea of a cms is old. What clients want is nicely designed website that they can update the text or image content easily without destroying the layout of the site. There is nothing hard about this. Ajax inline edits, simple file uploads, drag and drop divs. All edits need to be done with the client looking at the site edits in real time, with a big save button somewhere. Not a completely separate interface that allows the client to mess up the site with bloated plug in text editors and having to wait for posted content and update previews. Let me browse to a page, log in, and wala everything is editable. Keep it simple. All of this is easily done with the various script libraries available, little mysql knowhow and some standard’s based design.
Josh, Oklahoma
Content Management says:
March 15th, 2007 at 4:35 am
Nice Blog, I’m using toko for content management (it’s a free one)… http://toko-contenteditor.pageil.net
Stephen says:
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Nice Video. The CMS looks easy and simple to use which is a plus. I agree, most clients don’t want to learn html, they just want something that is easy to point and click with. I can’t seem to find the product being sold here, was it released?
AnferTuto says:
July 28th, 2007 at 8:54 am
Hola faretaste
mekodinosad
andrew says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
I’ve used most CMS’s out there. I agree that while you may be reinventing the wheel here, it’s a fresh minimalist approach which I really like.
BTW, website baker has the same link system, minus the static files. If you open sourced this CMS, sold plugins for cash, I think you could have a serious rival to even Joomla in terms of users. People just like the word “easy”.
By the way, I’ll beta test for sure. looks good.