Alright, after a year of learning how to build websites I've learned the following:

- How to steal a web template and place it in Dreamweaver
- How to work with FTP and hosting services
- Recognize (somewhat) the difference between PHP and MySQL
- Install PHPBB forums

Since I'm very familiar with design software, graphics are not an issue. However, I've been looking for a catch-all that combines everything into one source. I've run into what is called a CMS (Content Management System). My confusion lies in the difference between CMS and Web Design software like Frontpage and Dreamweaver. Is there a difference? I've surfed several sites using CMS and they have all the content in a website I desire, yet they are extremely slow to load.

I need direction.

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"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. " -E. B. White

I am not sure that Front page or Dreamweaver totally can be classified as fully CMS as they have other programs that work with them like flash etc. I have not done web design in a couple of years but if I remember correctly much of the all in one CMS are very slow because they do not streamline web pages and tend to load all the functionality in the CMS product on a page unless you go in and remove it. If you go by the description below I would say most off the shelf web design programs are CMS but I had always lunderstood that CMS ment not only what is below but the functionality for handycap viewing, auto sizing to meet your screen settings etc. There was a standard for Government Pages that was published but I can not find it at the moment. Hope it helps or I could just be an out of date web designer having a serious senior moment
PS check out this site for current info
A CMS system is essentially a way of separating your visual presentation from your actual content – whether that content includes photos, text or product catalogs. This separation allows one to accomplish several key things, including:

• Automated Templating: Create standard visual templates that can be automatically applied to new and existing content, creating one central place to change that look across all content on your site.
• Easily Editable Content: Once your content is separate from the visual presentation of your site, it usually becomes much easier and quicker to edit and manipulate. Most CMS software include WYSIWYG editing tools allowing non-technically trained individuals to easily create and edit content.
• Scalable Feature Sets: Most CMS have plug-ins or modules that can be easily installed to extend your existing site's functionality. For example, if one wanted to add a product catalog or chat functionality to a website, one could easily install a module/plug-in to add that functionality rather than hiring a web developer to hand code that new functionality.
• Web Standards Upgrades: Active CMS solutions usually receive regular updates that include new feature sets and keep the system up to current web standards. These updates are usually designed for easy installation over/on-top of your existing website.
• Community Support: Most active CMS solutions have developer support forums. Since CMS users/developers are beginning from a common base, it's more than likely that developers are encountering the same development challenges and can solve those challenges as a community.
• Lower Cost Maintenance: CMS hosted sites are often easier and cheaper to maintain. Since any CMS powered website would have a community familiar with the tools of that specific CMS, it would be quite easy for a new developer to dive right in and begin updates/maintenance..
• Workflow management: Workflow is the process of creating cycles of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished in your CMS. For example, a user posts a story but it's not published on the website until the editor approves it.

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Just my humble opinion!

The best CMS is Joomla (http://joomla.org)

I just built a Seoul Magazine with it.

http://mygrooveonline.com

Everything is done on an admin panal or through HTML/CSS.

Mike

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Parisok, thanks for the helping hand. It cleared up several questions.

Mike, nice website, I'd have to say the best one of yours I've seen so far... the load time is a little slow but maybe that's because I'm viewing it from a crappy govt. computer. I think I'm gonna start learning Joomla now.

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"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. " -E. B. White

The Banner at the top is probably the best I have seen on any of your sites. It really blends well. I enjoy web developement but there are so many people in it and unless you are really good you make almost no consistant money. I still use the knowlege from it in my current job as a network security guy.

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Just my humble opinion!

I've been using Expression Engine the last few weeks and I am really pleased. Really easy to use. They have a free 30 day trial, or for a few bucks they give you a full trial with all the bells and whistles.

http://www.pmachine.com/ee

Alright Mike, you have completely changed my webmaster life with your Joomla! reccomendation. I've delved into it and I can't stop. I can make websites FAR more capable of what I've made in the past with raw HTML now. I've experimented practically every extension and find myself searching daily for more. I'm converted.

Here's a website I did for a friend using raw HTML:
http://www.fullblastjkd.com

Now compare it to my other sites made with Joomla!:
www.comegetowned.net
and
www.massivefps.com

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"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. " -E. B. White

Glad to hear!

Go to joomla.org and you will fin 100s of modifications to add to you Joomla like calenders, galleries, etc.

Mike

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ACK!!! Sorry Mike but I have to add my recommendation in for PostNuke http://www.postnuke.com . I've tried out Joomla and in my opinion it's a couple years behind in development compared to PostNuke. They all do have their good points though but here's something Logic might like. In PostNuke, there is a module called PNphpBB (I'm a dev for it) that is a complete integration of phpBB into the PostNuke CMS. There are also 100's of other modules, some of my favorites are the mGallery2 module that ties in a Gallery2 picture gallery into the CMS. I'm also testing out two different modules for eCommerce that are working very well so far.

Yes Joomla has a lot of the same things available as well, but in my opinion, after looking at every aspect of the sites, the admin panel, security, modules available, tools for module development, using the Smarty templating engine, etc. I would say that PostNuke comes out in the lead. I'm working on a site right now for a photographer friend. I haven't created a template for it yet, but I have most of the functionality installed on it that will be in the final. http://mcc.tazmon.com http://www.tazmon.com is my personal site where I test out different scripts. http://www.clanihop.com is a site I made 4 years ago using PostNuke, some things are broken due to upgrades but it still looks good and gives an idea of what PostNuke can do. http://www.socie.org is another one I did using PostNuke.

My 2 cents...

Thanks for the input! I will admit my experience with CMPS is limited to just a few tries. I found Joomla and Mambo to be simple and useful. I will give postnuke a try in the future.

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