Stephen Nold

Content Management Systems
November 17, 2007

We recently launched a website where our team personally designed and constructed everything from scratch.  The great part is that, for the most part, we are not code guys and the team that worked on this project knows almost no HTML, Java, or any other popular website scripting language.  So how were we able to create a successful site through our programming illiteracy?  One of the great contributions of Web 2.0 has been the introduction of Content Management Systems (CMS) for website creation and maintenance.  

A web CMS is a service available through any internet browser that provides software for easy website creation and upkeep for non-technical users.  Through a CMS, users begin by choosing from a prefab list of layout templates and themes or they can customize their own.  This theme will provide the overall structure, look, and feel of the website.  From there, users can begin to customize menus, add sub-pages and upload content, whether it be text, pictures, videos, etc.

All of the content created with a CMS is controlled through a back-end database.  This database handles all the technical stuff and lets the user focus solely on the displayed content of the site.  A CMS presents the user with an intuitive point-and-click or drag-and-drop style of interface for construction, layout and editing.  Most CMS now include in their software a "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get) text editor which looks and operates like any standard word processing program.  This allows the user to enter text just as one would through a word processor and have it appear on the site exactly as entered, keeping all formatting intact.  It also includes an option to paste text from a word processing program, which copies all of the original formatting.  This is a great time saver for those who need to post large amounts of preexisting content to a website, since the process is as simple as copying and pasting.

Some examples of CMS tools out there right now are WordPress and Exponent.  Also, all of the user-generated content of wikis and blogs are controlled through a form of CMS.  While in an earlier post I had mentioned the possible dawn of do-it-yourself registration systems, these CMS tools have already transformed the internet and can save some serious time and money for web development. The beauty of these tools is how the ownership of web site modifications is placed back into the hands of the content creators. No html knowledge needed. 

Has anyone ever used a CMS when constructing a website?  If so, how was the experience?  If you haven't used one before, is this kind of software appealing?  I welcome your thoughts.

Posted by Stephen Nold on November 17, 2007 | Comments (2)