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Open Source Content Management Systems

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Overview

Definitions Background on Open Source Tools Questions

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DefinitionsSource Code

human-readable language dictates how a program will function.

To change how a program behaves, one must change its source code.

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Definitions Proprietary Software

There is no access to the source code Nobody but that vendor can make

changes. Customers place trust in people involved

in every aspect of the coding, qa. and distribution process

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DefinitionsOpen Source

In general, any application with source code available can be considered "Open Source"

Usually downloaded for free No legal reason you can’t charge money

for the code or installation

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DefinitionsOpen Source Licensing

There can be restrictions on use, to protect developers and end users

Some licenses (e.g. GPL ) require that all changes you make to the source code are returned to the code

Others permit you to make changes and distribute it as proprietary software

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Open Source CultureA Collaborative Development Process

Programmers improve the code and share the changes with the community

Changes are based on peer review and decisions are made collaboratively

Savvy users can submit fixes along with bug reports

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Open Source BenefitsRapid Deployment of New Features

If a tool is 80% useful, improving it is much cheaper than starting fresh.

As an application gains supporters and users it grows along with their needs

This process can move much faster than proprietary software, which is tied to the budget, market analysis and development resource constraints of one corporation

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Open Source BenefitsVendor Independence

Vendors make decisions based on financial factors

Licensing fees and policies change Vendors don't always survive

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Open Source BenefitsThe Flexibility to Adapt

Internal Improvements Lack of vendor support is no reason to go

without! Added features may just be a few

development hours away Alternative Branches

If a quorum of users disagrees with the direction of a project, they can take branch it and continue development

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Open Source BenefitsFree Support Options

Searchable support forums Web-based documentation with public

comments Free, local user groups Free mailing lists

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Open Source BenefitsPaid Support Options

Broad community creates advanced users

Competitive marketplace among these users

Training opportunities Sustainability: If your vendor goes away,

someone else can take over.

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Content Management

Definitions Background Tools

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Definitions Content Management

Tools for editing pages and other resources on your site Blogs Wikis News items Job postings Event Calendar “And much, much more!”

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DefinitionsContent Management Tools

Desktop Contribute, etc.

Online Services Blogger, etc.

Hosted on your web server Proprietary (e.g. Sharepoint ) Open Source ( e.g. Drupal, Joomla, etc. )

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Content ManagementBackground: Static web sites

“Back in the day”, you thought you only needed 5 pages of content

Hire a webmaster for updates Content management? That sure sounds

expensive!

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Content Management“Interactive” websites

Then, you needed additional functionality: Shopping cart Donations “Take action” Mailing lists

Build a custom application? That sure sounds expensive!

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Content ManagementOnline Services to the Rescue!

AKA “Application Service Provider” Monthly service is free, or much cheaper

than custom development Add a link to their server and your worries

are over!

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Content ManagementDownsides of Online Services

Proprietary Can’t make changes or upgrades Vendor dependence Information is stored in multiple places

Often, you can’t get your data out if you decide to change

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Content ManagementTools hosted on your server

Can be proprietary OR open source Can be upgraded at your leisure

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OSCMSOpen Source

Usually falls into the “tools hosted on your server” category

Because it’s free to download, lots of people use it.

Because lots of people use it, it’s growing fast!

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OSCMSLow improvement costs

Hiring a consultant or adding a missing feature is: More expensive than 1 month of service Less expensive than ?? months of service Cheaper than data integration problems More rewarding ( time, money ) with tailored

results

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OSCMS GrowthOpen Source Rocks!

Extending functionality that others use means free support and features

New features and connections you hadn’t even thought of

Cheap start-up costs Sustainable long-term costs Oh, and it’s “altruistic’.

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OSCMS GrowthAnd also: Participatory websites

Members-only areas Comments User posts “Send to Friend” and other viral marketing Bookmarking User profiles Buddies See also: web 2.0

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Choosing an OSCMS

Overview overview

CMS definitions Survey of types of CMS application Decision-making

considerations & process Resources to help you

CMS Definitions: Practical Just what is a content management system,

anyway?

A content management system, or CMS, is a web application designed to make it easy for non-technical users to add, edit and, well, manage a website.

CMS Definitions: Practical Not only do content management systems help website

users with content editing, they also take care of a lot of "behind the scenes" work such as:

Automatically generate navigation elements Making content searchable and indexable Keeping track of users, their permissions and

security settings And much, much more.

By Jon Stahl from http://plone.org/about/what-is-a-cms

CMS Application Types

General Platforms Blogware Wiki Applications

General CMS Platform

Software designed for wide variety of content and functionality

Usually modular Framework for incorporating other

applications/services

General Platform Examples

Drupal: http://www.drupal.org Locally: http://groups.drupal.org/twin-cities

Joomla: http://www.joomla.org

Plone: http://www.plone.org

Blogware

Designed to be host chronicle or journal site with chronologically arranged content

Commonly has a central single focus (like an issue or a person) and/or single source (like a person or an organization)

Blogware examples

Wordpress: http://www.wordpress.org

Movable Type: http://www.movabletype.org/

Wiki applications

Primary characteristic: group editing capability, revisions, transparency

Collections of content (like Wikipedia) meant for use for reference and as resource to be collaboratively edited, maintained

Wiki application example

Mediawiki: http://www.mediawiki.org

Choosing: Planning

Put together representative team Define your audience(s) Map your site needs with audiences in

mind Get help

Choosing: Evaluating Options Solicit feedback from respected and similar

orgs Review online literature and sites Find local users groups (if any) to attend with

questions Vet your options both software and vendors

Don’t Forget:• Training• Support• Future development

Choosing: Resources

Annotated list on del.icio.us (maposcms) http://del.icio.us/bmadore/maposcms

General np/oss resource orgs/sites: NOSI (nosi.net) Techsoup (techsoup.org) Idealware (idealware.org) Aspiration (aspiration.net)

Resources: Planning

Techsoup Learning Center http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/

webbuilding/index.cfm

Resources: OSCMS Primers

NOSI Primer http://www.nosi.net (downloadable PDF)

True costs of OSS http://www.idealware.org/articles/

true_costs_software.php (Michelle Murrain)

Resources: Find/Try OSCMS Wikipedia OSCMS category index

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Open_source_content_management_systems

Mashable’s list of 80+ OSCMS http://mashable.com/2007/07/30/content-

management-systems/ OpenSource CMS demo site

http://www.opensourcecms.com/ CMS Matrix comparison site

http://www.cmsmatrix.org

Resources: Reviews NTEN Vendor Satisfaction Report

http://nten.org/research/vendor-satisfaction

Techsoup’s Idealware.org reprint of Drupal, Joomla, Plone review http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/webbuilding

Adobe Newsletter Review of 5 OSCMS Apps http://www.adobe.com/newsletters/edge/april2008/

articles/article4/index.html

Google a question, read site forums

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Questions?