1 Open Source Content Management Systems 1. 2 Overview Definitions Background on Open Source Tools...
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Transcript of 1 Open Source Content Management Systems 1. 2 Overview Definitions Background on Open Source Tools...
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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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