Developing a website today differs significantly from a decade or two ago when everything happened from scratch. These days, CMSes make the job easier for everyone, from novices to professionals. There are many to choose from, and you’re probably aware of most of them.
Platforms like WordPress allow us to create websites without having to write any actual code. Adding functionality works with a mere drag and drop, and doesn’t require knowledge in languages like HTML or JavaScript.
Content Management Systems: What the Pros Recommend
With that said, not every CMS is a favorite among experienced web developers. One might be easy to use with a minimal learning curve but offers little room for customization. Let’s look at the behemoths of the CMS world as well as their benefits and disadvantages.
WordPress
WordPress is first on the list mainly because it is currently the world’s number one content management system and runs on 75 million sites, 65% of the pie. To put things in perspective, the CMS with the second largest market share is Shopify, and it trails far behind at 5.5%.
Let’s look at what drives WordPress’ popularity. Using the CMS, you can build any website you want, whether it’s for e-commerce, a hobby, your family restaurant, or a news portal. Installing the platform and getting started with it is full of ease. In addition, configurations only take a few clicks of the mouse as WordPress comes with a full range of plugins and features.
Professional developers love using WordPress because of its online community. These dedicated users are always ready to lend a helping hand when things go awry. Another feature of the system is its capability to run complex database queries, which will undoubtedly come in handy when you need to filter through thousands of product details for your online shop.
Something that is up for debate is whether WordPress handles security on par with other CMSes. Because many of the plugins available are third-party ones, sites are susceptible to malware or subpar functionality.
Drupal
Although Drupal doesn’t seem like the most popular CMS option, many developers swear that it is their first choice. Currently, 1 million sites depend on this system, which accounts for 2% of the market share. That said, Drupal is a good choice for beginners and experienced web developers. It boasts an impressive suite of modules that aid in layout design, optimized performance, and SEO, among others.
However, the real selling point of Drupal is its scalability and advanced security features. It contains a detailed taxonomy system with in-depth user and permission settings that rival competitors. Experienced developers also opt for Drupal because it’s very code-friendly. Despite that, it does come with a steeper learning curve compared to WordPress, which means that users will do better on the CMS with some technical background to fall back on.
There are a few other things to consider if you’re thinking about hopping onto Drupal. A big drawback is its community size. Because it’s less popular, there won’t be as much support from the users to assist you when you face problems. Compared to WordPress, the layout and design can also seem trickier to navigate, but once you get a hold of how stuff works, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Magento
Magento is a product of Adobe, and it’s an open-sourced e-commerce platform. Don’t knock the CMS even though it’s only the ninth most popular in the world. You might find it surprising that even the big names like Coca-Cola and Nike use it to run their sites. Magento is a solid option because it’s flexible and can handle high database loads, making it perfect for a major online store.
You have two choices with this CMS, its free version and Magento Commerce, where you gain more support and plenty of third-party plugins. The system is suitable for companies that need to scale up quickly. The flexibility allows you to add customers and items, and support a high number of sales transactions.
Suffice to say, Magento isn’t the easiest e-commerce platform to learn. Compared to Shopify, it’s less intuitive and it takes more time to get a webstore up and running. However, skilled Magento programmers will not face this stumbling block.
What Makes a Good CMS?
If you’re trying to choose a CMS for your website, the most crucial thing to figure out is the intent of your finished product. Different systems are better suited for specific niches, and others less so. Secondly, think about your budget. If you are not designing a website for profit, say a blog or hobby site, you’ll want to go for a free or cheaper option.
Either way, every CMS comes with its pros and cons. Some are great for beginners, while others require high technical knowledge. Contemplate the available support around you. As well-versed as you think you are, you’ll still need some help now and then.
