Open Source Content Management Systems

Section 1: Descriptions of Open Source Content Management Systems

Content management systems commonly referred to as CMSs is a computer software application or a combination of several programs that facilitate the modification and creation of various digital contents. Basically, the system is used for Web Content Management (WCM) and Enterprise Content Management (ECM). CMSs are specially designed to support multiple users in a collaborative environment. The primary features of the CMS widely vary and thus is comprised of sub-systems such as format management, indexing, history editing, retrieval, and version control. Despite these variations in functionality, all the CMS system contains standard features such as the integrated online help, user and multiple functionalities, modularity, extensibility, unified audit logs, upgrade and install wizards, and SEO-friendly URLs just to mention a few essential features. Additionally, the CMS is comprised of three main elements, that is, the Content Management Application (CMA), the Meta-content Management Application(MMA), and the Content Delivery Application (CDA) which collaboratively manages and ensures functionality of the entire life cycle of Remarkably, all the CMSs are manufactured in a manner that permits compliance with various accessibility frameworks and standards such as WAI-ARIA.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The CMSs have gained widespread usage due to their outstanding merits such as reducing the need to start coding from scratch, enables one to create a unified feel and look, allows the user version control, and also permits the user to manage the level of permitted editing to various users. However, despite the outline merits the CMSs have shortcomings in that it offer limited or no liability to develop the functionality that is not envisioned in the CMS such as the web apps and layouts. Additionally, the system requires special expertise and training for the content authors.

Section 2: Free and Open Source Resources & Proprietary Resources

Books

• Barker, D. (2016). Web content management: Systems, features, and best practices. Beijing: OReilly.
• Maass, W., & Kowatsch, T. (2014). Semantic Technologies in Content Management Systems Trends, Applications and Evaluations. Berlin: Springer Berlin.
• Fraser, S. R. (2002). Real-world ASP.NET: Building a content management system. Berkeley, CA: Apres.

Articles

• Content Management System (CMS) (https://searchcontentmanagement.techtarget.com/definition/content-management-system-CMS)
• The Best Open Source Content Management Systems (https://www.datamation.com/applications/the-best-open-source-content-management-systems.html)
• The 9 Most Popular Free Content Management Systems (CMS) 2017 (https://colorlib.com/wp/most-popular-content-management-systems/)

Online Courses

• Introduction to Content Management Systems (https://youtu.be/5WJdlbFAOvg)
• How to Build a Content Management System - Full Admin, Add Pages, Upload Content, Delete Pages (https://youtu.be/Ct8NKKlsiMM)
• Content Management Training Courses (https://www.vasont.com/services/training.html)
• Content Management System Site Manager Training (https://www.ucc.ie/en/ittraining/training/classes/cms/Considering a CMS for Web Design (https://www.lynda.com/Squarespace-tutorials/Considering-CMS-Systems-Web-Design/492715-2.html)

Proprietary Resources

• Metadata for Content Management: Designing taxonomy, metadata, policy and workflow to make digital content systems better for users. (https://www.amazon.com/Metadata-Content-Management-Designing-taxonomy/dp/1535087501/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522864808&sr=1-5&keywords=Content+Management+System)
• Professional Content Management Systems: Handling Digital Media Assets (https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Content-Management-Systems-Handling/dp/0470855428/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522864808&sr=1-4&keywords=Content+Management+System)

Section 3: Major Open Source Content Management System Tools

The open source systems are developed through a collaborative effort, and thus the system is maintained and upgraded by a global association of developers. The source code for the system is accessible to the general public, and the individuals who are registered as members of this tech community are granted the power to modify the codes, create, and upload new features. Across the world, the major open source platforms include, WordPress, Joomla, Magento, and Drupal.

Magento

Magento is among the most commonly used e-commerce platforms around the globe. The software is used by more than 250,000 merchants and is maintained and upgraded by more than 150,000 developers from around the world. Remarkably, Magento partners with more than 300 highly trained networking gurus. The platform can turn a dime due to its agility and robust platform that is flexible to meet the ever-changing and unpredictable individual purchase behaviors. The Magento commerce edition is an enterprise level platform, and therefore it can be hosted in the cloud or prem. Since the platform is built on the same code stack, the commerce edition is preferred by large business entities which exhibit high customer traffic and large product catalogs due to the global presence and the complex nature of large enterprises.

Project page: https://magento.com/Source code: https://github.com/magento

License: Open Software License (OSL) 3.0

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux x86-64, Web Server: Apache 2.x, Nginx 1.7.x

WordPress

WordPress is the worlds' most used open source CMS. The system is the ultimate publishing platform for websites and is also relied for on aspects such as to manage and organize contents such as articles, videos, tutorials, stories, photos and much more. Its popularity can be attributed to its flexibility to use among the experienced individuals. The plugin repository of the system is estimated to have more than 40,000 free plugins that are available for download. Remarkably, the public WordPress theme database boasts of more than 2,100 styles from which developers can choose customizable backgrounds.

Project page: https://wordpress.com/Source code: HTML, CSS, PHP

License: GPLv2 from Free Software Foundation.

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, OSSpal Link.

Joomla

The platform is not very common due to its complex coding requirements. The CMS was created to cater for both the medium and large-sized enterprises. Despite its sophistication in coding the system has high scalability and more back-end integration. The users of this system enjoy features such as the utilization of native front-end content editing, flexibility in content management and the inclusion of multiple languages which makes the sites more user-friendly to the visitor across the globe.

Project page: https://www.joomla.org/Source code: https://github.com/joomla/joomla-cms

License: GNU, General Public License.

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, OSSpal Link

Drupal

The system furthers the architecture of content management due to its adaptability to the professional coding standards. This feature has caused the platform to be widely valuable to webmasters and engineers. Drupal offers the developers more than 30,000 extendable modules and more than 2000 individual and unique themes thus allowing customization of their websites.

Project page: https://www.drupal.org/Source code: syntax-highlighted using GeSHi

License: GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2 or later

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, OSSpal Link