custom v cms
Post on 05-Dec-2014
6.881 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Custom V CMS
(don’t take sides)
Hi
I am Diana Mounter
Hi
I work for the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA for short)
Hi
Co-founded theLocal Government Web Network(visit lgwebnetwork.org)
(Very proud and excited about it)
Hi
I do
Project ManagementGraphic & Web DesignFront-end development(and... IA, system design, support CMS bla bla bla...)
(Content Management System)
CMS
CustomCustom building a
web application
Custom V CMS
(don’t take sides)
Custom V CMS
My Story
New Job
First big project:Re-development of corporate website!!!(and all the other little “mini” sites)
we must streamline
ContentManagement
Systems
the solution to your problems!
Not technical
Multiple authors
Authors can’t change styles
Review paths
Can add on modules and customise to your needs
It worked!
It worked... for a while
The side effects of success
The people wanted MORE!
blogs, video, forums, image maps etc.blogsforums videos
image mapsonline
payments
Before I knew it...
Before I knew it... I’d created a monster!
• Makes upgrading more complicated
• Can increase maintenance costs
• More things to break = more things to fix
• You might have to compromise on functionality
The side effects of stretching your CMS
Pushing the CMS to perform against its core functionality wasn’t a good idea.
Pushing the CMS to perform against its core functionality wasn’t a good idea.
Leave the CMS doing what its meant to:
Pushing the CMS to perform against its core functionality wasn’t a good idea.
Leave the CMS doing what its meant to:Content Management
Now what?
Hmmm...what about a Custom Build?
the right project
What I thought about Custom builds...
Oooh excitement!
Oooh excitement!
Ruby on Rails
agile development
Oooh excitement!
Ruby on Rails
agile development
flexibility
build what you want
Oooh excitement!
Ruby on Rails
agile developmentcool stuff
flexibility
creativity
build what you want
So, why not the CMS?
These were our aims for the site:
1. Easy to use Forms
2. Increase number applications
3. Make it a place to share
4. Build an archive of projects
5. Reflect the creativity of the projects
1. Forms :(
FORMS
[screen-shot]
2. More applications
[screen-shots]
[screen-shots]
3. A place to share
Members Forum
Blog
4. Build an archive
5. Reflect creativity
[screen-shot]
Why was this important?
[video]Video from Cultural Awards website.
Wagga Wagga City CouncilFrom All Four Corners – Celebrating Diversity: Mitsue
Stockley - Love Lives Onhttp://culturalawards2008.lgsa.org.au/projects/14-from-all-
four-corners---celebrating-diversity/videos/3
User generated content made the site richer
User generated content made the site richerI’m glad we didn’t compromise
So, why not the CMS?
The CMS couldn’t do...
“Fun” formsBlogs and forumsVideo or Audio
User Generated ContentRSS feeds
If we had used the CMS:
One BIG online form (or PDF!)
No blogs or forums, or linked to external site
Links to video and audio
No user Generated Content (unless we did a lot of cutting and pasting)
No RSS feeds
Or we would have had tocustomise the CMS
(again)
“This is typical! They do these cheap jobs to save money, but then they end up spending more money fixing all the things that break”
- the plumber
...don’t forget your CMS
lots of linksXML Feeds
lots of linksXML Feeds
brandingPRESS RELEASES!
event photos
lots of linksXML Feeds
brandingPRESS RELEASES!
event photos RSS FeedsEmail subscriptionsTwitter
Branding and Design
Branding and DesignUser Experience
Branding and DesignUser ExperienceWhere is your traffic coming from?
What are the users expectations?Should it be the same or different?
Is it a website or an application?If application - different expectations.
intuitivesimpleprovide instructionsshow examples
If it’s all new, make it:
Tips to help you makethe choice between
CMSand
Custom
1. Learn the limits of your CMS
1. Learn the limits of your CMS2. Have clearly defined goals
1. Learn the limits of your CMS2. Have clearly defined goals3. Don’t take on to much
3. Don’t take on to much
1. Learn the limits of your CMS2. Have clearly defined goals3. Don’t take on to much4. Get HELP from an expert if you’re not
1. Learn the limits of your CMS2. Have clearly defined goals3. Don’t take on to much4. Get HELP from an expert if you’re not
(make sure they are unbiased)
Choose the option that:The platform supportsBest matches the goalsThat you can support
Consider what the “expert” recommends
If you do decide to pack up your bags...
and go Custom
Choose the right people for the job!
(that probably isn’t your CMS vendors)
(that probably isn’t your CMS vendors)
Sorry!
Give your developers:
Give your developers:
• Requirements (not tech spec)
Give your developers:
• Requirements (not tech spec)
• Freedom (they are the experts)
Give your developers:
• Requirements (not tech spec)
• Freedom (they are the experts)
• and Accountability.
and don’t forget to create links with your CMS based sites.
Custom?
(tell him its a trial)
you don’t need to take sides
Custom V CMS
Leave the door open to Custom builds
Leave your CMS doing what its good at
then maybe you’ll find Zen
Thanks!
Questions?
top related