CMS Clash: Content Management System - Part 1

The idea behind a content management system is that you are able to control the content on your site yourself. Ideally you will be able to update your web pages anytime, anywhere.  We at RocketFuel choose to operate on our own proprietary CMS, RocketFuel CMS.  Here is how we see it:

You want your dream house.  One option is a guy named Billy.  He is offering you all the supplies to build a house.  It is a cheap direction to go, but the problem is, you have never built a house before.  You could really use some guidance.   Billy says there is a huge network of people who have already built a house this way and they would be happy to give you guidance in this task.  You decide to try this because the price is so low.  Once the supplies arrive, you realize there is not a way to customize your house.  You want a skylight, but are lacking the parts.  You don’t need a fourth or fifth bedroom, but you are going to have them anyway. 

Now as you begin to build your house you come across some problems.  You don’t know how to create a sturdy frame for your house or how to install lighting.  You try to get in touch with Billy, but he is no where to be found.  You go to the network of people who have already built their houses.  People who can answer your question promptly and adequately are hard to find.  This project has become a little out of control.  

After “finishing” your home, you realize the lights aren’t working as they should.  It doesn’t really look like the house you had in mind.  Again, the home builders network is hard to pin down for help.  You finally get everything in the house working decently.  Your son looks up at you and asks, “How are people going to get to us?  We aren’t near a street.  How will I get to school?”

Next thing you know, Billy shows up on your doorstep with a bag of cement for sale. “You can make your own road and driveway, for just a small extra fee,” he says.

Sigh.

You probably should have hired the carpenter, Jimmy.  He would have sat down with you and your family to discuss what you wanted and needed and what you could do without.  He would have been there to answer any questions and fix any problems that arose.  Most likely you wouldn’t have come across many problems if you hired Jimmy in the beginning.  What were you thinking?!

This is a good way to describe open source CMS versus proprietary content management systems.  Although the lure of open source CMS is strong because they are less expensive and the idea of being able to do it all yourself.  Do you really want to do it all yourself?  Don’t you think you could use some help?  

In Part 2 of the this blog special, released later this week, we will discuss the main differences between an open source CMS like Joomla, and a proprietary CMS like ours, RocketFuel CMS.