"CMS made simple" and "WB" comparision

[Boudi]

Before I used WB I used CMSMS for several years.

I can get short regarding the difference. In n00b language:

* CMSMS-admin is getting irritating slow when creating larger websites. You have to graduade from a Zen-course to stay calm.
* The admin section of CMSMS is way more complicated and unlogical setup than the WB admin. Several clients of us confirmed this.
* The difference to build a custom template with WB is sooo much easier than with CMSMS. I can design, build and run a complete custom website with 100% WB support in a few hours (this site from scratch: 4 hours)
* The whole css/template issue in CMSMS-admin is very unlogical
* Most important: last year until now we changed all our websites from CMSMS to WB and 100% of those customers are more than satisfied with the new backend.

So for me it's weird that CMSMS is still hot. I think it's a bit like music: Britney sucks but she sells like hell 

[ndh611]

I have tried both of these guys, and I know them pretty well so here are some of my opinions:

Admin interface: both are simple and kinda similar. CMSmadesimple is a little more complicated and the way it handles pages is uglier. In order to create new page you have quite some forms to field. This is a breeze with WB.

I would say nearly a tie, WB just a little better.

Template making: both are straight forward. CMSmadesimple allows edit everything in the backend in an easier way than WB but they use Smarty engine. Might be pros and cons for some, for me it's cons. I prefer pure php syntax the way WB does.

WB wins.

Modules: both have basic modules but due to huge fan base, CMSmadesimple has more modules. However, both lack a good blog module (is it that hard genius developers? ).

CMSmadesimple wins.

API and how to develop new things: I have no ideas since I'm mainly a designer. Some said CMSmadesimple has very good codebase and API - I will leave this blank.

Speed: Back-end WB obviously performs faster. Front-end is kinda the same. I don't know much about WB caching but CMSmadesimple devs are very proud of their caching technology. (I posted a question in their forum about this to ask already).

Future: It depends on you guys - WB lovers. CMSmadesimple is now very popular and won quite some awards from Packtpub in 2007 and 2008.

---
Final words: I see no reasons to move to CMSmadesimple for small-mid sized sites. If I want something huge, I might try typolight, joomla... If I want something sexy and slick, I will try Modx, Silverstripe, Concrete5.

Most of my websites now and will be published with WB - I definitely love it - and the community.
Hope my 2 cents help!!!

[zonker720]

and one more thing...

One great thing about being relatively unpopular (and I mean that in the nicest way), that that we don't have too many security attacks. I'm sure that is also due to the qwuality of the programming.

[zonker720]

I agree with Stefek. Getting more contributors would be easier if you could get some credit, links, PR for your contribution.

I have started uploading the modules that we have develped to the developer site and others are starting to use them, which is a good feeling.

But I have to say, WB is awesome. Every time I get a programmer to help me with the code they comment on how well it is written. All my customers think it is very user friendly.

[Lotus]

No, I don't think that this is the road to more contributors.

I think it goes hand in hand theese two, many users are also often contributors and to attract users you need good contributions. And defnately the platform you mentioned, so its easy to contribute aswell.

I think I can participate in some GUI matters this is a main concern of mine..graphics and simplicity.

[applepie]

The only thing I can agree with is the fact that CMS MS is more popular.
More peole is using it.

I would never create a Customer Homepage with CMS Made Simple as long as WebsiteBaker is availaible.

Regards,
Stefek

WB is best by far for simplicity. CSM MS is far too complicated for someone who is starting out. I have just convinced someone to switch over to WB and they are very happy it. They were completely lost with CMS MS and it took too much of my time trying to show them. At the end, I suggested that they switch over to WB. Thye have never heard of WB before that. I wonder how many people who are using CMS MS knows that WB exists... WB is the winner!

[Stefek]

just want to se this app getting better, something more usable to me and my clients.

Don't seems to me like a complaining - but if there is something you want to contribute, just feel free to do so.

I think the road to more contributors is more powerful modules in keyareas like blogging, e-commerce, forum..

No, I don't think that this is the road to more contributors. The road to more contributors is a matter of exchange (for example a plattform for contributors where they can place a link to their services).
The road to more users is a high quality outgoing communication about the CMS, a solide plattform for contributors and a working community structure.

Regards,
Stefek

[Lotus]

Yes those are good points. The one who came up withe the idea of sections is a genius!

I think the road to more contributors is more powerful modules in keyareas like blogging, e-commerce, forum..
-As most modules are made for a specific task on a specific site they are in need of modification, sometimes very hard to do. It needs at least one rock solid module for a specific common purpose. like..text..WYSIWYG is great, form..form is getting there, image gallery..this one is poor, news..could be better (trying to se this in a selling point of view)

More powerful admin features controlled by rights management
- i think template edit is great
- I need more advance fetures to control pages..moving, duplicating, setting rights..

A better looking and faster admin ..apple simplicity

Installation is great..

It has to look good right out of the box...and the community site has to be more focused on comunity stuff.
I realize im complaining =) , just want to se this app getting better, something even more usable to me and my clients. dont get me wrong..i like this app..done about 15 sites now and more to come.. =) but it looks like im growing out of it when striving to make better and better solutions.

[Stefek]

The only thing I can agree with is the fact that CMS MS is more popular.
More peole is using it.

The side-effekt of being relatively "unknown" is the lag of contributors, developers and designers.

I can not see any another advantage of CMS MS.
WebsiteBaker is more easy to use.
You have better possibilities to teach your customer in content editing.
The template system is more easy (Look at Show_menu2 and it's unlimitted possibilities).
The Section Management per Page is a easy to use feature.

I would never create a Customer Homepage with CMS Made Simple as long as WebsiteBaker is availaible.

So one of the most important things for the Future of WebsiteBaker is it's "Marketing".
The more people is using it, the more people will contribute to it.


Regards,
Stefek

[Lotus]

The obvius thing is that CMSMadeSimple is more complex and there for contains more built in features.
But how do you compare the two?
I think the installation is more or less the same, it fills the database if you want.
You can do the same things more or less the same way in admin.

What do you think?