CMS

Content Management Systems

CMS are software systems that are usually installed where your website is located (i.e. in the web space of your hosting provider). CMS make it possible to carry out editorial work on the website without having to know HTML or be dependent on a program that is installed on your computer. So if you use a CMS, you can go to any Internet café and work on your website there.

When to use a CMS?

There is no clear guideline. But a recommendation could be made for a CMS if:

• website content is to be changed from different PCs and/or by different editors,
• menu items change frequently,
• the website should have a high number of special functionalities that are already implemented in the selected CMS.

You will probably not need a CMS if you want to put a relatively small website online whose content is unlikely to change very quickly. Then a Website tool, that you install on your computer.

CMS costs

CMS often have high license costs, but many good systems are also available free of charge as open source software. In this case, you are dependent on the support of volunteers in the event of an error. This can also have advantages compared to regulated support from a company, but unfortunately not always.

The installation effort of CMS can be low, but it is often considerable. Not only does your desired layout have to be implemented, the functionality (image gallery, contact form, news and news archive, guestbook, ...) also has to be customized. If you don't have the confidence to do this yourself, you have to rely on experts, and they cost money.

Selection of Open Source CMS

eWerkzeug.Info introduces you to selected open source CMS that you can install yourself after a little reading time (more or less) and adapt to your needs.

• WordPress
• Drupal
• Typo3