Comments on: Bespoke is best for CMS http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/ Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:20:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Antonio http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Antonio Wed, 06 May 2009 16:33:08 +0000 http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/#comment-393 PS I would also assume it's better for the agency in the long run as you can bring developers online without having to document and train in your own system? PS I would also assume it’s better for the agency in the long run as you can bring developers online without having to document and train in your own system?

]]> By: Antonio http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Antonio Wed, 06 May 2009 16:32:19 +0000 http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/#comment-392 I think there's a trade off here - although it's often easier for an agency to build using a custom CMS - I've found as a client that in the long run it can cause all sorts of problems. For a start, it means you're tied into that agency forever (even if they disappear) and can't ever get any further work done on your site without their involvement (again good for the agency, not so good for the client!). Also, it can make extremely simple amendments extremely expensive - I asked an agency once to turn off "login before you post a comment" and almost choked when they quoted me 350 quid to do it. This would take 5 minutes in any open source CMS. I'm a massive fan of Wordpress personally - and I've seen it do all the things you've listed. Saying all that, there is definitely a point at which a custom CMS becomes favourable - i would agree with you that the best solution is an open source modular framework which is then tailored by an agency. I would argue that in a lot of cases Wordpress can do this effectively. I would also agree that Joomla is way too heavy from what I've seen. Really good to get this debate going though - I think there’s a trade off here – although it’s often easier for an agency to build using a custom CMS – I’ve found as a client that in the long run it can cause all sorts of problems.

For a start, it means you’re tied into that agency forever (even if they disappear) and can’t ever get any further work done on your site without their involvement (again good for the agency, not so good for the client!). Also, it can make extremely simple amendments extremely expensive – I asked an agency once to turn off “login before you post a comment” and almost choked when they quoted me 350 quid to do it. This would take 5 minutes in any open source CMS.

I’m a massive fan of Wordpress personally – and I’ve seen it do all the things you’ve listed.

Saying all that, there is definitely a point at which a custom CMS becomes favourable – i would agree with you that the best solution is an open source modular framework which is then tailored by an agency. I would argue that in a lot of cases Wordpress can do this effectively. I would also agree that Joomla is way too heavy from what I’ve seen.

Really good to get this debate going though -

]]> By: Jo http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Jo Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:11:57 +0000 http://chromaagency.com/blog/bespoke-is-best-for-cms/#comment-376 I agree that on occasion a bespoke system is needed but where many client requirements can be met through an "off the shelf" or open source system so why not use them? In ideal world it would be lovely to make specifically tailored for a client. But we don't live in an ideal world. We are restricted by budgets /deadlines and it's our responsibility to help clients make the most of those budgets. Bespoke CMS is not always the best. I agree that on occasion a bespoke system is needed but where many client requirements can be met through an “off the shelf” or open source system so why not use them? In ideal world it would be lovely to make specifically tailored for a client. But we don’t live in an ideal world. We are restricted by budgets /deadlines and it’s our responsibility to help clients make the most of those budgets. Bespoke CMS is not always the best.

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