CMS Meeting Discussion Points

From Metro Collaborate

Contents 1 Notes from March 14, 2008 Meeting 2 Key Characteristics 3 Security 4 Deployment (Open Source Tools) 5 Popular Open Source CMS Tools 6 Customization 7 Development Questions 8 Commercial Tools 9 CMS in Libraries Examples 10 Other Agenda Items

Notes from March 14, 2008 Meeting

03/14/08 Notes

Key Characteristics

• Web-based administration and content creation
• The Social Web is Readily Available - Integrate or create Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Web 2.0 widgets easily
• Modular Architecture - easy to use plug-ins/themes to customize your display and add functionality
• Simple URL structures - http://library.gc.cuny.edu/wordpress/categories/38th instead of http://library.gc.cuny.edu/wordpress/?cat=56&id=56
• Typically use a backend database for storage

Security

• Role-Based User Database
  • Administrators, Editors, Authors
  • Possible integration with SSL, LDAP/Active Directory, typically self-contained
• Spam Blocking

Deployment (Open Source Tools)

• LAMP, MAMP, or WAMP Programs
• PHP/MySQL for Both of the tools we will talk about in detail today
• Apache with mod_rewrite available is generally the preferred web server
  • If you use IIS you will have to go through some hoops to get clean urls
• Not necessary to host locally, especially for small sites

Popular Open Source CMS Tools

• Drupal - Supports High Traffic Sites current version 6.1
• Wordpress - Started as a blogging tool current version 2.3
• Suggestions...
• Others see the CMS Matrix

Customization

• Themes
  • Wordpress Themes
  • Drupal Themes
• Plugins
  • Wordpress Plugins - Example - Google Maps Plugin
  • Drupal Modules - Examples

Development Questions

• How scalable is the CMS?
  • Can it host multiple Domains?
  • Can it handle a high volume of web traffic?
• Do you need admin rights on the server to properly deploy/maintain the software?
• Will your users be comfortable with web-based editing? Can they use gmail, yahoo, hotmail?
• What archive/backup capabilities are built into the system? Rollbacks, etc.

Commercial Tools

TBD

CMS in Libraries Examples

• drupal in libaries forum
• Ann Arbor Public Library - Drupal
• Code4lib Journal - Wordpress as Journal Publishing Platform
• Scriblio - Wordpress as OPAC
• Many libraries have deployed wordpress for blogging.

Other Agenda Items

• Spontaneous CMS Examples
• Code4lib 2008 Recap
• Future Programs