Review of CMSMadeSimple 1.3

[cmstester]

I just finished writing my review of CMSMadeSimple 1.3. Hopefully it helps provide insight to Ted & Team:
http://cmstester.com/cmsmadesimple-1-3-review/

[flamenco]

Hi,
I enjoyed reading your review, thanks for publishing it and your thoughts about other CMS systems. 

I have developed many sites with MODx and Wordpress, and am brand new to CMSMS.  I'm happy to say that I liked it so much that I used it to replace my own site, which was static php with includes.  It's very, very easy to use.  It took me less than a day to completely redo my site (admittedly a fairly simple site), make its template and CSS, and get a nice contact form with captcha, all without asking anyone a question.  Next, I want to investigate to see if CMSMS's Smarty capabilities can match MODx's Template Variables, which are very powerful.  In most other areas, frankly, CMSMS outdoes MODx, IMHO.  So I will likely use it for commercial jobs soon!

I've tested a lot of CMS systems, and this is the first new one I've bought into in a long time.  Very impressive work, everyone!

I haven't looked into doing custom programming yet, so I look forward to seeing how it works for that.  Some of the systems I've looked at may be best for hardcore object-oriented programmers, which I'm not, though I can troubleshoot php very well, and do some coding.  I'm definitely a CSS guy.  I do like systems that have features available, whether stock or via contributed plugins.  Having many free templates available isn't that important, though it's nice.  In fact, with billions of free Wordpress themes out there, with some CSS and HTML knowledge, I can see that simply hacking one of those would be cake with CMSMWS's easy template system.

I do see that they're very strict about forum posting.  I just wanted to tell people about what a great experience I was having, but was very hesitant to do so, thinking I'd be violating something.  MODx's forums are more easy-going, for sure.  Maybe things previously devolved into a melee, so they felt they had to lock it down. 

All in all, CMSMS is hot!

[calguy1000]

His review assumes that the end user is a noob with no knowledge of html or CSS and wants to build a website.

This isn't our target audience, so the review isn't that good.

[viebig]

His review assumes that the end user is a noob with no knowledge of html or CSS and wants to build a website.

This isn't our target audience, so the review isn't that good.

Even noobs with no knowledge can use CMS Made Simple, they just wont have access to all features and customizations that the system is capable of.  .

And honestly, most of the cms´s are harder to work with, upgrade, or install new features.

For example, wordpress, coppermine are CMSs that fits for especific solutions, I know taht CMSMS won´t aim to become a specific solution.

Well, I think this review is really incomplete and partial, that´s my thoughts.

But thanks for the link anyway!

[Deblus]

His review assumes that the end user is a noob with no knowledge of html or CSS and wants to build a website.

This isn't our target audience, so the review isn't that good.

IMHO this is why you get so many repetitive questions about installs, upgrades and addons not working

Your very name and home page promotes how easy CMS made simple is to use. This may be the case for experienced developers but many of your users are new to CMS and web site building. The wiki is difficult to follow in many areas as the information is brief or presumes you know what you are doing, many of us do not and are learning.

A classic example is the many instances of the WYSIWYG editors not working. There does not seem to be a definitive answer so far because the power users probably don't use them, which leaves the rest of us that need them in trouble.

Don't get me wrong I appreciate all the help that is freely given here it just seems sometimes the neewbie questions are given a lower priority

If that's your priority that's fine I just did not realise it until I read your post.

[JeremyBASS]

May-be for PR sake a newbie section should be added... with the rules and best pratices of the forum...  IMHO my2cents

[calguy1000]

From Here:  http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/about-link

3. Who should use CMS Made Simple?

If you're an experienced web developer. If you have found that sometimes creating a simple corporate or organization website is difficult in some of the other content management systems. If you have found that other CMS's are sometimes "overkill" for what you need. If you want to be able to hand off the content management to editors. If you want complete control over the layout and appearance of the site, and you know how to do it... If you want a simple, easy to use, yet expandable tool - then CMS Made Simple is probably for you.

CMS Made Simple is not a replacement for packages that build static websites like Dreamweaver or FrontPage, etc. These packages don't use databases, provide little in the way of dynamic content, and usually content cannot be edited by customers.

4. Is CMS Made Simple really "simple"?

Yes it is. Many of our experienced users find it a simple tool for building many websites. However, that does not mean that there isn't some learning to be done. You will at the least need to learn our vocabulary, explore the package and it's options, play around a bit, and probably do considerable learning. Did you jump right in to HTML and learn how to do professional websites in 30 minutes. Probably not, and CMS packages (including this one) are similar. There are a few things you will need to learn.

[calguy1000]

do see that they're very strict about forum posting.  I just wanted to tell people about what a great experience I was having, but was very hesitant to do so, thinking I'd be violating something.  MODx's forums are more easy-going, for sure.  Maybe things previously devolved into a melee, so they felt they had to lock it down.

I'm sorry that it has to be that way, but I'm glad that you thought twice, and found the correct forum and posted correctly, that's all we ask.  If the support people have to do research and setup test environments, etc to help with problems, the least we ask is for people to do their own research as to where to post, and to send a well researched, well informed, and well worded post.

If all the support people do is shoot 'off-the-hip' responses, the support wouldn't be that good would it?  Why should the questions be different.

Thank you for your contribution.

[flamenco]

do see that they're very strict about forum posting.  I just wanted to tell people about what a great experience I was having, but was very hesitant to do so, thinking I'd be violating something.  MODx's forums are more easy-going, for sure.  Maybe things previously devolved into a melee, so they felt they had to lock it down.

I'm sorry that it has to be that way, but I'm glad that you thought twice, and found the correct forum and posted correctly, that's all we ask.  If the support people have to do research and setup test environments, etc to help with problems, the least we ask is for people to do their own research as to where to post, and to send a well researched, well informed, and well worded post.

If all the support people do is shoot 'off-the-hip' responses, the support wouldn't be that good would it?  Why should the questions be different.

Thank you for your contribution.

Good, I do read carefully (should have been a lawyer, maybe!), and I'm glad I found the right spot - I was actually afraid that I'd be shot down anyway.  So what I'll do is be very technical with my questions (if any), and will list my system particulars.  Fortunately, I'm very self-sufficient, so I'll only ask tech questions if it's pretty hard.  There are plenty of other forums where I can find camaraderie, laughs, and the other fun stuff. 

Regarding Deblus' post above, after having used many systems, I've seen that WYSIWYG editing is extremely hard to do well in a browser.  It tends to work for me because I don't do anything weird with my text, and even if I do, I can easily fix the straight HTML and the CSS.  Maybe, just maybe, I'm the right kind of person to use this system    My more control freak, er, I mean, perfectionist customers always seem to want bizarro multi-coloured tables amongst 62 images per page and stuff like that, despite my admonitions. 

In MODx I've found that using WYSIWYG Pro editor has been really good.  Much easier to deal with and more reliable than either the free Tiny or FCK, and that's with a beta plug-in, a good sign, IMO.  Yes, it is commercial, but I simply pass along the cost to the customer (about $50, less with quantity discount), and they definitely like it.  Good customization with API too.  I see that they have a plugin for CMSMS, and though I haven't sprung for it yet, I would expect it to be equally excellent. 

[Pierre M.]

...The wiki is difficult to follow in many areas as the information is brief or presumes you know what you are doing...

If I didn't know CMSms and were evaluating it (before chosing it among other tools), I would value this 'presumes you know what you are doing' feeling : it makes it clear the product is not for IT noobs. If I were not tech savy I could *not* chose CMSms because of this feeling.

The product and the doc are coherent (I mean : they target the same skill level).
In a website project the project manager and the chosen product should be coherent too.

CMSms is not kompozer.net but still simple.

Pierre M.

[cmstester]

Calguy1000:

"His review assumes that the end user is a noob with no knowledge of html or CSS and wants to build a website.

This isn't our target audience, so the review isn't that good"

Calguy, You are just mad because you know the reason I rated the community so low is because of you and your horrible attitude towards everyone in these forums. Why don't you just go away somewhere and stop pretending to care?

[alby]

Not overdo with the words.
Calguy has its faults (like all of us) and often is very hard but I never read offensive words to someone.


Alby

[Milhaus]

Calguy, You are just mad because you know the reason I rated the community so low is because of you and your horrible attitude towards everyone in these forums. Why don't you just go away somewhere and stop pretending to care?

Horrible attitude? I really didn't see it over 2 yrs I'm here. He simply can't help all, because his time is valuable, that's all. Some people ask for help even without searching the forum. What should he answer to those?