Presentation by Bryce Inman

A Content Management System (CMS) is an important tool for organizing and updating the content of your website through a user interface that does not require any coding experience. Most modern websites utilize CMSs, and there are hundreds of CMS platforms to choose from.

The most popular CMS are open source and have thriving development communities. The top three are Wordpress, Joomla, and Drupal. They each have their own advantages:

• Wordpress: Originally just a blogging platform, WP has been extended to accommodate the common features expected in modern websites. It is very easy to use and there is a significant amount of user-friendly documentation available. It is not well suited for more complex tasks, such as creating an online community or running a store. This CMS is perfect for those who want to keep their content updated but do not foresee a need for more complex features down the road.
• Joomla: Joomla has a slightly steeper learning curve than Wordpress, but is able to handle a wider range of complex features "out of the box," especially with the support of its large 3rd party development community. It is recommended for those who want a more full-featured website with room to grow.
• Drupal: This CMS has the steepest learning curve but can tackle just about any development task. It is by far the most customizable but also has the highest development costs. It is recommended for novel web applications and businesses that operate primarily on the internet.