Posted on September 16th, 2010Content management systems are integral tools needed for the management and building of professional web sites. Without a good CMS, most web site owners would not be capable of setting up their site and maintaining it on a daily basis, as that would require a great deal of technical knowledge and persistence. Fortunately, there are developers out there that understand the frustration of not having the skills necessary to create and operate sites, and as a result the internet has witnessed the invention and advent of several notable open source content management systems.
Open source CMS are different from conventional CMS because they can be expanded upon by any developer with the knowledge and willpower to do so. Rather than being limited by the core features of the software, webmasters can use open source software to enhance their web site management capabilities, and even build new content management systems around the core system. If you would like to take advantage of such a software then you may want to consider the advantages of the following top three open source content management systems.
WordPress
WordPress is by far the most popular and powerful CMS available today, especially with the release of the revolutionary WordPress 3.0 that surfaced just a few months ago. WordPress has a larger plugin library than any other CMS, which means you don’t have to start from scratch just because the software is an open source platform. In fact, there are currently thousands of plugins available for WordPress that improve nearly every aspect of site management and creation, including but not limited to search engine optimization, site design, and site navigation. If you are looking for a reliable open source software that is easy to use and renowned for it user-friendly interface, then you should definitely consider the benefits of WordPress, the number one open source content management system.
Joomla
Joomla is similar to WordPress in that it has a large library of plugins and optional modules available that enhance the functionality of the software. However, Joomla is not as user-friendly as other CMS because it is primarily geared towards professional developers that need a robust development platform through which they can design high-tech web sites. Unfortunately, Joomla is not made for amateur webmasters and is a bit more restrictive than WordPress, which is why it has earned the second spot in the open source CMS review list.
Drupal
Drupal is one of the best open source CMS available, primarily because of its incredible capability to replicate the functionality of all other CMS, within a slightly more complex interface of course. Unfortunately, this functionality cannot be realized by the average webmaster, simply because it is such a unique CMS that has its own development language. Experienced web developers may find that they like Drupal better than the above two CSM, as it is possible to create pages that are beyond the standard templating structure of a conventional content management system.