Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

hervens · 10-14-2011, 04:16 PM

Hello,
I've launched multiple websites in the past, ranging from image sharing websites, to QA style websites. I never used a cms, and always coded everything from scratch, including the theme.

I always have a very specific idea of what I want, and every time I try to use a theme, things always seem to get clumsy, and I always wind up opening photoshop and making my own.

However, I've noticed that CMS, such as joomla, sbi and wordpress are extremely popular in these forums, and I think i might give it a try for a new website i'm planning to create.

How customizable are wordpress/and or joomla? Do you have full access to the source code? Can you create your own theme that you can apply to the cms?
Would you guys recommend using a cms over building your own website?

Thanks.

Marger · 10-14-2011, 09:11 PM

I use Wordpress for my personal site and for some sites I've built for others. You have access to all the source code, but when you do a Wordpress update, the source files are usually overwritten. That's why they have plugins. For almost any functionality you can download or write a plugin that doesn't get overwritten like the main Wordpress files.

I built the theme for my website myself, since I prefer to create a unique look instead of using a theme that might be on hundreds of other sites. You won't find my theme elsewhere

Bottom line: I find Wordpress extremely customizable, either with premade plugins or with anything you build yourself.

Orionjoel · 10-20-2011, 12:14 PM

Wordpress is great, the number of websites that I have seen that use wordpress and look nothing like each other is amazing. Once you learn how to work with it, you can pretty much have it doing whatever you want theme wise. Plus the range of plugins that is available, is great.

I use nothing but wordpress. I have tried joomla before, but find it often difficult to work with some features. While Wordpress makes it very easy.

You can have a site life in under 30 minutes (probably less) with wordpress, excluding time to do a custom theme.

hervens · 10-21-2011, 01:33 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.
I don't know why I didn't listen to you guys and go with wordpress, but I installed joomla on my host, and after about 2 hours pulling my hair off, wandering how things work, I just uninstalled everything, opened dreamweaver and photoshop, and created the website there, with html and php.

Including the theme, and excluding the content, (already had that) it took me around 10 hours to create it.
The website I was trying to create was: BlackBerry application development - PurpleBox Mobile

I basically just wanted a simple site where I could showcase all the new mobile applications I create, and put all my apps under 1 company name PurpleBox Mobile (unregistered)

If you guys have any advice, I'd love to hear it aswell.

Marger · 10-21-2011, 07:52 PM

What sort of advice are you aiming for? I do know not a lot of people will try to save up a million dollards

Peter T · 10-22-2011, 09:06 PM

CMS makes your job a lot more easier and i will strongly recommend it for small scale sites. means for information based sites.

10-14-2011, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
hervens Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: montreal Posts: 61	using a CMS or creating a custom site Hello, I've launched multiple websites in the past, ranging from image sharing websites, to QA style websites. I never used a cms, and always coded everything from scratch, including the theme. I always have a very specific idea of what I want, and every time I try to use a theme, things always seem to get clumsy, and I always wind up opening photoshop and making my own. However, I've noticed that CMS, such as joomla, sbi and wordpress are extremely popular in these forums, and I think i might give it a try for a new website i'm planning to create. How customizable are wordpress/and or joomla? Do you have full access to the source code? Can you create your own theme that you can apply to the cms? Would you guys recommend using a cms over building your own website? Thanks.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Creating my first membership site - seeking tips on pricing and content!	katequinn	Business & Financial	3	03-02-2011 11:04 AM
creating a site like hotornot or yahoo answers on wordpress	persephonevii	Technology & Technical Skills	2	09-08-2010 01:45 PM
Help Creating Web Site	TheFlyingScotsman	Technology & Technical Skills	3	07-02-2007 01:42 AM

10-14-2011, 09:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marger Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 66	I use Wordpress for my personal site and for some sites I've built for others. You have access to all the source code, but when you do a Wordpress update, the source files are usually overwritten. That's why they have plugins. For almost any functionality you can download or write a plugin that doesn't get overwritten like the main Wordpress files. I built the theme for my website myself, since I prefer to create a unique look instead of using a theme that might be on hundreds of other sites. You won't find my theme elsewhere Bottom line: I find Wordpress extremely customizable, either with premade plugins or with anything you build yourself.

10-20-2011, 12:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Orionjoel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 255	Wordpress is great, the number of websites that I have seen that use wordpress and look nothing like each other is amazing. Once you learn how to work with it, you can pretty much have it doing whatever you want theme wise. Plus the range of plugins that is available, is great. I use nothing but wordpress. I have tried joomla before, but find it often difficult to work with some features. While Wordpress makes it very easy. You can have a site life in under 30 minutes (probably less) with wordpress, excluding time to do a custom theme.

10-21-2011, 01:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
hervens Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: montreal Posts: 61	Thanks for the replies guys. I don't know why I didn't listen to you guys and go with wordpress, but I installed joomla on my host, and after about 2 hours pulling my hair off, wandering how things work, I just uninstalled everything, opened dreamweaver and photoshop, and created the website there, with html and php. Including the theme, and excluding the content, (already had that) it took me around 10 hours to create it. The website I was trying to create was: BlackBerry application development - PurpleBox Mobile I basically just wanted a simple site where I could showcase all the new mobile applications I create, and put all my apps under 1 company name PurpleBox Mobile (unregistered) If you guys have any advice, I'd love to hear it aswell.

10-21-2011, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Marger Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 66	What sort of advice are you aiming for? I do know not a lot of people will try to save up a million dollards

10-22-2011, 09:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Peter T Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 15	CMS makes your job a lot more easier and i will strongly recommend it for small scale sites. means for information based sites.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums