Currently there are more than 200 commercially available content management
systems (CMSs). Each has strengths and weaknesses relative to the
others...belying their underlying middleware platform and customer history.
While not all are ColdFusion based, I believe that the CommonSpot Content
Server 3.0 (the 2001 CFDJ Readers' Choice winner) from PaperThin, Inc., sets
a new standard for flexibility and performance across all middle-tier
systems.
Comparing Apples to Apples
Believe it or not, there's quite a bit of controversy within the CMS industry
about what functionality a "Web content management" system should bring to
the table. After evaluating many CMS applications, however, I've found that
most vendors offer the following core set of features:
Nontechnical content contributors may modify the contents of their Web sites
anytime, anywhere, through their Web browse... (more)
I have always considered Ektron's eWebEditPro to be the best, easiest to
integrate, and most innovative Web-based WYSIWYG component available. Many
software vendors apparently concur with this assessment, for you can find the
product embedded in a number of CMS systems ranging from Allaire Spectra to
Microsoft Content Management Server 2002.
It should come as no surprise then that Ektron, seeking to capitalize on the
success of their award-winning editor, launched a series of
content-management products that interoperate with ColdFusion 4.x, 5.x,
Microsoft Active Server Pages, M... (more)
Men at some times are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not
in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Julius Caesar, Act 1: Scene 2
While sometimes we're loath to admit it, as consultants we control our
destiny. Despite applying the latest technologies, working long hours and
starting initiatives with the best of intentions, software projects fail.
These breakdowns take many forms. Some projects run over budget. Many
initiatives fail to meet time-sensitive deadlines; others may fall prey to
unexpected technical glitches or a genuine lack of developm... (more)
After evaluating and deploying a number of content management systems over
the past five years, I guess I've become a bit jaded. Frankly, they all just
started to look the same. To be sure, each one has core strengths and
weaknesses. Each is usually geared to fit a certain vertical market
(education, for example), and many have similar levels of functionality. All
of them have significant usability issues - particularly when authoring
content that requires HTML tables.
So when I was asked to write a review of LayerIT CMS (priced at $2,695 for
the enterprise edition), I expected ... (more)
CommonSpot Content Server, developed by PaperThin, Inc., has been simplifying
Web site development and authoring since its introduction in 1998. On April
8, 2004, the newest generation, version 4.0, was released.
Web Content Management products usually seek to empower nontechnical users by
allowing them to modify Web content from their desktops; enforcing standards;
and categorizing, structuring, and cataloging information in a way that makes
it easy to locate. With over 200 commercially available products spanning
every conceivable market niche, CommonSpot has earned a reputation... (more)