I’ve been doing this web site thing now for a while, and I’ve created websites for myself and other people that have ranged from a simple HTML static page to CMS structures that have need for back end code and databases. Along the way, I’ve worked with a number of CMS’s and I’ve seen quite of few come and go. To be honest I wasn’t too impressed with WordPress when I first tried it. It seemed rather one dimensional, “Just a Blog”, and I was looking for more of a content management platform, so instead I stuck with Xoops for live sites, which managed content well and was one of the few that had the modular plugins installed updated from the admin.
I am not ashamed to admit that over the years I have explored and played with all of the web site software I could get my hands on. One reason was that I was fascinated with how the different software did the same thing, with different code and database structure. No matter how simple or complex, they used information stored in a database and php files, html, xml, scripts and css to store and manipulate data, render the front end and provide login/registration and other functions. Some of the early CMS’s required manual edits to update, add modules, or other custom bells and whistles. Some still do require this, some that have some great features that make it worth it, so its not like it isn’t being done anymore. Just that there are options now that were not available in the ancient days.
Modern WordPress has come a long way in offering a robust solution for websites
Modern WordPress plugins and themes are are created separately and hook into WordPress core functions. That way when there are changes to patch security or add functionality, you can safely update without losing changes or customization on your site. If you want to customize a theme, you create a “child” theme and its the same concept.
The core, theme and plugins are stored on the WordPress repository and WordPress notifies you when there is an update in the admin panel. Updated sites are more secure and if problems do arise in which development or repair is required, it is easier to spot, diagnose and fix conflicts and errors.
Then there is the built in SEO compliant structure and additional tools, or SEO Friendly.
All in all the reason I started using WordPress over Drupal, over Xoops, over Joomla was the time it saved, the time it would take to do customization and or updates, the time it took site owners to learn the dashboard, the time it would take to fix when something went wrong…
All in all if Success doesn’t spoil Rock Hunter, I will probably keep using WordPress for my personal and hobby sites, but you never know. Things change.