It’s safe to say that open-source content management systems (CMS) are the most popular platforms for creating non enterprise websites today, given their low cost and active developer communities. Even a few years ago choosing the correct CMS depended on the project’s requirement, but this is no longer true. A There is an abundance of plug-ins available to fill basically any requirement for the major open-source CMS’ and have filled the gaping holes in functionality that previously turned web developers away from certain CMS’.
Only WordPress and Joomla?
WordPress and Joomla are easily the two most popular open-source CMS’ currently. With a plethora of community developed plug-ins and a very healthy, growing developer community it is hard to go pass these two CMS giants. The market is more competitive than ever since the recent release of WordPress 3.0 and Joomla 1.6 – both very significant updates. There are definitely other CMS’ out there that rival WordPress and Joomla, but that is another post altogether.
Comparing the Core
For those who dislike to dabble in php code or html and css for that matter, the vast amounts of free and premium templates available for both Joomla and WordPress are quite simply overwhelming. There is highly likely a theme out there for either CMS’ that will be exactly what you require for almost any given project.
The general advice would be if you are after more flexibility in terms of moving blocks and elements in a template to different locations, this will likely be easier to accomplish in Joomla without or with less coding. While WordPress is easily superior for blogging and structurally simplistic websites.
To Infinity and Beyond the Core
Both Joomla and WordPress have extensions that achieve most unambiguous tasks required of by websites in general, such as image rotators, contact forms, blogging enhancements, social media incorporation or on-page search engine optimization.
Additional complex functionality for WordPress has traditionally been a problem, and most developers excused this by pointing out that WordPress is a blog engine. Despite WordPress’ extension API giving developers no simple way to add complex functionality, plug-ins such as Buddypress and WP e-Commerce, have managed to extend the blog engine with social networking and shopping-cart capabilities. With WordPress’ fresh release of 3.0 we may see better complex functionality added into WordPress on the horizon.
Joomla’s extension model comes in 3 different breeds. Components that extend the core by adding specific functionality, such as e-commerce carts, event listings and forums. Secondly, we have Modules – primarily intended to be teaser blocks, but they can incorporate text and complete image galleries, which makes them useful for static parts of a layout, such as banners and footers. Plug-ins bind to specific system events to format, manipulate and replace HTML output.
At the time of writing, although WordPress can rival Joomla in complex functionality, Joomla certainly accomplishes this criteria more efficiently and more effectively in most cases.
Compatibility
Whilst WordPress generally is not known for compatibility issues, Joomla has been plagued with this problem for years. Despite efforts to provide a great extension API, Joomla 1.5 still suffers in its support of legacy extensions (built for v1.0). Removing the technical jargon this simply means a lot of Joomla extensions and templates are not cross compatible between 1.0, 1.5 and 1.6 which slightly cripples the accessible availability of functionality depending on the version of Joomla you happen to be using… not to mention the headaches related to upgrading your Joomla website version.
The Verdict
I know you want a simple answer, but unfortunately it’s not a simple question. For websites requiring more complex functionality I would still recommend Joomla 1.5 and perhaps Joomla 1.6 only when the developer community overcomes the compatibility issues.
Wordpress is easily more user friendly when compared to Joomla, which makes it more popular in the eyes of the general public. In my opinion, WordPress is still the clear winner for blogging and simple websites. Since the release of WordPress 3.0, the platform has only gained more functionality and if you are inexperienced in terms of web design or development you must check out WordPress.
Josh Chan is a senior web developer and online marketing specialist at Chromatix, an Australian boutique design and web studio. Believing that design takes an appreciation for creativity that reaches a level of fanaticism and a commitment to understanding business needs. Chromatix is home to a family of ever passionate web designers, graphic illustrators and online marketing specialists by day. Magicians, dancers, photographers, Otaku and video gamers by night.
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