Now evaluating ExpressionEngine CMS
When Webopius builds new websites for clients, we work with them to select the right Content Management System. In the past, much of the time this has resulted in using Drupal for robust, scaleable sites with multiple content types and the need for the client to easily maintain the content. For e-commerce systems, ASPDotNetStorefront is often chosen as it’s one of the best commercial ecommerce platforms out there.
More recently, we’ve been very impressed with ExpressionEngine as an alternative Content Management System. A friend introduced us to ExpressionEngine and a couple of months ago we downloaded a copy to evaluate.
Like other CMS systems, Expression Engine cleanly separates the templates and content (weblogs) which is dynamically loaded from the database. Unlike many CMS systems, the template design and tagging system is very easy to understand. You can also intermingle php and the tags to create very powerful content relationships within web pages.
One of the other aspects that appealed to us were the minimal updates once sites are deployed. With other CMS platforms, the system is always nagging us about a security patch or module update that is required. This requires downloading new modules, testing them on development boxes, fixing bugs (and looking up issues with clashes between different modules) before the changes can be deployed to a live site. For a company like us, this takes up valuable time and increases the risk of downtime on client sites. With Expression Engine there seem to be far less frequent security and general updates applied – overall it seems a pretty solid system.
The only initial criticism is that there doesn’t appear to be a central repository or directory of plugins, modules and extensions available which usually means spending yet more time in Google looking for a solution or writing your own. While I’m thinking, why have plugin, extension and modules. Just extensions would be fine and less confusing as I can’t see a great deal of difference, certainly between “module” and “extension”!
Currently, we will be using Expression Engine on the new Luzmon.com (www.luzmon.com) owned by Louise Mohn (www.louisemohn.com). As soon as it’s deployed, I’ll write here with our experiences.
The Devot-ee website at http://www.devot-ee.com could be just the central repository for addons that you’re looking for
Comment by Richard Angstmann — October 29, 2009 @ 12:17 am
Whilst I can see that from a maintenance point of few the Expression Engine appears much easier, I would be concerned at what appears to be the lack of security updates. Surely this is one of the contingency risks as you are then reliant on your own firewall and security software protecting the system.
With the internet moving so fast, any high profile website is at huge risk from DOS and other attacks. No matter how much software application testing has been done originally, there is no way that without frequent security patches this CMS can remain up to date.
Having said that, not having to constantly install software upgrades for new functionality; which you will never use is only a good think. It drives me mad when I’m managing a project delivery.
Regards
Susan de Sousa
Site Editor http://www.my-project-management-expert.com
Comment by My-Project-Management-Expert.com — October 30, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Susan,
Thanks for the comments. I would also add that there is an argument that the reason Open Source CMS systems have so many security updates is due to the nature of how they are developed.
A community based development project, delivered by individuals with a wide range of experience and without a common project management framework is more likely to have bugs, security issues and more frequent updates than a commercial project delivered to a tight specification by a small team of experienced developers.
That’s one reason Expression Engine appeals. I also like the fact that it can be used in commercial websites for a relatively small fee and you still get the source code and can develop extensions if you want to – just like Joomla, Drupal, WordPress and many other excellent Open Source solutions.
I think both Open source solutions and Expression Engine have a place in our portfolios – and it’s nice of course to have the choice!
Comment by Webopius — October 30, 2009 @ 3:23 pm