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Please advise: Joomla, Wordpress, something else?

by JustaWizard
7 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
I've been doing all my websites for years in Dreamweaver - BTW, I'm a "garden variety" webmaster, I know HTML and use templates in DW.

Lately I've been studying Wordpress to be able to create nicer-looking sites faster, as well as to be able to more easily manage large (>100 pages) sites. Plus they have lots of great plugins, ping the SE's, etc. so there are some advantage that WP has over DW when it comes to site creation and management.

So my question is, before I get too far along "mastering" Wordpress, should I consider a different thing like Joomla (which I admit I've done zero research into) and I've heard that there's another platform (is platform the right word?) that's also popular?

In other words, if I'm going to have a learning curve, where's my time best spent now for future payoff in web design/management? - please do keep in mind I'm not a programmer, just a practical kind of guy who wants to know just enough to get the job done.

THANKS!
David Portney
#advise #joomla #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author MemberWing
    Wordpress would be your best bet. Huge support community, lightweight, easy.
    I managed to pull my Wordpress-based site on the first page of Google above 50,000,000 of other competing pages is less than 6 months.

    I used to play with Joomla - but it was too heavy and overloaded for my needs.

    Now I am developer for Wordpress for a growing community of people who are building recurring membership sites. It really works well and solid.

    Gleb
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    • Profile picture of the author JustaWizard
      Originally Posted by MemberWing View Post

      Wordpress would be your best bet. Huge support community, lightweight, easy.
      I managed to pull my Wordpress-based site on the first page of Google above 50,000,000 of other competing pages is less than 6 months.

      I used to play with Joomla - but it was too heavy and overloaded for my needs.

      Now I am developer for Wordpress for a growing community of people who are building recurring membership sites. It really works well and solid.

      Gleb
      Hi Gleb, thanks very much. Is there any concerns about hacking or infections I should be aware of?

      Best,
      David
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  • Profile picture of the author MemberWing
    Hi David,
    no more than about any other open- or closed-source software.
    Advantage of Wordpress is huge community and hence discovery and fixing of vulnerabilities is pretty fast.

    Updates are used to be the major hassle point for any CMS, but Wordpress recently made it one push-button process straight from the admin panel. So maintenance became much easier especially for newbies.

    Gleb
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  • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
    Although you wouldn't go wrong with either platform I second the vote for WordPress, it is less complex than Joomla and thus easier to use for beginners.

    I use both platforms and have nice things to say about both Joomla 1.5 and WordPress 2.7. However when it comes to building a site I usually go for WordPress first, using it I can have a site "on the air" within a few minutes of purchasing the domain name. I'd say for every 10 sites I create 9 of them are WordPress.

    As for security, you always have to keep up to date with whatever code you're running. Open Source code by its very nature is freely available for hackers to dissect and attack,however as Gleb pointed out there is a large community surrounding both products that responds quickly to new threats.

    Best of luck

    Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author originator
    I depends on what kind of website you want.
    If it's just a simple website, use Wordpress.
    Are you talking about a big website and you want some extra features, try Joomla.
    About security, just keep your CMS updated.

    I build all my websites at Joomla.

    If you have further questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
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  • Profile picture of the author jumbopanda
    Like originator said, it depends on what you are trying to build. Wordpress is simple for simple sites. Joomla can build more powerful sites, and since it is open source, there are many components and modules that can be added on for free. You can add shopping carts, forums, forms, newsletters, calenders,and much more. Its getting better all the time, and after a few years in development, they have security handled pretty well. If you have any Joomal specific questions, feel free to send me a message. I would be happy to help.
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  • Profile picture of the author James12C
    Originally Posted by JustaWizard View Post


    In other words, if I'm going to have a learning curve, where's my time best spent now for future payoff in web design/management? - please do keep in mind I'm not a programmer, just a practical kind of guy who wants to know just enough to get the job done.
    Hi, David - Given that, I would go with Wordpress. I looked closely at Joomla (and share your DW background.) It was too steep a learning curve.

    PS There are several threads on Wordpress / Joomla today. Check them out too.
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