Site from scratch, wordpress or Joomla?

Scuba Steve · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 07:35 AM

So I'm about to make a new affiliate site, and I was wondering, how do most of you go about making a new site? I've always coded from scratch, as i'm much more comfortable with platforms and integrating my graphics when i coded it myself. But the more I see what you can do with wordpress blogs and free CMS scripts like Joomla, the more I'm intrigued. they basically add a veritable ****-ton of features that would consume a ton of time in development if you were to do them yourself.

The more I work with wordpress, the more I think a lot of the way their platform is set up is kind've sloppy though.

What do you guys prefer to do when designing a new site?

xbrain · #2 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 10:19 AM

i think wordpress is easy to setup and run plus nice SEO value but again for affiliate you can try joomla as there are a lot of free extension

zelphics · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:12 PM

I think wordpress would be better than Joomla. I don't really like the coding in Joomla, and I think wordpress is more modern looking.

Vinic · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 08:36 AM

It's nteresting that I've been asking the same question, for the same reason. In fact, I came here to post that question and foung yours! Starting yet another website, a donation for our member owned golf club, and wanted to provide a vehicle for members to participate.

I had looked at Joomla awhile back (and Mambo before that) and was not that thrilled with it. Recently loaded the latest version (1.5) and it seems like it has come around quite a bit. This coming from a diehard WP fan (I manage 5 separate wp blogs including a series of them on our local intranet that we use for business organization and record keeping!).

But the newer Joomla was easier to install than before, has reports of being more secure than previous versions (big issue for me on this decision) has rss, and seems to have a little more flexibility for organizing separate catagories. It also has the appearance of a more conventional website right "out of the box" compared to WP. Mind you, WP is currently, and has been for quite awhile, the base of my main website and has been modified to look like very much conventional. But even without yet getting all the way into it yet, I like the way Joomla is organized on the admin side.

Will be interested to see others thoughts/experiences here.

nasty.web · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 01:25 PM

Take a look at CMS Matrix.

Vinic · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 04:02 PM

Wow. That's a crazy amount of software. Who knew?
Someone really put the time in on this.

Scuba Steve · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:36 AM

Wow...that is an excellent resource. Thanks for the bookmark nasty!

john8 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:58 AM

Actually, wordpress and joomla are different type scripts. Wordpress is blog, and joomla is CMS system.

If you want a blog-like site, then go with wordpress, if you want a whole powerful publish system, go with joomla.

You can try them at http://www.opensourcecms.com/

kyrie · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelphics

I think wordpress would be better than Joomla. I don't really like the coding in Joomla, and I think wordpress is more modern looking.

Well, if you will have a blog, I prefer Wordpress but if you are planning to have a big site, then Joomla is the right thing for you. Joomla has many modules, components, mambots and templates to choose from. Wordpress is more on blogging side while Joomla is more on building a dynamic, complex site

theawristocrat · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 12:46 PM

I always use wordpress when starting a new blog. I also tried joomla but its more complicated.

rancari · #11 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008, 10:12 PM

yup, wp is good choice for blogger and joomla has wide extension.

But, Scuba Steve, I think you should play Drupal for a while as you are a coder. Drupal has easy to setup and modified. It is not as easy as WP and Joomla, but once you know its framework you'll get wonderful arsenal for next improvement

BackstabMedia · #12 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 06:38 PM

I use wordpress, very easy, huge public support for addons etc.

Scuba Steve · #13 (**permalink**) 02-29-2008, 11:26 AM

Ranc I set up a Drupal test site on my xampp...pretty awesome stuff. Thanks for the suggestion!

imakemoney · #14 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 01:36 PM

I have used Joomla a few times for full blown CMS sites, I like it lots, saves a lot of time and there are loads of add-ons for it.

rancari · #15 (**permalink**) 03-02-2008, 07:33 PM

Have a nice Drupal day, Steve! The new one is Drupal 6, but i think 5.4 is better for now since most of extention haven't support yet.

kevalin · #16 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 10:58 PM

Joomla for an affiliate site would work best. If you are going to be doing just blogging I highly recommend Wordpress. I have used Joomla for awhile and I am jaded because I love the add ins and the ease of use. Joomla in the end will give you more options to expand and build a community then Wordpress will.

anandsoft · #17 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasty.web

Take a look at CMS Matrix.

Very elaborate comparison matrix...thanks for the resource.

cssnewbie · #18 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:41 AM

Did someone hear of joomlify ? It allows to integrate wordpress inside joomla. Just saw it not tried it yet.
I like wordpress as blog but too farfetched to transform it into a traditional looking site for the frontpage so would like to mix the two.

krahmaan · #19 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 11:00 PM

I'd go with both!

I've also seen some of the ways people are creating blogs that are great! But you can never go wrong with a little old fashioned web design from scratch -I think. Sure it may take a little longer, but it's the end result that you really want -right? The end result, that's what makes it all worth your time -right?

I'm still learning all the different facets for creating a dynamic web pages myself. But I really want to know as many good old basics first, before I venture too far into the more easier 'do it for me' techniques.

So I say go with both! Never a bad thing to learn something new!