What is a CMS Open Source?

A content management software, (or "content management system") can design and update a website (see our definition), without using language or programming code. "Open source" means that we can freely access the software.
Why use a content management system for the website of the company?

CMS are the foremost tools for corporate communication (Internet or external). Once installed the system, employees can access the website, provide content, and possibly interact with prospects using dynamic tools such as discussion forums, newsletters, comments, articles, etc
The CMS is suitable for professionals who want to quickly modify and enrich the content of their web pages.

Benefits of CMS

• No installation on the computer is required: the content management system does not operate from your PC. He settled among the host of your website.
• Compatibility with all operating systems. CMS is also accessible from any Internet browser.
• Ease of management and administration. Authorized users can publish content (articles) through an interface simple and independent.
• Free: no license fee for some CMS (Open Source).
• Save time: you can create your site using templates to format pre-existing.
• Ability to work simultaneously on several on the same platform .
• Reactivity: The CMS facilitate relationships with customers and stakeholders.

Disadvantages

- The CMS is closely linked to the constraints of publishing. You will need an editorial (who publishes that corrects, at what frequency) and define a charter (what types of issues, what tone, etc.).
- You may need to take the time to train stakeholders on drafting techniques.
- If using a content management system is simple, its start-up may require the intervention of a professional.
The main content management systems

The most common CMS:

- Spip
- Joomla
- EZ Publish
- CMS Made Simple
- Type 3
- Artiphp
- Open CMS
- WordPress

Features of content management systems

The CMS share some essential characteristics:

Internet access

To add content to your website, each CMS has a web interface accessible with a browser. All documents are stored in a database that manages the autonomous changes in real time (publication of an article, registration of a user of the forum, etc..)
Separation between form and content

When you add content, its form (style) is already configured. Each document type (article, image) has its own architecture (title, legend, etc..), Which determines the layout of the content on the page.
Simplified data integration

The integration of products / data to the console is simplified. It is done using a keypad with icons similar to those of word processing (eg bold, italics, etc.).. It is possible to view the article in its final form before the start line.
To these three major functions are added several options for storage of information (author, modified date, category), which allow to classify them and find them quickly.
How to choose the right content management system?

To make an informed choice, you should take into account three criteria.

• Your communication project. Do you just want to publish information, set up online shop, Internet users to participate, setting up an intranet. In other words, you must define the complexity of your project.
• Features of the CSM. The content management systems are more or less complete. Type 3 has more features and possibilities that Spip parameter for example. But to simplify the formatting of a website, Spip makes (page templates) available to its users.
• Awareness of CSM. A very important factor,the CMS are expanded and enriched by a community of users..The larger the community is, the more you’ll benefit.