What is a CMS?

What is a CMS?

Wikipedia states: A content management system (CMS) is a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based. The procedures are designed to:

• Allow for a large number of people to contribute to and share stored data
• Control access to data, based on user roles. User roles define what information each user can view or edit
• Aid in easy storage and retrieval of data
• Reduce repetitive duplicate input
• Improve the ease of report writing
• Improve communication between users

In a CMS, data can be defined as nearly anything - documents, movies, pictures, phone numbers, scientific data, etc. CMSs are frequently used for storing, controlling, revising, semantically enriching, and publishing documentation. Content that is controlled is industry-specific. For example, entertainment content differs from the design documents for a fighter jet. There are various terms for systems (related processes) that do this. Examples are web content management, digital asset management, digital records management and electronic content management. Synchronization of intermediate steps, and collation into a final product are common goals of each.

And that means?

Web sites (good ones that is) are collections of meaningful content arranged so as to be easily accessed by the viewer. Traditionally, this meant lots of HTML pages, custom code, surly programmers, and nightmare edits. CMS have, in a large way, made these old methods and headaches unnecessary. While programming knowledge is required to set up a CMS, add components, and make templates behave, once the work is done, the need for programming skill for regular maintenence and additions is next to nothing. This means that you, as a non programmer, can edit, add to, and maintain your own web site - without going back to school or cluttering your desk with gigantic programming books that you closed for good after the first paragraph.

We Practice oUr Preach

Evn our web site, this very one you are viewing now, was created using the same CMS (Joomla!) we will configure for you. In the image below, you see the exact editing window that was used to make this page.

If I can make my own web site, What do I need you for?

It is true! With the advancements in CMS technology and stock templates, ordinary folk can indeed create their own web sites. HOWEVER, web sites are much more than just the system code and template. CMS do require programming knowledge (PHP, HTML, CSS, XML, and JS) to set up properly. On top of that, you still need a suite of graphic applications and know how to create the graphic sets and imagery that make up the look of your web site.

I've seen adds that say "Custom only. No templates!" Do you use templates?

YES! While some companies promote the use of "custom only" programming, in most cases that means the company has either modified an existing template or has created their own template and now recycle the pieces of that code for their clients. However you look at it, code gets recycled - and is rarely, if ever, completely custom.

Fair Price Studio has selected Rocket Theme templates to use as our base programming. You simply can not get better! The programming team of RT includes members who worked on the actual Joomla! CMS code, and know the system thoroughly. With Rocket Theme at the back end of your web site, you are ensured a properly functioning, quick loading, and forward thinking programming structure behind your web site.

The flip side of custom code is the actual look of the web site. For this, Fair Price Studio always creates a unique look for its clients. So - in this regard, NO STOCK TEMPLATES!