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  • #26571
    brad_langdon
    Member

    Ok,

    When I create a site I open a basic template that I have created that consists of a css file an index page and a few php inserts for the header, nav and footer.

    It works fine and I am happy with it but I keep seeing posts / comments on the net saying that all websites should be dynamically loaded etc and all content on pages should be database driven, so on and so on.

    How does everyone else setup a basic site. I dont want to use a CMS like wordpress or joomla. I looked into CakePHP but apparently you should not use it unless you are creating a blog, forum etc. Here I was thinking CakePHP was a basic sort of framework that you can add features to.

    I need help deciding the best way to do things, I have created sites that pull info from databases before but it was still all hand coded.

    Help from anyone expereinced in this topic is very much needed… :)

    #65947
    TheDoc
    Member

    If you’re not willing to use a CMS, sounds like you’re doing it exactly how I would.

    #65949
    brad_langdon
    Member

    I used wordpress once but there is just too much crap… are other cms’s better and are they easy to alter?

    I dont want to alter their templates each time I build a site, I would rather build my site and then somehow implement a CMS or framework, I just dont know how to go about it.

    When I used wordpress I couldn’t even add javascript to pages as it doesn’t work apparently.

    #65950
    TheDoc
    Member

    I think that might just be a touch of naivety when it comes to WordPress, which is fair enough – even though the idea of it is simple, it can be a little tough to wrap your head around everything. I finally have a half-decent idea of how to whip up a WP template and now it doesn’t really seem so daunting.

    There are some CMS’s like you’ve mentioned, where there are no templates at all, more just like elements on a page that you can edit. I don’t particularly like those systems myself, I feel like they are too limiting, but I’m sure somebody else can chime in on that one.

    #65951
    brad_langdon
    Member

    Are you able to give me any advice or point me somewhere where I can learn to customise wordpress properly?

    #66069
    The Admiral
    Member

    You might think about starting with these. The first link is to a screencast specifically about WordPress’ CMS capabilities.
    The second one is actually the first of a great three-part series that Chris Coyier put together a little while ago. They both helped me out a ton!

    http://www.css-tricks.com/video-screencasts/41-wordpress-as-a-cms/

    http://www.css-tricks.com/video-screencasts/25-designing-for-wordpress-part-one/

    #66072
    TheDoc
    Member
    "brad_langdon" wrote:
    Are you able to give me any advice or point me somewhere where I can learn to customise wordpress properly?

    Also check out this thread in the CMS sections of the forums:

    Do You Suck at WordPress? Your answer could be here!
    viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3629

    #66083
    sebgonz
    Member

    As an alternative, if you don’t decide to go the WordPress route, (which personally, I recommend using WordPress) you could try Concrete 5. It still uses a template system, but it’s plain and simple css/html. You can also implement javascript very easily, and still use your php includes that you’ve already got set up. I’d give it a try. If it doesn’t pan out for you, you can always go with something else.

    Here’s a site that I’m currently working on that’s using Concrete 5. Don’t look at it in IE6, cuz I’m sure it’s craptastic.

    http://www.ableeyedesign.com

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