Need a specialized CMS

skypanther

skypanther

Exalted Code Master!
I tried posting this on a couple of the CMS comparisons sites and got no response. Maybe someone here can help? I'm looking for recommendations for a CMS that will do the following:

- Support subscription based access to private areas of the web site (pay to play)
- Include ecommerce functions for selling merchandise and services
- Include an event calendar that enables site visitor to register for an event, some of which will require payment
- Be easy to use (my customer will manage his data) and reasonably simple to set up and customize.
- PHP and MySQL based
- Open source

Thanks,
Tim
 
Thanks Tanmaya, both components look good, but not quite what I need. I have found some modules for phpNuke, post-Nuke, and MD-Pro that will do what I need. I'm not really a fan of the *Nuke line of CMSes. I might have to go with one of them anyway.

Tim
 
Have you looked at something like MODx (http://modxcms.com/)? Easy to install, but to get it do do all you want it may take a bit more work than a nuke product, but from an end user's point of view, it is very easy to manage, update etc.

It supports private areas and user registrations right out of the box and there are an increasing numer if add-ons available including a shopping cart.

It's not too difficult to get other apps (eg ecommerce) to run inside MODx so you aren't limited to what has been written specifically for it. Also most Etomite snippets will run on MODx.
 
MODx is definitely worth further looks. Unfortunately for my current project there are no suitable ecommerce modules available. I gather one is in development, but it won't be done in time for my project now.

I understand that some gaming sites charge for access. They can't all be using custom apps. There must be something off the shelf in an affordable price range. I'm too old to be part of the hip gaming community so I hardly even know where to start on that line of investigation. ;)

Thanks for the tip.
Tim
 
skypanther said:
Thanks Tanmaya, both components look good, but not quite what I need. I have found some modules for phpNuke, post-Nuke, and MD-Pro that will do what I need. I'm not really a fan of the *Nuke line of CMSes. I might have to go with one of them anyway.

Tim
Click to expand...

What can you not get in Joomla or Mambo?
 
After tons of googling, I finally found a Joomla/Mambo mod (hack really) called JBridge. It supports the subscription based access to the site I need. So, yes, I'll be moving forward with Joomla for this site.

Thanks!
Tim

PS - I also strongly considered Moodle with the aMember authentication package and plug in. Moodle is a very cool e-learning CMS. The site I'm building is for one of my karate instructors who wants to provide fitness programs, rank requirements, exercise regimens, etc. on a subscription basis to current students at our dojo and elsewhere. So the eduction thing seemed to sorta fit. But after a bunch of investigation, we decided that Moodle was just a bit too much (education wise) for his needs.
 
Joomla should be the best for you. It is also coming out this month with a huge update going to version 1.5 There is a lot of development going on with Joomla now and it should be the best of the best with many new add on components available. Look at http://extensions.joomla.org/ for a list of extensions available and that should help you.
 
Thanks for the comments. I did end up developing the site with Joomla. See http://martialfit.com (I know, it's a stock template but the client liked it.)

<soapbox>
My biggest gripe about Joomla and Mambo, and what had me looking elsewhere, is that I find them very complex from a customer/site manager perspective. (Actually, most CMSes fail miserably in this regard.)

I don't really give a rip how tough they are to set up. But, my clients want to manage their own sites. That means content. CMSes rarely put content management tools first and foremost in the admin UI. Amazingly, options for customizing the CMS, installing mods, checking for code updates, whatever, are often front and center while the tools for updating the site's content are buried in menus and subsections.

Or, like Joomla/Mambo, you need to know whether the content you want to update is "static content" or part of some module. The end user shouldn't need to know how the thing was built in order to update the content.

I've already spent many (unpaid) hours writing how-to docs and on the phone with my client for his Joomla site. And he still doesn't get it. That's not right. When you log in, the only prominent options should be for updating the content. Those buttons should be clearly labeled and obvious to the end user. The configuration type options should be the ones buried in menus or available only to a developer-level user.
</soapbox>

Tim
 
That is one reason I like the community server approach, to edit just double click and go!
 
I have not found on in PHP yet, but user friendly would be ingredient #1, if I had a good CMS with the ease of use in editing that community server has for the admin, I could personally sign up 15-20 users in my small hometown.

People WANT easy CMS, it simply doesn't exist at this time.

If you want a demo of admin side of community server to see what I am talking about send me a PM and I will give you an admin login to one of my CS powered sites.
 
can anyone reccomend a cms, blog or script please. I'm looking for something that has'nt become a monster yet.
What i'm looking for is:
1.Admin can update using wyswig online
2.memberships with email & email-newsletter ability
3.php crossplatform, ie runs on windows too.
4.photo gallery module add-on, video/sound file upload would be best.
5.member ability to add a profile/photo etc.
6.Good speed, fast.
7. hits/visits log

Theres just so many to choose from, it'd be great to get some reccomendations on something that pretty much covers what i need but is not over inflated with admin features /modules etc that complicate customisation.
 
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