Content Management Systems and Hand Coding
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
A Content Management System (CMS) allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content without needing technical skills like coding. Common CMS platforms, such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, are primarily used for managing websites. However, CMS can also manage various types of digital content like documents, multimedia, and e-commerce systems. It helps with organizing, updating, and publishing content efficiently across digital environments.
CMS Website Building vs. Hand-Coding (HTML/CSS)
CMS Website Building
- Benefits:
- Ease of Use: No coding needed; ideal for non-technical users.
- Fast Development: Pre-designed templates and plugins make website creation quick.
- Built-in Features: Plugins for SEO, e-commerce, and more can be easily integrated.
- Easy Content Updates: Multiple users can manage and update content.
- Community Support: Large user base, tutorials, and support available.
- Drawbacks:
- Limited Customization: Custom designs may require coding knowledge.
- Security Risks: Vulnerabilities arise if plugins/themes aren’t updated.
- Performance Issues: Too many plugins can slow down the site.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates are required to maintain functionality and security.
Hand-Coding (HTML/CSS)
- Benefits:
- Full Control: Customizable to every detail for a unique design.
- Optimized Performance: Cleaner code can result in faster load times.
- Better Security: Fewer risks compared to plugin-dependent sites.
- Learning Opportunity: Great for building technical skills.
- Drawbacks:
- Time-Consuming: Coding from scratch takes significantly more time.
- Requires Expertise: Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and possibly JavaScript is necessary.
- Difficult Maintenance: Updates and changes can be harder for non-technical users.
- Limited Features: Adding complex functionality may require more coding knowledge.
Best Practices
A hybrid approach is often the best choice. CMS platforms are ideal for general projects because they are easy to use and scalable, while hand-coding is better for custom websites that need advanced features or high performance.
Future for Web Design
CMS platforms have changed the web design industry by making website creation easier for non-technical users. While this reduces the need for basic web development, it doesn’t eliminate jobs for web developers. Instead, developers now focus on more advanced tasks like customizing CMS themes, building plugins, optimizing website performance, and providing maintenance. The demand has shifted from simple site building to more specialized, higher-level roles, creating new opportunities in the field.
References
CMS VS Hand Coded Websites. (2019, June 21). iDigitize. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://idigitize.co/cms-vs-hand-coded-websites
Gupta, K. (2018, October 24). CMS Vs Hand Coding – What’s the Right Way to Building a Website? – Developers, Designers & Freelancers – FreelancingGig. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://www.freelancinggig.com/blog/2018/10/24/cms-vs-hand-coding-whats-the-right-way-to-building-a-website/
No Code Required: Is the CMS killing the Freelance Web Developer? (2017, May 20). LinkedIn. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/code-required-cms-killing-freelance-web-developer-ryan-boddy