Joomla! vs. Static HTML Web sites
Broadly speaking, I develop two types of Web sites: static HTML sites, built in Dreamweaver, and dynamically generated sites, built using Joomla!, the open-source content management system. Which is better? It depends on your needs.
In English, here's the difference between the two:
Feature |
Static HTML sites with |
|
Development time |
Quicker to build; take a bit more time to maintain. | Take a bit longer to build, but quicker and easier to maintain. |
Software |
Built using Dreamweaver, the industry-standard commercial Web development software. Dreamweaver is installed on individuals' computers and costs about $400. You don't need to buy it for yourself unless you want to. | Built using Joomla! software, which is open-source and free of charge. Joomla! is installed on the server - the computer where your Web site is stored and broadcast to the world - so you can access it from anywhere. |
Site scope |
Best for small to medium, brochure-type sites without a lot of ever-changing content. | Best for medium to large sites that change frequently, including interactive features. |
Make your own changes |
Want to make changes to the site yourself? I can help you get set up with CushyCMS, an easy and free system for making simple changes to your content (text and images). | It's easy to change your text and images any time using Joomla!, and with a little training, you can also do more complicated stuff like adding or removing pages. |
Blogs |
Would you like to have a blog, where you can write about latest news or get on a soapbox? I can help you get set up with Blogger and integrate the blog into your site design. | Blogs are an integrated feature of Joomla!. You can easily add news or write articles any time you like, to keep your site fresh. |
Other interactive features |
Interactive features, like message boards, a shopping cart, polls, or a calendar of events can often be embedded in your site with the help of outside service providers. | Joomla! has thousands of free or low-cost extensions that allow for just about any feature you might need. Want to add a shopping cart, build an online community, or just show cute pictures of your cat at random? Joomla! has an extension for it. |
sitesStill not sure whether a static HTML site or Joomla! site is best for you? Contact me and I'll be happy to talk you through it.
