I've started to use WordPress and have been absolutely delighted with the way that version 3.0 works. Built-in FTP so that automatic updates, plugin and theme installation and whatnot work without significant file owner/premissions hassle.

But can someone please confirm that the FastCGI facility in plesk 8.6 is basically pointless other than if you want to use Ruby on Rails? i.e. in Plesk 8.6 it doesn't cause php to run as the FTP user.

Thanks,

Faris.

What I can only confirm is that running fastcgi under Plesk 8.6 did not make php run with FTP credentials.
It was like that when I tried to run Joomla with fastcgi and Plesk 8.6.

Thanks. That's what I thought.

WordPress works wonderfully with ASL btw. No FPs at all. Very impressed with it.

Has Joomla improved recently? I seem to recall it was something of a mess.

Faris.

I like Wordpress and Joomla. Both have their pros and cons.
After some initial learning I think Joomla 1.5 and Worpress are doing a very good job.
Joomla 1.0 was quite unflexible. The infinite amount of Joomla Extensions is what I like the most. And the extensions library is growing day by day.
Joomla 1.6 is still in beta and will bring some major improvements in usability and permissions.
Wordpress is improving and growing. Sometimes it's quite ressource hungry and slow.
I prefer Joomla but that would depend on the needs of the project.

What definitely needs improvements in all CMS is the Frontend GUI for the enduser/client. A client really needs a dramatically simple interface where he/she don't has to take care of tags or if to press "enter" or "enter with shift" ... which CSS file to use... how to get an article online without 20 steps... and so on....
But who knows, maybe it will come.
A real interesting CMS Project is http://modxcms.com/

Thanks for the info! Very useful.

MODx looks extremely outstanding. A bit like Typo3 but lightweight and *useful* and *simple* and uses your own html templates! I'm going to spend tomorrow trying it out. I can't wait to see the menus and things in action.

Faris.

You're welcome. I'm interested in other opinions. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Looks like good timing. MODx Revolution 2.0.0 (hmmm!) was released today.

I'll give it a try.

EDIT: Dagnabbit! Not compatible with php 5.1.6

Faris.

I have built and maintained sites with both Joomla and wordpress...I prefer the Joomla capabilities over wordpress, as the extensions are far more adaptable to real web site design and functions over a far greater range than what I find with wordpress...although I have to admit that I have much more experience with Joomla...
Joomla is easier to backup with akeeba, even direct to S3 buckets on automatic, the templates available are fantastic and quite sophisticated, and there is an extension called k2 that gives the articles similar flexibility as the drupal CCK.

I have never quite got anything usable from drupal, because it requires so many add-ons to do what joomla does out of the box...if you don't know all of the required add-ons, you have a stunted CMS in the sense of today's glamourous looking sites.

Wordpress is probably the best blog system and has extensive templates available, both free and for sale...I do think wordpress requires more resources than joomla, as I see some mighty dense joomla sites that load very quickly.