The goal of any web development agency is to deliver a website that not only looks attractive but is also manageable. It seems there are new contenders vying to be the top content management system (CMS) every day. Making it easy to add products, articles and just about anything else is a mandatory development skill today. Inevitably, the question always arises: "Do we download something free and open source, or do we buy a solution?"
Ask developers and they'll probably explain they have favorites from both realms. However, most marketing execs and decision makers aren't as familiar with CMSs, let alone quick to name drop their most preferred. Feel overwhelmed or torn by CMS choices? Let's discuss the pros and cons of developing within both open and closed source systems. And for further direction, let's scope out the top open and closed source ways to manage content for both ecommerce and general content sites.
Open Source vs. Closed Source
Open source means there are a lot of people working on the software. Plenty of individuals are making sure the code is solid and that the software is easy to use. Documentation is usually easy to find, and there are plenty of people out there writing "how-tos," which make design and development easier and even fun. You can count on regular updates that are continually improving the product. Open source systems let you see what makes the software tick, and you can often change it to suit your needs. Use this to your advantage when it comes to differentiating yourself from the rest of the pack.
However, because of the popularity of open source systems, many people are familiar with open source code, which creates a higher risk for hacking. If you choose to...
