> Where WP falls apart IMO is when complex multi-surfacing comes into play.
I'd agree with this. WordPress is good at what it does but it's not a good framework for extending too far. It's database model is dire in some ways (take a look at how most plugins store their data).
There comes a point where you've got to upscale to one of the more framework oriented systems in order to get the desired result in a sane way - I've seen people spend weeks customising WordPress to bend it to their will when in the same time they could have downed tools and turned to something like ModX and achieved the same result in the same time using standard, sustainable tools on that platform that have some kind of future, unlike many WP plugins.
Complex functionality requires complex development sometimes and there's no getting away from that, annoying as it may be. The NMM's new site has a facetted browse for example -- an intuitive way of cutting through collections, and whilst not completely straightforward to implement that's something that Drupal or ModX are comfortably able to help you build using Solr or whatever. I wouldn't fancy trying that with WordPress (yes, I know Solr can be bolted onto WP but it'll only understand WordPress 'entities' unless you're going to slave away turning into a frankenmonster...)
I'm not raging against WP here at all - we use it extensively! - just making the good old 'right tool for the right job' point.
P
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Ellis
Sent: 18 August 2011 16:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What would an open source museum CMS look like? - Wordpress Hack Day?
The "scale" thing with WP isn't about traffic, it's about complexity of content, I'd say...
If http://www.number10.gov.uk/ and a whole bunch of other high-traffic sites can cope, I'm pretty sure most museum websites could too, especially with WP-cache and so on.
Where WP falls apart IMO is when complex multi-surfacing comes into play.
Simple stuff can be done by hacking it about a bit - using custom posts types and featured images or even Pods CMS - but if you want to get really relational, it gets hairy pretty quickly.
Having said that, I'm slightly unconvinced - again, after lots of hands-on experiences - that ultimately people either *get* or *want* true multi-surfacing. It's one of those aspirations (a bit like complex
workflows) which everyone puts in their specification because they kinda think they should - and then when it comes to the day job, it gets ignored... :-)
BTW - lots of people are signing up to the potential hack day. In answer to Mia's question - I dunno yet :-)
Mike
_____________________________
*Mike Ellis *
I've gone freelance! Find out more about our new digital agency:
http://thirty8.co.uk
...and I wrote a book - all about digital heritage strategy:
http://heritageweb.co.uk
On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Bonewell, Perry < [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > I guess to some extent the right content management solution depends
> on the size of the museum. For example a smaller venue could use
> Wordpress, but if it was a multiple site local authority museum
> service I think Wordpress would buckle under the pressure and it
> wouldn't be the right solution.
>
> Scale is probably not an issue for WP - WordPress.com runs on
> WordPress after all:
>
> http://en.wordpress.com/stats/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Jim Richardson
> Sent: 18 August 2011 11:24
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: What would an open source museum CMS look like? -
> Wordpress Hack Day?
>
> I guess to some extent the right content management solution depends
> on the size of the museum. For example a smaller venue could use
> Wordpress, but if it was a multiple site local authority museum
> service I think Wordpress would buckle under the pressure and it
> wouldn't be the right solution.
>
> One size can't fit all, can it?
>
> The Wordpress Hackday sounds like a fantastic idea.
>
> Jim
>
> ---
>
> ****************************************************************
> website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
> [un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************
>
>
> This e-mail and any attached files are confidential and may also be
> legally privileged. They are intended solely for the intended
> addressee. If you are not the addressee please e-mail it back to the
> sender and then immediately, permanently delete it. Do not read,
> print, re-transmit, store or act in reliance on it. This e-mail may be
> monitored by Bolton Council in accordance with current regulations.
>
>
> This footnote also confirms that this e-mail message has been swept
> for the presence of computer viruses currently known to Bolton
> Council. However, the recipient is responsible for virus-checking
> before opening this message and any attachment.
>
>
> Unless expressly stated to the contrary, any views expressed in this
> message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily
> reflect the views of Bolton Council.
>
>
> http://www.bolton.gov.uk
> ****************************************************************
> website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
> [un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************
>
****************************************************************
website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
[un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
website: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
[un]subscribe: http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************
|