General Discussions

**Republikin** · 12-20-2006, 07:32 PM

I was just curious what features you all wish your CMS of choice had that it does not? Is it a feature that no current CMS has or is it that one has it but not everything else you need/like?

I personally can't put it to words too well but I am finding as of late that all the current popular CMS's just feel old and a bit like they are presenting data in an old way. I feel as though there should be something more however I can't really articulate it so I thought perhaps a brainstorming session of sorts would help me to understand exactly what I am looking for.

**ADAM Web Design** · 01:26 PM

1) HTML code that isn't bloated and validates, ideally to XHTML 1.0 Strict...but I'd settle for HTML 4.01 Transitional at this stage.

1a) (alphomega's point) Accessibility is sorely lacking.

2) Inflexibility/inability to customize.

3) The assumption that "one size fits all" when it comes to CMSes and websites, with no regard for more complex websites and sites that require customization as per 2).

4) Search engine friendliness. Session hashes in URLs, etc.

5) Anything I'm not capable of building myself in a more efficient and less expensive manner.

Other than that, nothing.

**vangogh** · 12-21-2006, 01:04 AM

I'll second Adam's list as I was pretty much thinking the same things. I don't use CMSs much, but I would think ease of use for the less experienced would be desirable.

I think the bloated code and the lack of seo is what I'd want to see addressed the most.

**alphomega** · 12-21-2006, 07:39 AM

I think another important focus is for accessibility. There are many commercial cms's claiming they are accessible but they are far from it!

**ADAM Web Design** · 12-21-2006, 01:20 PM

That's true, actually.

Add that in as 1a) to my list. There are some tie-ins to 1), but it's still somewhat standalone as well.

Good call!

**vangogh** · 12-21-2006, 03:35 PM

I agree. Good call alphaomega.

**colbyt** · 12-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Gosh Adam,

You ought to leave a worthy comment for some us to post.

Good post!

I might shuffle the order a bit but other than that you nailed it.

Colbyt

**Republikin** · 12-21-2006, 06:33 PM

Expanding on Adam's point #2 I would really like to see the way that data is presented on-screen drastically changed. I hate the fact that all CMS's lock you into a specific pattern of design and information dissemination. There have been times that I have created a design that I absolutely love but it would never really work with any CMS.

**colbyt** · 12-21-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Republikin

Expanding on Adam's point #2 I would really like to see the way that data is presented on-screen drastically changed. I hate the fact that all CMS's lock you into a specific pattern of design and information dissemination. There have been times that I have created a design that I absolutely love but it would never really work with any CMS.

That would have been numero uno on my list also.

All the sites wind up with a cookie cutter look because there is no way to make a unigue presentation.

**ADAM Web Design** · 12-21-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colbyt

Gosh Adam,

You ought to leave a worthy comment for some us to post.

Good post!

I might shuffle the order a bit but other than that you nailed it.

Colbyt

Thanks dude. But to be perfectly honest, my feelings on the matter (and my own development of what I refer to as self-administration...others refer to as CMS) isn't "original" or "new" thinking on my part. I've been customizing these types of things for years, but primarily because of the same issues I listed above (originally #2 was the big one but I moved it down a notch because they seem to be focusing more on that now than before).

Kind of a "necessity is the mother of invention" scenario, if you weeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllll.

**iworkforthem** · 12-30-2006, 04:46 AM

Er... which CMS have you evaluated? It's not really fair to make comments as such.