Joomla versus Wordpress
By Yan • Apr 27th, 2007 • Category: Random TidbitsI just came out of a painful slump following my struggle with Joomla, another excellent open source content management system similar to (but certainly more extensive than) Wordpress.
While it was relatively easy for me to understand the inner maneuvers of Wordpress, my Joomla journey was laden with several false starts and an overwhelming desire to give up.
I finally did get the hang of it. And the results are spectacular (or so I think. ahem.).
But I have come to the conclusion that in terms of self publishing platforms, nothing still beats Wordpress. Joomla, on the other hand, is superior in terms of data management and content flexibility.
I do understand, however, that these two platforms are meant for entirely different functions. Wordpress is primarily a blogging system, whereas Joomla is geared towards more complex websites, web portals, and the like. However, several bloggers do use Joomla, and some developers do use Wordpress for non-blogging sites. (Note: There’s a component that bridges Wordpress and Joomla, but I have heard some pretty ugly horror stories about it. Here’s hoping it would evolve soon.)
I would not recommend one over the other. They are both great platforms with excellent documentation. But, as one reviewer puts it, they are different conceptually. One must bear this in mind when trying to decide between the two.
When faced with the Joomla vs. Wordpress dilemma, Tash Bolta’s article entitled “Wordpress Compared to Joomla” can help.
In the meantime, here’s my two cents’ worth…
Use Wordpress if:
- You’re a blogger.
- SEO is your foremost concern.
- You have little or no design and development skills.
- You want a simple and easy admin-side interface.
- You have no patience for PHP hacks.
- You have little time to spare on extensions (plugins).
Use Joomla if:
- You’re running a portal, a web community, a complex corporate website, or an educational resource.
- You’re an experienced designer or developer.
- You need to manage and moderate several users.
- You can devote time and energy to study the system.
- You trust yourself with PHP.
Yan (a.k.a. Yannie, YanYan) is a young-ish entrepreneur, writer, poet, artist, graphic designer, web geek, lover, friend, daughter, connoisseur, gourmand, amateur chef, coffee addict, control freak, and incessant dreamer. Not necessarily in that order.
© 2008 FubarGenre | All posts by Yan
I would like to see a continuation of the topic
hi, Maximus. hmmm. Sorry, but I’ve stopped using Joomla, so I have nothing further to add.
I’m sure more eloquent bloggers have tackled this topic at one point or another.
A quick google search should reveal interesting results.
DRUPAL FTW
I usually break it down like this:
1) If you want your own site and your’e not a developer/designer: WordPress
2) If you are a dev/designer and you’re building a site you can hand off to a client without much handholding, and the site needs to be powerful: Joomla
3) If you are going to be on-board as an in-house dev/designer: Drupal.
Drupal is complex, difficult, and an ongoing learning process. I think of it more like Rails. Limitless flexibility, but you have to know your stuff. WordPress has hackish flexibility, but is extremely easy and has plenty of prebuilt awesome looking themes. Joomla is smack-dab in the middle.
Oh and Yah, you’re hot!
Thanks for sharing, lefnire.
I haven’t tried Drupal, but I’m intrigued enough by your comment to want to start playing with it.
And, uh, thanks for the compliment, too. I do get that a lot.
just kidding!
Thanks, you nice post that helped me alot.
Glad to meet someone who doesn’t hack down one system in favor of the other
I wrote an unbiased article myself about Joomla vs Wordpress with both advantages and disadvantages. I believe that both systems can be run by non developers since there are many templates and plugins around that are easy to install. Anyway, if you are interested in reading it, here it is : http://www.miracletutorials.com/wordpress-vs-joomla-review/
I wrote this for pod- and video casters who don’t want to dive under the hood, just get a cms where they can change the colors of the template and a put a logo up. If you have any comments, please let me know.