The Basics – CMS’ vs.

Frameworks
Content Management Systems are much more convenient to use. But not everything is as simple
as it seems. CMSs help accelerate the development of simple sites because they contain ready-
made themes and an administrative panel. Simple websites built using a CMS can be edited and
have their functionalities extended. All you need to do is take into account the structure and logic
of the CMS and install special plugins. However, bear in mind that installed plugins might not
work as expected some times
A framework gives complete freedom of action. The web developers wrote the foundation, which,
you can implement any project. But for high-quality website or web app development on the
framework, you must have a sufficient level of knowledge. In addition, if we are talking about
creating a unique, large-scale online project, then no CMS can cope with this task.

Advantages and disadvantages of CMS and frameworks

Advantages of CMS

 Speed. A template solution can be created very quickly.

 Ready-to-use admin panel. On many popular CMS, there is a fairly comfortable and
understandable admin panel.
 Ease of development. In many cases, to create a simple, working website, you do not
need to have knowledge in the field of design or web development. You just need to
install any CMS (for example WordPress) and the template for it.

Disadvantages of CMS

 Limited functionality. Any actions that are not within the framework of the CMS lead to
negative consequences. It is possible to add custom functionality, but this will require a
high level of knowledge and experience from the developer. In addition, the development
of such functionality is often more difficult than using the framework, so it will cost more
for the customer.
  Redundancy. The task of the developers of content management systems (CMS), is to
create the most versatile product, so they all contain a huge number of functions, which
are often not used. But it adversely affects the load and speed of work.
 Sometimes, in order to correct or change some part of the site, you need to know how the
CMS works as a whole.
 A site built using a CMS performs less good than a site that is developed from a
framework.

Benefits of frameworks

 Flexibility. You can implement any idea without a “conflict” with the engine.
 Performance. Much better performance compared to CMS.

Disadvantages of Frameworks

 Complexity in terms of development. Working with a FrameWork require extensive

knowledge and experience to create a decent product.
 Lack of administrative part. The site editing section needs to be written independently,
and this is essentially the creation of another site.
 Time. Development takes much longer than development using CMS.

When is it better to use a CMS?

1. When the project requires a template solution that is within the CMS.
2. A quick, temporary or short-term solution
3. When the client has a limited budget to develop a site. (it is much cheaper to launch a site
using CMS than to create a site using a framework)

When is it better to use the framework?

1. When the client needs a Custom, non-template project

2. When working on a project that is actively changing or adapting to trends.
As you can see either of these two platforms has its advantages and disadvantages. Most experts
will choose the best frameworks for web development, but sometimes using a CMS will be a
much more efficient solution.

In some cases web developers can combine WordPress development with other frameworks and
libraries to get more benefits.

To choose the right solution for your project I recommend you to contact the WordPress
development agency that in front of modern web technologies.

So which one is better?

Frameworks and CMS’ are completely different tools, which means it depends on your needs –
each side has valid arguments. To paint a clearer picture, let’s go over the main differences between
the two.

Customization
The proponents of CMS’ have one very solid point – why reinvent the wheel? In other words, why
build something that has been built before when you can buy it or download it for free in many
cases. With a CMS you get a predefined set of features, you can choose an already styled theme
for your website and you can add new features by easily installing plugins.

However, complications might arise when you need the website to adapt to your specific needs.

With a framework, you have to build everything from scratch but you can create distinctive and
unique features. Frameworks don’t reinvent the wheel either, because the code you’re using is
providing a base of features such as a login system or user privileges.

Frameworks are highly customizable and CMS’ typically have limitations. For instance, you can’t
really change the core functionality of a CMS or it won’t update properly, but a framework has no
limits.
Security
Security should be one of your biggest concerns when building a website or an application,
especially if it’s for an online business.

The majority of CMS’ are open-source, which means the code is available to anyone. At first
glance, this is a good thing, but it also makes the job of hackers and anyone with a malicious
purpose a little easier.
Since websites developed using frameworks will feature their own custom code that is
integrated into the framework, it’s much harder to find security flaws. Furthermore, many
frameworks come with built-in functions like SQL injection or Cross Site Scripting that allow for
encryption and protection against the most common types of attacks.
A well-developed framework is far more secure than a generic CMS, but content management
systems often have plugins and mods to strengthen their security.

Flexibility
Depending on the type of business you are building a website for, there’s a chance you will need
to include unique features that aren’t typical of a web development project. That can include
integration with third-party applications or connecting with independent systems. For example, a
website might need to integrate with a CRM (customer relationship management) tool, like
Salesforce or connect with an order-processing system such as FileMaker.

Frameworks can be molded to your needs, while CMS’ have to adapt

CMS’ can be adapted to have a lot of features through the use of plugins, but they are not very
flexible. If you do need an additional feature for your website that you can’t find through its theme
and plugin libraries, this will require custom development. That development will have to be
solved in-house, or at a cost from a freelancer or agency. If this is the case, you are probably better
off using a framework where your options and creativity are unlimited.

When it comes to flexibility, frameworks offer much more freedom than CMS’ but they it comes
at a high development cost.
Upgrades
Having a website that’s up to date with the latest features releases is extremely important. It not
helps keep your website secure, but those updates could target virtually any feature on your site.

Content management systems are updated regularly

CMS’ are a clear winner in this category. CMS’ usually update every month, and they are
installable at the click of a button. Of course, you will always want to take a backup of your site,
even before installing an office update from your CMS provider. Things can go wrong and content
management systems are no exception.
A framework is rarely updated and must be maintained
Frameworks do have updates, but much less often and even then, it’s often best to stay with
your original framework. A website developed using a framework can stay secure and functional
even without updates if it was secured properly originally and the code hasn’t been tampered with.
This just isn’t the case with CMS’, especially open source systems.
When you use frameworks, you open the door for customization, flexibility, and superior security.
On the other hand, CMS websites are much easier to build and maintain as you don’t need to know
PHP, or any programming language for that matter.

How to choose
Ultimately, the choice will always depend on the project in question and its unique requirements,
so there is no straight forward answer. Consider these questions about the project to help you make
your decision:

1. The amount of time you’re willing to spend on the project.

2. The amount of money you can invest into the project. Even if you are a programmer,
large development projects often encounter bugs and errors that will need to be peer
reviewed. You have to account for testing the software and getting assistance with the
code when you need it.
3. The project’s unique requirements and how flexible the website needs to be.
4. The hosting environment for the website. Shared, VPS or dedicated? Each has its own
advantages and disadvantages that will need to be considered.
Conclusion
CMS’ are easier to use if your project requirements are relatively straightforward. In many
cases, all that’s required is downloading and installing the software, and you’re immediately up
and running.

Avoid ongoing development costs

A content management system is probably the best option for people who don’t have much
programming knowledge and have no interest in learning. If your budget’s tight, the last thing you
want to do is open up a can of worms by paying a programmer to customize a framework.

Less bugs and dependable core set of features

Another advantage of CMS projects is that they don’t require additional testing and bug-
fixing. Customizing the design and adding features through plugins can still be tedious but the
open-source nature of a CMS will make that a lot easier

Frameworks can save time on large web development projects

With projects that use frameworks, custom programming allows you to build the website
exactly the way you want it. It is absolutely the right choice for building big applications with large
feature-sets and unique requirements. You can even protect custom coded solutions legally to
ensure it can’t be copied.

Both CMS’ and frameworks are discrete

In most cases, nobody will know about the tools you used to build the website. If you’re
concerned using a CMS will jeopardize your brand, it’s highly unlikely it will have any kind of
negative impact.

What really matters is the result. What is the value you are providing to your audience and the
overall functionality your website offers? If you are building a relatively simple and generic
website – go with a CMS, but for more complicated projects with a substantial budget a framework
is better suited.
Achieving an Eye Catching & Functional Design
When you’re designing a website, make sure all visitors are able to access all the information
quickly and easily.

Here are some principles you can use to establish an attractive clean design:

 Mobile Friendly: It is important that you ensure that your webpages are responsive &
can be read on a variety of different browsers and screen sizes as well as on mobile and
tablet devices.
 Navigation: is crucial when it comes to website design. Without it your potential clients
would not be able to find out about you and your company. The navigation should be
easy to use and clearly visible. Some examples include visible links to home pages,
“About Us” and “Back” buttons.
 White Space: is crucial when designing your webpage. This will make it less cluttered,
easier to read and navigate around the website.
 Branding: Your name and company logo needs to be included on every page so that the
visitors know exactly where they are and what to expect.
 Typography, Layout & Colors: Your design, font, style, content and other aspects need
to be consistent throughout the entire website. Remember that keeping it simple and
consistent is one of the most important basic website requirements.

Reference

 https://www.opensourcecms.com/content-management-systems-vs-frameworks/
 https://f5-studio.com/articles/cms-or-frameworks/