A case for CMS features…
I have been reading alot about what CMS features to add to WordPress. One of the most requested features is the inclusion of a more robust templating system.
With the recent relaunch of blogger by parent google I think that this is an even more relevant path to follow.
The crux of the matter is that WordPress was not designed to be a CMS. And I agree, there is no real advantage for WP to try and compete with some of the established systems out there.
However I do think that some features of the CMS would be good to fold into WP. Case in point, a robust templating system coupled with a decent selection of pre-built templates. This would be trivial to do really, one solution could be:
- Adding a theme folder within the wp-content folder
- Adding a Template option to the wp-admin UI, either under the actual template tab, or as a preference under options.
- This option would basically be <?php echo get_setting(‘template’); ?> . The user would set which template they would like to use, which would just be a CSS file really. Then when called in your index file it would output $siteurl/userselectedCSSsheet/.
This would be less than trivial and give users another reason to use this software, and might be another point in our column when Hosting Companies are looking for blogging software to install by deafult.
Stroll on over and visit Kitten
March 1, 2007
I think putting under user options would be best, a nice drop down box with the choices of available style sheets, about 5 to start with. I would suggest for starters:
* Default
* Default, menu left
* Narrow w/ background
and a couple more that had bright shiny colors would give some customization before people had to roll up their sleeves and get into the CSS.
Stroll on over and visit Matt
March 1, 2007
Yes, something like this is planned and has been for a bit. I had hoped to get it in 1.2 but that wasn’t in the stars. I will have to disagree that a “templating system” is an often-requested feature, it’s really not. People switching from someplace with a psuedo-syntax (like MT) have trouble adjusting but there would be a similar learning curve for any template system, whether it was based on PHP syntax like it is now or on Smarty or WACT.
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Thanks for the update, and for sharing your thoughts on this.
<sigh>Makes that Theme manager I just hacked up a fun, but futile diversion.
</sigh>
Good times.
Stroll on over and visit evilguile
March 1, 2007
As a side thought, WP should concern itself with being a good blog system but with *limited* CMS capability.
Simply put, WP should have a few templates where the WP element of a site is that of a news/article system. The posts can be displayed by title or by excerpt on the index.php, and then the user can add further pages that are based on template.
WP would be a good tool for building websites for businesses if this was possible. Usually, they just want one or two sections where they can update the content. The rest just remains static.
I’m going to post this on the WP forums.
So goodbye, and nice site ;o)
Stroll on over and visit evilguile
March 1, 2007
hello ?
Stroll on over and visit ben
March 1, 2007
I love the idea. I usually don’t theme the site because it’s too much work if I don’t like it (so sad. clicking mouses and pecking keys is “too” much work). The click functionality would be sweet. I’d love to see what you come up with. Thanks!
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