If you are unsure of what a ‘Content Management System’ is then check out our blog on ‘What is a ‘Content Management System’ and then come back - high five.

An open-source content management system, or open-source CMS, is a content management system where the code making up the platform can be created or maintained by anyone.

The best example of an open-source content management system is WordPress – see our blog post on ‘What is WordPress’ here.

Open-source CMSs usually operate on a block-like system, allowing you to stack pre-built blocks together to make the website that you want. No programming knowledge is strictly needed but to get the customisation that the majority of people want you would need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS.

The blocks mentioned above are often referred to as ‘Plug-ins’.

These plug-ins are often created by a large community/network of contributors – made up of self-taught developers, large development companies, and anyone in between.

Learn more about 'Plug ins' here with 'Nachos Bytes'.

There are many benefits to an open-source CMS, but there are also many disadvantages.

Advantages of Open-Source CMS

  • If you make use of the free plug-ins, you can create a website very cheaply yourself with your only costs being the website hosting and domain.
  • You have complete control over every area of your website.
  • You have a large community of avid open-source CMS designers, developers, and users at your fingertips in public forums.
  • They are a good way of improving your HTML and CSS skills.

Disadvantages of Open-Source CMS

  • They can get complicated and time-consuming quickly if you don’t know what you are doing.
  • The chances of things going wrong are higher as it's very easy to create a volatile website.
  • They require regular maintenance which may be too time-consuming for one individual to manage alongside running a business.
  • Open-source CMSs have the highest rates of hacking and security issues, they are some of the most insecure websites around when they are not managed correctly.

If you are looking for the best CMS for you and your business, get in touch with the team here at Digital Nachos. We can help you choose the right CMS for you.

Published: 1st Feb 2024

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