Joomla versus Wordpress

Discussion in 'WordPress' started by mark29, May 11, 2008.

  1. #1
    Has anyone tried comparing Joomla and Wordpress? Would appreciate information on this.
     
    mark29, May 11, 2008 IP
  2. alikuru

    alikuru Peon

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    #2
    I think it is not fair to compare one another. Joomla is a CMS and WordPress is a Blogging software. If you need to manage a "web site" which will contain different kinds of content/pages, Joomla can help you. If you are going to publish a "Blog", WordPress can be your solution.

    Although it is possible, using Joomla for your blog will be an overkill and WordPress for your corporate site can be painful.
     
    alikuru, May 11, 2008 IP
  3. mark29

    mark29 Peon

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    #3
    i have used wordpress - wanted to know more about joomla.
     
    mark29, May 12, 2008 IP
  4. richrf

    richrf Active Member

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    #4
    Hi,

    I use Wordpress quite a bit, and am evaluating Joomla and Drupal.

    Wordpress is an extensible CMS with a rigid framework. This rigid framework has several major advantages:

    1) Backward compatibility between versions
    2) Easy to design and install new "install-and-click" themes.
    3) Greater reliability
    4) Greater stability (add-on plugins and modules can introduce security flaws)
    5) Easy to learn and administer
    6) Easier to develop new plugin-extensions
    7) Easier to customize, with PHP code

    The big disadvantage of Wordpress, is that the application has to fit within Wordpress's framework (just look at the themes and you can understand the framework).

    Joomla is a step up from Wordpress in flexibility, since there are some substantial modules that have been developed (e.g. jReviews, community software, etc), using the Joomla development libraries. If, and only if, you can use one of these off-the shelf modules, as is, then it makes sense to use Joomla. However, by moving to Joomla, you have to except all of the issues associated with the hodgepodge of developers and modules out there, e.g.:

    1) Much more bugs
    2) Very little backward compatibility (Joomla 1.5, is a virtual mess for user and developers who have to rewrite their modules)
    3) More unpredictability (e.g. security, reliability)
    4) A more difficult CMS to understand and use because of the messiness of the architecture

    Drupal is sort a much more malleable CMS, that is designed around a building block approach. The Drupal architecture lends itself toward customized a CMS application that really fits the users flow and needs. However, a developer needs to learn about the modules that are available, and know how to effectively use them. Experienced database developers will readily recognize the value of modules such as Views (which filters and presents information), while HTML/CSS designers may not understand the power of such building blocks. But if you understand the product, it gives you lots more control over your user interface and flow, making it a good alternative to coding in PHP/MySQL (it provides, what is called, a higher level of abstraction compared to PHP).

    There are other CMS products such as MODx that provide even greater flexibility, but as you get more flexibility, you are also approaching the same level of development knowledge as would be required for PHP coding.

    Hope this helps,
    Rich
     
    richrf, May 12, 2008 IP
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  5. risoknop

    risoknop Peon

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    #5
    Wow... Really comprehensive and good comparison. Thanks.

    To the OP: By the way, there are also paid alternatives to Wordpress and Joomla - you can check http://graffiticms.com/ - but this one is only if you are really going to need a professional CMS system with full support.

    For average users, Wordpress is the best choise as it's very simple and easy to learn, moreover it's fast and reliable. And it's evolving very fast, becoming better and better each month. Wordpress developers are trying really hard because if you compare the Wordpress one year ago and nowadays, there's a huge, really really huge improvement and tons of new features.
     
    risoknop, May 12, 2008 IP
  6. cellubration

    cellubration Peon

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    #6
    I agree with most of what was said, but there really are some good security protocols (And free) that can be added to Joomla, I personally like the scaleablility of Joomla and the support forums are top notch, I actually like to use Joomla and Wordpress together with a bridge, or seperate on the same domain either with a subdomain or in seperate folders, its really a personal preference and I find Joomla easy for newbies to pick up if they poke around enough and play with it on a development site first.
     
    cellubration, May 16, 2008 IP
  7. Professor

    Professor Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Has the bridge for J1.5 WP 2.5 been developed/released?
     
    Professor, May 19, 2008 IP
  8. lagahit

    lagahit Active Member

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    #8
    ive been using joomla ang wordpress for quite some time now.. joomla for big sites ..say.. who has really the potential to grow big.. and wordpress for blogs.. although some of my blogs are joomla..i know it's overkill but i love fireboard for my forums, event list, etc.
     
    lagahit, May 19, 2008 IP
  9. helloman

    helloman Peon

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    #9
    To learn:

    wordpress - you need 1 day to learn.
    joomla! - you need 1 moth to learn.
    drupal - you need software to count the time.

    SEO:

    wordperss A +++
    Joomla! A+
    Drupal A++

    Developer

    wordress - any1 do anyone
    Joomla! - Developers can do it.
    Drupal - Only Developers :)

    Finally I LOVE joomla!
     
    helloman, May 20, 2008 IP
  10. digitalballer

    digitalballer Member

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    #10
    What are some of these security protocols?

    I like both cms' and I think wordpress is underrated bc its basically typecast as a blogging platform. You can also use it to make sites with pages, membership areas, ecommerce. The main thing I don't like about wp is that it can be slow if it gets high traffic (like digg effect for example).

    That said, the extra amount of time spent learning joomla is still time well spent for the benefits.
     
    digitalballer, May 21, 2008 IP
  11. bara.munchies

    bara.munchies Peon

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    #11
    check milworm for all of them. wordpress and joomla have a huge security problem.

    i can't second that you need to be developer to use drupal.

    my advice would be:

    if you only want to blog plus static pages or maybe a small static only company website go for wordpress.

    if you plan to blog and extend it to maybe to a forum, user profiles, groups, a shopping cart solution, etc go for drupal.
    yes, drupal needs more time. it will probably not be the last website you set up with drupal, so every page gets easier and you have the benefit of being able to set up a very big part of all possible kinds of websites plus a fast growing and already very strong community.

    joomla: forget about it. i have seen so so many people switching from joomla to drupal lately, yet nobody took the opposite way.

    drupal might be a challenge at the beginning, but you will make a quick progress and you gain a very productive tool. a basic website can be set up in the same time like a wordpress blog.

    if you think longterm, go for drupal.
     
    bara.munchies, May 29, 2008 IP
  12. ~kev~

    ~kev~ Well-Known Member

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    #12
    Joomla:
    Bloutware
    get ready to beg for tech support
    slow loading pages
    database is huge compared to other CMSs
    plugins use a bridge

    The bridge is an important consideration. When doing updates to joomla, it will turn into a 4 phase system. Update joomla, wait for what ever you have bridged to be updated, update that, update bridge. I had joomla bridged with the SMF forum, an update to joomla broke the bridge, so the forum integration was broke. Then I had to quickly find another bridge to replace the broken one - it was a big fat freaking mess.

    When my site got over 15 people on it, joomla would lock up - no more connections were allowed. The admins in joomla forums can be heavy handed. The add-ons are not very good quality. Even the paid add-ons leave a lot to be desired.

    Joomla developers have a problem with joomla being connected to commercial software. There seems to be some kind of conflict with joomla being open source and it working with commercial software like Vbulletin. I think SMF does not even offer a bridge to Joomla anymore.

    After using joomla for about 6 months I left that community.
     
    ~kev~, May 29, 2008 IP
  13. vagabondos

    vagabondos Active Member

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    #13
    Joomla is a CMS and WordPress is a Blogging software

    If you want to make a website, then use Joomla, but if you want to make a blog, Wordpress is the best blogging software.
     
    vagabondos, May 30, 2008 IP
  14. djzen

    djzen Peon

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    #14
    cant compare them, but joomla can do more than wordpress.
     
    djzen, May 30, 2008 IP
  15. mark29

    mark29 Peon

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    #15
    thanks guys. There's quite some good information from you. It was easy to learn and use Wordpress definitely with the facility of all the themes and plugins it comes with.
    Have not had the time to play with Joomla to be able to add experience based inputs about it. Plan to try out Joomla sometime in future ...
     
    mark29, Jun 4, 2008 IP
  16. BANAGO

    BANAGO Active Member

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    #16
    I am for WordPress
     
    BANAGO, Jun 6, 2008 IP
  17. bara.munchies

    bara.munchies Peon

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    #17
    If someone asked me: "what is better, joomla or wordpress?"

    My answer would be DRUPAL. lol.
     
    bara.munchies, Jun 6, 2008 IP