The core - a mini CMS

Let us talk about the important parts of a useful CMS. Absolutely necessary for a beginning system are not so many features as you may think.

1. To store system relevant information, screen design and user content, it is necessary to create a database (i.e. MySQL). A CMS needs a DB engine to connect to and to work with a DB.
2. Next part are the contents which have to be published on a web-site. To write stories there exist two possibilities: static HTML pages and dynamic pages stored in a DB. Dynamic pages are more flexible and easier to edit. Also, not only the site admin but a handful of co-admins can create these pages. Every site member can participate and get the opportunity to submit their own stories.
3. To manage users, members and member groups, the site admin needs a tool to administrate all parts of user registration and permission settings.
4. Last but not least, a good CMS needs an easy to use templating system to create pages in a proper output and perfect screen design.

What does this mean for MDPro?
Most all CMS on the market (whether open source or commercial) offer completely built packages including lots of features, are overblown, and some are not easy to install and administer.

If we want to offer a user friendly CMS we have to be more flexible. For example:

• Some users don't want to install polls, reviews, downloads and web-links. With existing system they must install all of them before deleting them through administration. Is this really necessary?
• These users typically want to offer a forum, a chat and an image gallery, yet these features are not part of the downloaded package. They have to find compatible modules which fit their needs. This i snot very convenient.