vsbabu.org

Good Solution for managing web sites?

Here’s the goal: Websites, potentially large (>5000 pages) need to be managed by a team with different skill sets.

The reality in many companies is that the following constraints exist. Problem - few people want to acknowledge it, because the goal is "to get something out on the web". Still worse, goal becomes "get something COOL out on the web". Assuming there are people who look into constraints are there, what is a good solution?

Constraints

Human Resources

1. Team can change all the time.
2. Traditionally hostile skill sets of "creativity", programming, database designing should be able to collaborate without stepping on each others toes.

Development

1. As much reusability of code as possible.
2. Ability to manage versions and releases.
3. Different skill sets should be able to work together.
4. Cross platform.
5. Easy enough to get new people started.

Maintenance

1. Sites get redesigned and rearranged often.
2. More and more information from different systems might have to be included in the site.
3. Sites should have as much feasibility for viewing from a CD. This is especially true for intranet sites where people want to take information on their laptops and go for a trip.

Focus

1. Contrary to what web consulting firms might want you to think, making and maintaining a web site is not the primary goal of many organizations. Budget and timing and important.
2. The mentality can be "usability and accessibility are good to have, but not the primary focus. Primary focus is to have a SPLASH!". How do you get your designers to think about usability and accessibility?

Naturally, assumptions have to be made. And then good solutions are solutions that match most of your needs.

I use Zope at the moment for most things and it fits the bill for most of these things. I’m thinking about noting my thoughts on each of these constraints, on a daily basis. I’m familiar with PHP, Perl, ASP. I’ve overview about JSP and Cold Fusion. What I don’t want to do is to post religious beliefs about all these. I also don’t want to pick one and then bend the constraints to suit the choice.