Sitting on a Perch

Posted in on 5 June 2009 | Comments

Perch This week has seen the launch of a new website content management system [CMS] called Perch from web development agency edgeofmyseat. It promises to be an interesting CMS because it is intended to be a small system that you can set-up quickly on an existing website.

Yes, yes, I know that a larger CMS like WordPress or Textpattern [two of my favourites] are often the ‘solutions’ that are suggested when the subject of client website updates are discussed but, equally, not everyone wants a system like that for small website changes. I am thinking of small business brochure-type websites here. In these cases, Perch may be just the job.

Read more ...

Changing from Textpattern to Wordpress?

Posted in on 27 August 2008 | Comments

I have run this blog for a few years now with Textpattern as the content management system (CMS). I’m pretty happy with it but I am wondering if I might be better off changing to Wordpress.

There seems to be a whole lot going on with Wordpress themes at the moment and the WP community seems pretty active. Textpattern is a great CMS, and I like the uncluttered way it just let me get on with the job, but development progress sometimes seems slow. I know that a lot of hard work has gone into Textpattern but I wonder if I should be trying something different myself.

One of the disadvantages of moving would be a big upheaval of the blog and a potential disruption of URLs and other search engine problems. On the other hand, a new system could provide fresh impetus to write more. It’s a tough call.

Technorati : ,

Jon Evans - freelance science writer

Posted in on 6 May 2008 | Comments [1]

A new website for the freelance science writer Jon Evans. The website includes a blog for Jon to write articles about science and about himself. For this reason and for ease of maintenance, the website was built using Textpattern using an adaption of the Profilo theme.

HTML text editors

Posted in on 14 April 2008 | Comments

In recent months, I have been using a variety of HTML text editors with several different website content management systems (CMS), including Wordpress and Textpattern, and with ecommerce website administration control panels.

Read more ...

Textpattern for all sorts of websites

Posted in on 12 March 2008 | Comments [3]

If you have used Textpattern to build a website or blog, you'll likely know that it is a fine tool for the job. At least, I think so. However, one of the criticisms I have heard is that Textpattern is for blogs and non-blog websites 'need something else'. In fact, Textpattern can be used to build a wide variety of websites. It's quite easy to create a 'single article' page with Textpattern and there's even instructions to help you. Effectively, this makes the website a 'normal' website - not a blog.

Textpattern's customisability is demonstrated by WeLoveTxp.com, which is is a website by Sam Brown that showcases Textpattern-built websites. There are some great designs here. Admitttedly, a lot of them are blogs but many are not.

If you want to learn more about Textpattern, check out the parent website. There's plenty of help available if you need it.

Update: Natalie Jost has published a good comparision of Textpattern with Wordpress.

Related: Textpattern Solutions from Amazon.


Stop looking at my bottom