Open Source Blogging Software Michelle Murrain, NOSI June 24, 2008

Open Source Blogging Software

Michelle Murrain, NOSI

June 24, 2008

What we'll cover today What is blogging? Options for creating a blog CMS vs. Blogging tool Drupal & Joomla CMS and Blogging MovableType WordPress WordPress case study

What is blogging?

Options for creating a blog

CMS vs. Blogging tool

Drupal & Joomla CMS and Blogging

MovableType

WordPress

WordPress case study

What is blogging? Regularly updated news, opinion or journaling Often read by RSS feed Usually (but not always) allows comments Used to engage constituents Can have one, or multiple authors

Regularly updated news, opinion or journaling

Often read by RSS feed

Usually (but not always) allows comments

Used to engage constituents

Can have one, or multiple authors

Options for creating a blog Software as a Service, such as: Blogger.com Free LiveJournal Both free and paid versions Wordpress.com Free, and very cheap paid versions TypePad.com Ranges in price Blogware Sold only through resellers

Software as a Service, such as:

Blogger.com

Free

LiveJournal

Both free and paid versions

Wordpress.com

Free, and very cheap paid versions

TypePad.com

Ranges in price

Blogware

Sold only through resellers

Options for creating a blog Open Source Blogging tools WordPress MovableType B2evolution Open Source CMS tools Drupal Joomla Others Many (not all) have blogs as a part of the integrated CMS package Some (like Plone) require add-on tools Proprietary Blog/CMS tools Build your own Don't ever do this!

Open Source Blogging tools

WordPress

MovableType

B2evolution

Open Source CMS tools

Drupal

Joomla

Others

Many (not all) have blogs as a part of the integrated CMS package

Some (like Plone) require add-on tools

Proprietary Blog/CMS tools

Build your own

CMS or Blog? CMS – Content Management System: designed to manage an entire website Blogging tool – just designed to manage a blog If you already have a CMS, and want to add a blog: If the CMS is capable, or there is a strong add-on, this is a good option A standalone blog tool has advantages/disadvantages: Different authentication Designed to be only a blog – strong blogging plug ins, etc. Blog, not CMS workflow Different template

CMS – Content Management System: designed to manage an entire website

Blogging tool – just designed to manage a blog

If you already have a CMS, and want to add a blog:

If the CMS is capable, or there is a strong add-on, this is a good option

A standalone blog tool has advantages/disadvantages:

Different authentication

Designed to be only a blog – strong blogging plug ins, etc.

Blog, not CMS workflow

Different template

CMS or Blog? Using a blogging tool for a CMS is not recommended. Not designed as a CMS Provides real limitations You'll be sorry later

Using a blogging tool for a CMS is not recommended.

Not designed as a CMS

Provides real limitations

You'll be sorry later

Drupal Blog A blog in Drupal is a module Authenticated users may, or may not, have access to the blog module, depending on what group they are in Blog is directly connected to an individual user Comments are built in

A blog in Drupal is a module

Authenticated users may, or may not, have access to the blog module, depending on what group they are in

Blog is directly connected to an individual user

Comments are built in

Joomla Blog is a content category Comments are not out-of-the-box – you need to add a plug in to deal with blog comments

Blog is a content category

Comments are not out-of-the-box – you need to add a plug in to deal with blog comments

Movable Type Used to be proprietary (there are still proprietary versions)‏ Now GPL v2 MT is what powers TypePad Very professional, high end

Used to be proprietary (there are still proprietary versions)‏

Now GPL v2

MT is what powers TypePad

Very professional, high end

WordPress (and Wordpress.com)‏ “ Industry Standard” Very easy to set up and use Many hosting companies have “one click” installation Wordpress.com very easy to set up Even without that, it is quite easy to install Very intuitive interface Designed just for blogging Multiple authors and roles Subscriber, contributor, author, editor, administrator Link management (for blogrolls)‏ Comment management/moderation RSS feeds for entries and comments

“ Industry Standard”

Very easy to set up and use

Many hosting companies have “one click” installation

Wordpress.com very easy to set up

Even without that, it is quite easy to install

Very intuitive interface

Designed just for blogging

Multiple authors and roles

Subscriber, contributor, author, editor, administrator

Link management (for blogrolls)‏

Comment management/moderation

RSS feeds for entries and comments

WordPress Lots of templates available Lots of plug ins Undergoing a lot of development – it has improved greatly over the years WordPress MU ( μ )‏ Multi-user – basically make your own wordpress.com

Lots of templates available

Lots of plug ins

Undergoing a lot of development – it has improved greatly over the years

WordPress MU ( μ )‏

Multi-user – basically make your own wordpress.com

DEMO

DEMO

Word Press Case Study The AAUW (American Association of University Women) launched a blog in February 2008 Peggy Woods-Clark Website Manager Holly Kearl AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Manager

The AAUW (American Association of University Women) launched a blog in February 2008

Peggy Woods-Clark

Website Manager

Holly Kearl

AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Manager