What is Open Source?
Open Source is the latest development in IT. Users collaborate in use and development of software under a new type of Licence, which is generally free for end use. There are hundreds of thousands of companies now switching to open source instead of paying expensive licences to traditional suppliers (like Microsoft or Oracle). There are Open Source equivalents for many common applications. As well as CMS, other common applications include Office software (www.openoffice.org) which has just been downloaded for the 100 MILLIONth time! For more information on Open Source, please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software
Viable Open Source
When looking for your CMS, make sure your choice is viable – for both short and long term.
Find out - how many users there are? Make sure it is tens of thousands or more, or it is NOT financially secure.
Find out – does it have ALL the features you want NOW?
Find out – if not how can they be added? At what cost?
Find out – is it future proof? What is the development and upgrade philosophy? Is it published?
Find out – what happens if the proposed supplier stops trading? Can you move the CMS and the site with ALL its content?
Find out – what does your CMS do about Search Engine Optimisation? Will you have to pay to get good rankings?