What is Umbraco?
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What is Umbraco?
Umbraco is an open source Content Management System (CMS) that
allows developers to create websites and layer CMS functions and
facilities.
"support for User Controls written in any
compile-able Visual Studio Language"
Unlike many CMS tools the design elements of a Umbraco site are
kept separate which allows the developer free reign to create the
site he/she wants. This is a big issue as some CMS systems put
constraints on the interface or require complex "skinning"
methods.
Umbraco is also based around the Microsoft ASP.net framework.
Being Microsoft has some big advantages over PHP CMSs like
Wordpress or Joomla insofar as direct support for User Controls
written in any compile-able Visual Studio Language. This allows a
developer to easily extend Umbraco functionality using familiar
coding methods and applying to the CMS as an external function.
Umbraco can do this and more. Indeed this article was authored
in Microsoft Word and copied direct into the Umbraco interface for
publishing.
OK its open source so it's a free for all for updates and
patches. Well no, not really. Support is very good and the on-line
community support second to none. New releases appear from Umbraco
on a regular basis and framework support is kept up to date.
Why do we use Umbraco?
Nine9design evaluated many CMS systems before adopting Umbraco
as their CMS of choice. It was selected because:
- It was ASP.net based which allowed complex functionality to be
written in with bespoke APIs or interfaces.
- It disseminated design from function allowing us to design
website with interface constraints.
- The licensing model was cost prohibitive for small to medium
sized businesses.
- The functionally and user GUI was the best we had seen
supporting function not even found on top end corporate CMSs.
The bottom line
A CMS is an investment for any business and many factors must be
considered when purchasing one. Umbraco as a business tool
satisfies these requirements allowing a new business to flourish
without significant cost overhead and contributing to a greater
return on investment. Its also scaleable and can utilise the
infrastructure already present in tens of thousands of businesses
worldwide.
That's why Nine9Design use the Umbraco CMS.
Last Updated: Thursday, May 05, 2011