Django CMS is an open-source enterprise content management system based on the mature, fast, and secure web framework Django (which is written in Python and is also open-source). Let’s take a closer look at the framework and CMS.
Framework – what is it?
A framework is, in other words, a programming platform that makes it easier to create applications in a given programming language. It is a kind of software skeleton that also offers sets of tools to help create it. In addition, it contains libraries, debuggers, compilers, ready-made templates, etc., elements that make the work more effective, and the created software contains fewer errors.
Software created with the help of frameworks can be mobile applications, websites, web services, as well as web interfaces, etc.
The choice of frameworks is quite wide, so you can choose the right tool for yourself. They are usually created by capitals, thanks to which updates and bug fixes are made quite often, and the whole can be used even for commercial purposes. Nowadays, Django is considered one of the most popular options. Just take a look at some apps built with Django: they are really impressive!
Advantages of frameworks
As for the advantages of frameworks, we can mention such as:
- the possibility of using templates;
- built-in libraries;
- built-in debuggers;
- built-in compilers;
- the possibility of using ready-made solutions;
- greater work efficiency;
- increased code security;
- the ability to use part of the code many times.
Disadvantages of frameworks
In short, frameworks also have disadvantages:
- you do not have full control over the code-writing process;
- problems with performance optimization with some frameworks;
- framework updates, as they may cause the need to adapt the code to the new guidelines;
- problems when the framework accidentally loses support.
Popular frameworks: TOP10
Finally, we present some of the most popular frameworks. Of course, these are not all proposals, but it is worth getting inspired by them when choosing an environment to work in.
- React.
- ASP.NET MVC.
- Angular.
- Ruby on rails.
- AngularJS
- Vue.js.
- Django.
- Laravel.
- ASP.NET.
- Spring.
Django CMS: who developed it?
The core of Django CMS is largely developed and made publicly available by the Swiss company. With its simple and intuitive user interface, Django CMS is not only compatible with all current web browsers but can also be easily controlled with mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. That’s why we like it so much!
Easy content editing
Editors do not have to navigate through elaborate and complex backend views – double-clicking on the content is enough to change it.
Content is displayed in plugins. These can be placed anywhere on the page according to the drag-and-drop principle. This allows the administrator to edit the structure and content of the page without coming into contact with HTML code. The separation of code and content, but still great flexibility in presentation, is another strength of Django CMS. Plugins can also easily map nested content structures. There are no limits to the imagination in the structuring of pages.
Automatically generated pages are created via so-called apps. These can fall back on stocks in the database and generate views with lists, tables, or other forms of presentation. These do not have to be created explicitly by an administrator. Apps can be used to master the most complex challenges in Django CMS.
Taxonomy
Pages are organized in a page tree. In the style of Django CMS, the page tree can be adapted arbitrarily and in a few seconds by a simple “drag-drop” operation. Bring a page from the second hierarchy level to the first. No problem, drag-drop. Change the order in the tree structure. No problem, drag-drop. The nice thing about it is that it is, therefore, no problem to change your mind while creating a page. Nothing is set in stone, and changes are implemented in seconds.
A further language can be created for each page. However, it is not a problem if a page is unavailable in every language. But not only is the frontend is multilingual but different languages are also supported in the backend. At Django CMS, meticulous attention has been paid to ensuring that multilingual websites can be created and maintained as easily as possible.
State-of-the-art features
From a technical point of view, Django CMS offers all the state-of-the-art functionalities you would expect: from LDAP authentication to version management with a comparison view and audit trail. In addition, Django CMS offers comprehensive rights management, which can be expanded and adapted as desired. This applies both to the distribution of roles for administrators and to the “protection” of access-protected pages.
Many sites but one backend
Just like with multilingualism, the core of the development of Django CMS was to make the operation of multiple websites, even on completely different domains, as easy as possible. A single installation of the CMS is enough to reconcile all your pages. Developed features, such as special plugins, can then be deployed and used across all pages. But it is also easily possible to restrict features or styles to only a single installation instance. Plugins can be, e.g., copied across pages and pasted into another page’s content structure. This often saves a lot of work and makes it much easier to manage multiple pages.
Scalability, back-ups, and updates
The architecture of Django CMS allow the simple operation of the same applications on different server instances. This is particularly important if horizontal scaling is to be sought due to the many visitors.
If you need any help with Django, contact professionals, and they will do any job for you, be it a project discovery phase, improving your product, or creating it from scratch.
