[Callers] Website development

[Don Veino via Callers]

Hi Jeanette,

In case you're not aware, there's another list on SharedWeight for just
this sort of purpose. However, there has been no activity on that list for
quite a while:
http://sharedweight.net/index.php?pagestate=webcontent_about

I don't think there's anything in particular about a given web content
management system (CMS) that makes it more suitable for a dance series or
caller "topic", per se, vs. any other. I think the choice is more a
personal one based upon your given situation, tech comfort and desired
capabilities.

The fact that you asked for "open source" implies a level of understanding
that is different from mainstream and most likely means the choice for you
could/would be different than for the next person.

I've personally used hand coded html/php/css and two CMS packages
(Wordpress and Website Baker) for my work with similar topics and
organizations. I'm not an expert by any measure but have been successful in
doing what I needed to in this area by using these tools in a suitable
manner.

Hand coding provides the best flexibility at the cost of detailed
work/knowledge. Arguably also the best security - as the attack vectors are
greatly minimized. BTW, website attacks are very much a real thing - I see
attempts in my server logs 24x7.

The two mentioned packages are both open source and typically free & easy
to install under low cost linux-based hosting packages (usually a single
"click" on a software package selection page).

Wordpress is *very* popular, has far more in terms of plugins that extend
functionality (e.g.: do you need to accept comments? integrate a calendar?
sell something? want dedicated post types?) and automation of component
updates (i.e.: security/bugfix), but is more complicated to manage
("complexity begets power"). It is at it's heart a blogging platform but
people bend it to be a website management package routinely.

Website Baker (and related forks) does basic website creation & maintenance
very well and I have been successful in getting (mostly) non-technical
folks to be able to maintain their own sites using it ("with simplicity
comes clarity").

This is an area of tech where there are many other package options and each
have their own adherents - so you could get an infinite number of
recommendations from the faithful. A place to start to sort that out for me
included https://www.opensourcecms.com/ (I haven't used it since making my
choices years ago - beware the rabbit hole!).

If having a dedicated package hosted under your own domain name (e.g.:
mydancegroupname.org) for your site is not important, then several of the
free (but not necessarily "open source") tools seem to work well for
others. Folks seem to use Tumblr, Blogger, Weebly, Wix, Google Sites, etc.
all the time. These provide easy templates but also limit your flexibility
in making it look/work exactly how you want (yet may also offer unique
capabilities integrated with other products). For many the limitations
aren't a significant issue - but can be for others. For instance, if it is
important that your group's image is all under one brand/domain then you'll
most likely want to host a package on your (own or shared) server/service
so you can have your site and email use the same domain name. There are
ways to split this up across servers/services but you ratchet up the
required knowledge/complexity as you do. For some of these providers, a
"premium" product is available at a fee which enables additional
capabilities similar to the above.

There's a great range of possibilities here and I've deliberately
constrained my answer (though it may not appear so!). I may have aimed too
high or too low for your interest level with the above. I'm happy to talk
with you more specifically about my experiences in this area (and your
interest/needs) if that is helpful.

-Don

On Fri, Apr 21, 2017 at 7:24 AM, Jeanette Mill via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Can anyone recommend an open source website development tool that is
> appropriate for touring dance callers and musicians?
>
> cheers
> Jeanette
>
> Jeanette Mill
> Contra dance caller, musician and workshop convenor
> +61 (0)449 686 077 <+61%20449%20686%20077>
> Canberra, Australia
>
> "The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen" Kate Barnes
>
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