Web site

GRASS Web Site planning

The current GRASS web site appear a bit overloaded and unmodern (since it has been kindly handcrafted with vim since 1998, of course following some evolution from plain HTML to HTML/PHP with RSS integrated). The question is:

• go Content Management System (CMS)?
• or stick with static pages?

To keep in mind:

• traditionally low number of contributors (hey, this could be better with a CMS)
• mirror sites want to copy/clone the site without more efforts than using rsync (i.e., static copy)
• the new layout should be modern, fresh and attractive

Nice sites

Here a list of sites which are looking nice:

• Geotools.org
  • System: Sphinx
  • Advantages:
    • Page files can be maintained in SVN
  • Disadvantages:
    • No WYSIWYG editor

• CMS Made Simple
  • System: CMS Made Simple
  • Advantages:
    • WYSIWYG editor
    • Access control via roles
    • Static mirroring seems to be possible via http
    • Very light system, installed in a few minutes
  • Disadvantages:
    • Requires browser for editing

• OSGeo Foundation
  • System: Drupal
  • Advantages:
    • WYSIWYG editor
    • Access control via roles
    • Static mirroring seems to be possible via http (? check)
    • Can be run within OSGeo's Drupal server
  • Disadvantages:
    • Requires browser for editing
    • Rather heavy system, installation may be complex but OSGeo can provide it

• Geopublishing
  • System: Drupal (? unsure)
  • Advantages:
    • see OSGeo above
  • Disadvantages:
    • see OSGeo above