CMS Vs Frameworks — Ideal Choice for Robust Web Development

Every web development project passes through the dilemma of being made using a Framework or a CMS, that is a Content Management System. The choice made here will impact the overall outcome of the project, in terms of development cost, flexibility, time duration involved in development, features, and scalability prospects.

In this article, we will familiarize you with both, CMS and Frameworks, and which one to choose as per the needs of your business.

First of all, let us understand each of these terms individually.

What is CMS?

CMS is a web-based software that enables businesses to upload or modify digital content on the web, without having prior knowledge about HTML or any other programming languages. It also provides a layer of presentation where this digital content is displayed to the end user. This presentation layer is in the form of web pages which are built on a design template.

Some of the popular examples of CMS are WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.

What is Framework?

Frameworks are pre-written and reusable pieces of code built on a particular programming language. Their purpose is to carry out generic functions of a website, which could range from authentication to database integration. The benefit of using a Framework is that not everything is required to be built from scratch.

There are different frameworks available in the market, and the most popular ones are Ruby on Rails, Lavarel, and Node JS.

Key factors to consider while choosing between CMS and Framework

While developing a framework, picking the right option is a tough nut to crack. This decision needs to be a ‘well-informed’ one and for that, you need to dive deep into all the pros and cons of CMS and Framework.

Let’s get going with one at a time.

• Usage of the web project

For web projects that require businesses to simply update content on the web application regularly, you must opt for a CMS, especially if the web application doesn’t involve many complex features.

However, if the web project requires lots of play around with the development code, then a more suitable option would be Framework.

• Flexibility

When it comes to creating designs and application features, developing a web project with the help of a Framework allows lots of flexibility. Using Frameworks is the best way when businesses have to deal with unique web-based applications.

Considering CMS, the possibility of modifying its features is very limited. The overall characteristics and front-end visuals are somewhat similar in projects that use CMS for development.

• Scalability

A high number of transactions of data can lead to a slowdown in web applications or even worse, a crash. Keeping this in mind, small and medium-sized businesses, that do not have a huge volume of visitors or data to transact, can go for CMS-based websites.

However, the web applications built using Framework can be scaled to handle some of the highest volumes of data.

• Maintenance

Web applications built using CMS require fewer maintenance resources, as the makers themselves release regular updates and patches, keeping in pace with technological advancements.

It is a total opposite situation in framework. Web applications that are built using this technology require extensive maintenance as the majority of the code is created custom.

• Cost of the project

This factor is more of a dilemma than a consideration.

Considering CMS, all available versions come at a very competitive pricing hence the cost of building web aplications is also high. Plus, the availability of design templates and plugins makes it even more extortionate to create web applications.

However, if web applications are built using a framework, the majority of work here is customized, which means a lot of labor and expertise from developers is involved, leading to a more higher cost compared to CMS.

• Security

Web applications that are built on CMS are prone to data leaks, and cyber attacks. This is primarily because of its user-friendly structure. Plus CMS requires many plugins to provide additional features, which at many times are from untrusted sources, making it vulnerable to cyber threats.

This is not the situation with Framework. Web applications that are built here can be customized to even provide enterprise-level security.

• Website loading speed

Web applications that are built using CMS have an extra baggage of codes and modules, that most of the time are not required. This makes CMS-based websites heavy and time-consuming. The problem is that these additional modules cannot be eliminated from the application even if they are useless.

Talking about web applications built using a framework, the codes and scripts are strictly used as per need, and the applications can be highly optimized to reduce the load time.

• Admin panels

Web applications that are built using CMS have a pre-defined admin panel, and the functions it offers are limited. Though they can be enhanced using plugins, the UI of the admin panel can never be changed.

On the flip side, Framework-built web applications give you complete freedom to design and build admin panels favoring the needs of the business.

Still in dilemma?

After reading the factors that must be considered while choosing between CMS and Framework, there still can be a state of not being able to make a decision. So let’s simplify this for you on a need basis.

• If you are a startup or a new business, looking for an online identity like a website, where you can put up your information, then go for CMS-made web applications.
• If you are a News site or want to run a blog or a vlog, then look no further than a CMS-built web application.
• If you are a medium-sized business and do not want to invest too much into web applications, then go for CMS-built web applications.
• If your business is already established, and you have pre-built applications, but now you want to develop web applications tailored to the unique needs of your business, then opt for using frameworks.
• If you want to take your business processing online or want to digitize the information flow in your organization, then choose Frameworks, to create long-lasting efficient solutions.
• If you want to solve a unique business problem and make a web application generate revenue for you, then invest in building a web application powered by frameworks.

Final Words

The choice between CMS and Frameworks depends on the nature and the scope of your web project. Both have their own upsides and downsides. The prerequisite before jumping on to decide between CMS and Frameworks is that you have a clear understanding of the application you are aspiring to build. It will help you make this decision more wisely.