This article is aimed at highlighting some of the reasons why Drupal is a less preferred option as compared to other Content Management Systems.
If you are a little interested in the world of CMS, you would have noticed that WordPress and Joomla are way more popular than Drupal, although Drupal is a really powerful CMS. Ever wondered why? Well, I did. Being in this field for so many years, it was quite easy for me to pinpoint exactly why this was happening.
Well, the obvious fact is that although Drupal really powerful, it seems a lot more complicated than the other two content management systems. It’s a vicious circle you know, because it is so powerful, it needs a certain level of web programming knowledge to handle it. Therefore, someone who realty understands and appreciates the potential of a strong and robust CMS will never blame it.
The Problem
The most apt phrase here is “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”; because web programming specialists love it for its massive range of customization options, but designers avoid it due to same reasons. Most of them get confused and think that Drupal theme design is an unattainable task.
If you are a serious developer, it should not at all be a tough task for you. But yes, let’s face it, if you are only acquainted with Photoshop, CSS and HTML, you can wave Drupal web designing a goodbye. Although dedicated developers have simplified the theming layer a lot in the recent years, it still needs the hands of a developer with good knowledge of PHP to make the most out Drupal.
If it is so hard, then why should designers and developers use it? They should, because it has stronger security features, has the capability to handle large websites and gives the freedom to update content within few minutes. If you hire a knowledgeable designers and expert developer for Drupal CMS web development, they can produce something exceptional.
Themes
Another hindrance in Drupal’s way is that, it is very difficult to find Drupal based themes. However, you can easily find hundreds of WordPress themes because it is so popular. It is looked upon as a great advantage for WordPress, however, people ignore the fact that Drupal websites are more original and customised because of the same reason.
Business owners have to become aware because, website designers (more often than not), buy ready-made (or even download free) themes, and then make minor changes in its overall look and sell it to them. Please become aware that if something such is happening then there is no originality in your work. Do a lot of research and remain cautious before you hire website designers. This is why I recommend using Drupal, because at least that way, you’d be sure of the authenticity of your website design.
Drupal for Newbies
Given this scenario, let me please make it clear that I am not saying greenhorns can’t work with this amazing CMS. But yes, it may take a lot of hard work and efficiency to develop the Drupal skills. Initially you can try by using grids to maintain a balance in the layout and opt for standard graphical elements. This powerful CMS has a default web form size and your personalized forms should match the specific aspects.
Conclusion
Some acquaintance with this CMS can change your opinion about Drupal as a CMS. As a developer, you must have the enthusiasm to venture into such an amazing content management system with great potential. Since there are very few Drupal developers, the demand for good Drupal Designers is very high. Use this to your advantage. Because it belongs to the open source group, it is absolutely free. What’s more, it is extremely secure. Drupal’s biggest quality is that it is a multi OS and server compatible Content Management System. I wouldn’t deny that WordPress and Joomla are great Content management Systems as well, but Drupal definitely has a very bright future.
