Content Management Systems are software packages that allow you to manage a web site. These typically are installed by uploading the base files for the system onto your web host, then configuring and customising them to create your own unique site. Many CMSs allow you to download further modules to add new functionality to your site as well as templates to customise the look. A CMS does away with the need to upload new or updated files to your web server via FTP each time a change is made. Content can be created and managed from any location, directly on the site.
Mambo is a business-oriented open source content management system written in PHP which uses the MySQL database.
'Mambo is the perfect solution for developers and novice users alike who demand a simple yet elegant way to deploy professional websites rapidly,' says the website.
Features
One key factor in choosing a CMS is the time it takes to learn how to use the tools involved. Mambo is easy to install and maintain, if you have a basic programming background, with simple additions to the site as easy as typing in a forum post. No file transfer protocol (FTP) required after the initial setup.
Mambo can be hosted on Linux, Unix, Windows and Macintosh OS X servers - in fact as long as it runs PHP and MySQL, it can run Mambo.
Being open source, it has a huge variety of modules and components to choose from that have been developed by its 'sharing' user community.
Cost
Open source written in PHP under the GPL license - allows you to make modifications to suit your needs. So, there is no cost to download or use it. Cost comes from loading onto your server or paying your ISP to load it onto theirs and from the potential extra cost of having a more active website (Costs can increase from say $220 to $720 per year, plus a one off set up cost). The set up cost will depend on what customisation you want.
What it's used for
Milang Old School House Community Centre uses it to manage their Byte-on project web site which provides information regarding e-learning for the Alexandrina area in SA. Mambo is used for the front end for this site, providing the facilities for News and other information, FAQ's and web links. Mambo also generates RSS feeds for the site, as well as provides an area to display content from other sites, via their RSS feeds. For the groups section of Byte-on, Moodle has been used.
Mambo has been used for Byte-on because of the ability for the site to be community-driven. Users are able to submit news and links themselves, which are added to the site once they are approved by an administrator. With countless components and modules that can be added into the site, this can be extended to include a community photo gallery, user blogs and much much more...
Why it's good
Once set up it is relatively easy to change, add things, load files etc. without needing to go through an ISP or know lots of html. Also there’s a really strong community of Mambo users if you need answers. If you want to go down the CMS path this is a good way to go.
MamboForge.net (the Mambo project development site) has been established as a development and distribution environment for the community to further expand the open source project. This site has been donated by Miro International and can be used to host components, templates, plug-ins, modules and anything related to Mambo.
Problems/downsides
Need some knowledge of OS/code to do the download and set up to your own server (or you can just ask your ISP to do it for you).
Examples to check out (places to play are marked with an *)
MamboServer is the Mambo open source project web site, created with Mambo itself.
MamboForge is the project development site, where the files for mambo and individual components are managed. (created with GForge)
Milang Old School House Community Centre's Byte-On website
*Try the mambo example installation at OpenSourceCMS
Alternatives
Drupal Why wasn't it selected? Drupal is also a very user friendly and easy to use CMS, the only reason it wasn't selected for Byte-on, was that Mambo's installation was easier at the time.
Watch out for Joomla!, an open source CMS based on Mambo, created by the same development team (and community of users) who began with Mambo. At the moment almost exactly the same as Mambo, however, you can expect some big developments from this group as it has moved away from the commercial roots of Mambo. Joomla explains itself as continuing development of Mambo. While similar now, the two systems may become quite different as they are developed independently.
Criteria/factors Mambo
| Criteria |
Comment |
|
|---|---|---|
| User friendly |
Yes |
Very easy to set up once loaded onto server |
| Push or pull in kind |
Both |
RSS feeds generated, bulk email ability to registered users. |
| Low or high interaction with participants/facilitators |
Both |
Can be used in many ways |
| Synchronous or asynchronous activity, |
Both |
Can add many tools such as chat, forum and others |
| Facilitator skills of a low or high level |
Both |
Accommodates both |
| Participant skills of a low or high level |
Both |
Accommodates both |