CMF and CMF/CMS systems for website development

Overwhelming majority of modern websites are dynamic, i.e. they realize the idea of dynamic forming of information that is displayed for visitors. That is why development of such sites is most often based on CMS – content management systems. However, there exists a slightly different approach to development of dynamic sites – the use of CMF. What is a CMF? Why do web developers need CMF? What are the most popular CMF?

A CMF – a Content Management Framework – is a framework system for managing the site content and tools for creating content management systems or web applications in general. It is the most widespread definition.

And what is a framework? To put it simply, it is a certain software product that allows to combine a big number of components with different functions in a large software project.

A framework may include various code libraries, auxiliary programs, programming languages, scripting languages etc. Different components of the software project are combined together due to the usage of a common API (application programming interface).

Therefore, a CMF, as a framework system, possesses all features that are peculiar to every framework. We can also say that a CMF is a wider notion than a CMS. Every CMF is a CMS, but not every CMS is a CMF. You can see the examples of CMF in the table below:

Quite often CMF that possess sufficient functional for development of full-fledged web applications and easy-to-manage websites of different types are called CMF/CMS systems because they combine the features of both kinds of systems. The examples of CMF/CMS and CMF systems are represented in the table below:

CMF/CMS systems have a number of distinctive features.

Appointed internal architecture. Internal architecture of CMF/CMS systems has well-developed abstraction mechanisms that do not depend on CMS-forming modules. In means, that it is easier to maintain a project developed on the basis of a CMF/CMS than a project made on a “pure” CMS.

Multifunctionality. Websites and web applications developed on the basis of a CMF/CMS have a high level of individualization: each project can be adjusted depending on a concrete situation. Multifunctionality of CMF/CMS systems allows to create any web projects on their basis, starting with simple small business sites and ending with multibranch Internet portals or online shops.

Extendability and compatibility. Existing functional of CMF/CMS systems can be expanded due to the integration of additional modules and program codes. Most of CMF/CMS support different database management systems (MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL etc), and are able to perform data assembling into any required format (XHTML, JSON structures, PDF, XLS, RTF etc).

Templating. CMF/CMS support templating – convenient creation and integration of design templates that helps to avoid editing of the software core or content of the site under development.

Usability. A lot of CMF/CMS are systems with a random, extensible and adjustable set of features. Other CMF/CMS are distribution kits that are easy-to-use for amateur programmers.

Owners of websites based on CMF/CMS receive web interface configuration service, visual editor for filling the site with content, information storage and acquisition system, information ordering system, user management system – in other words, all features characteristic for a CMS.

The choice of a particular CMF or CMF/CMS system is determined by the individual goals and tasks of each particular project. During development of sites for business web design studio WebStudio2U carries out thorough analysis of the company's activity, helps to set the goals and tasks of website development and offers its clients the best solution as far as the choice of appropriate CMS, CMF or CMF/CMS system is concerned.

You can order development of a site based on the required CMS, CMF or CMF/CMS system right now!

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website development systems, cms cmf