I have been experimenting with three Content Management Systems (CMS) website creation tools. 

One I have used quite often and have several existing website using it, including this website. It’s called Joomla!.  (That’s a link if you are interested.) They use the exclamation point as part of their name/logo. 

I consider it a very good alternative to WordPress <Link>. I operate many WordPress websites. It too is a great CMS system, works fine, and I am comfortable with either.

I started website creation (very early internet days) using just straight HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).  Maybe a half dozen pages and I had a website!  The newer CMS tools are far more complex and contain literally thousands of files and directories and use a database for their operation. Doubt I will go back to pure HTML.

The third CMS I am playing with is called DRUPAL. (That’s a link too.)

I used Drupal a few years back with some good results. I have always considered it a bit more difficult than the other CMS I have listed. That is still very true today.

I decided to give Drupal another trial. Drupal just released a DrupalCMS version. Their website practically forces you to build a site in a sandbox environment first. 

A sandbox is a website off the internet and located on a personal server. You must have (install) your own web server software and a database system to go with the Drupal. 

It requires a very genius GNH “Geeky/Nerdy/Hacker” manager to be successful although it almost “screams” that it is a very (friendly?) powerful CMS system. Actually, it is, but not intended for neophyte site builders and managers.

I built the sandbox version and had it running fine. Then I struggled with many attempts at “going live”. Long story, but I now have a live “core” site in operation at kautzcraft.net (Yep, another link)

I believe (without substantiated proof) that Drupal has been overtaken by a consortium of ISP (Independent Service Providers) to provide host services for Drupal. They appear to be the fastest and easiest way to get a working Drupal website on-line. 

I have proved to myself that I can install and operate a Drupal CMS website on my own. It can be done. But I can not recommend Drupal for the causal website builder. It is far too complex. I am not going to list my struggles and issues, just not give it a recommendation to the non-pro.

WordPress is probably the easiest and probably the most popular CMS. Joomla is a close second and I really like using it. Leave Drupal to the dedicated GNH (geeky-nerd-hacker) who can lavish in the complexity.