What CMS do I need?
 

Hello. I would like to be able to make webpages, and I would like them to have sort of a blog layout with the ability to easily make new posts and sort them. I have been given to understand after som research that this would be an CMS. Now, I just want this blog-thingy, and be able to integrate this with a website. I have looked at wordpress, but since you are not able to upload your own templates and themes anymore, I can't see a way to integrate it with other sites. Do you have a suggestion for a CMS which would suit my needs?

Err… have I missed anything? Because last time I checked you were perfectly able to create any design you like.

Hmm, well, I just saw this.. Is it possible to upload the themes?

Oh, OK, right. There is a difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org, the former one being the WordPress hosted version for noobs or people with low requirements and the latter one being the self-hosted version where you can do whatever you want but you have to know what you do. I’d always recommend the self-hosted version, especially if you’re creating websites professionally and – as you seem to – have more advanced requirements and need full control.

Oooooh, now things make a whole lot more sense to me! But since you seem to know a little about this, how much do you need to know to be self-hosting? I know HTML and CSS, and a little javascript. If I'm going to make a dynamic site, with blog layout, do I need to know PHP, for example? Or do I just need how to copy/paste php?

whatever serverside lang you pick you need to know it... copy/paste is good for tinkering, but it is going to fall apart the second you try and do anything. Also FWIW there are other langs than php (had to throw that in being a .net'er)

Of course, it’s best to know PHP for Wordpress but you don’t have to be a PHP pro in order to use it. The good thing is that there is a good documentation on the PHP functions to customize Wordpress. However, you will need at least a basic understanding of programming languages (in terms of logic, syntax, etc.) but you will also learn by doing it. Wordpress is a good start. Look at the default themes that come with it and read the documentation and you will soon get the hang of it.

wordpress is fine but you may have security issues so better update your template with latest version.

Look again you will see that you can. Sure this option might not be valid on the wordpress.com domain ( if you make a blog on their sub domain ) but if you have your own hosting your can do these an many more.

Wordpess is ok but I think it might be overkill for a simple blog.
You also have to put a bit of extra work into securing it as the default installation leaves your site vulnerable.

Having said that the online community is huge and there's plenty of documentation and tutorials available to you. It's also a pretty straight forward admin interface.

I'd shop around though and see what's out there.
One of the newer ones I quite like for its simplicity and features is PyroCms. It's built on the Codeigniter framework, which is my preferred framework when I'm developing new applications for my clients.