Blogging Software? Why not Trillium?

• 18 October 2007
• David McKelvey

We are utilizing blogging software to manage this discussion. By now, I suspect most people understand the concepts and functions surrounding a blog, and in fact on a small scale, blogging software can be a replacement for a content management system (CMS), which is what Trillium is, in that both assist in the management of web content.

So the question that perhaps strikes you is why did we not build this site in Trillium, if it’s a CMS and we know it inside and out? Practically speaking, while Trillium is good at many things, it does not handle the automated functions involved in blogging and podcasting without a significant amount of work. We were looking to create this informational space quickly and without much fuss — this software was the fastest means to this end.

Further, it utilizes open standards for the storage of its content, so if we choose another product, even the future Trillium, into which to move this all this at some later date, it will be a simple rather than complex task. For want of a better mantra, it is as simple as that old saw your grandparent might have taught you, “Use the right tool for the job.”

Separately, we are in fact at a crossroads with Trillium and are beginning the assessment process which will take us into a complete rebuild of Trillium, or away from it to some other CMS product. New Media is also currently building a new news and podcasting site with the same software for Public Affairs and Communications; it will give us good opportunities to test and identify features and functions important for any future CMS software.

Filed Under

• Content Management Systems
• Redesign
• Trillium