WordPress vs Drupal

There has been a wide variety of talk on the internet about different blogging platforms and content management systems, including ways to trick out one system to act like the other. WordPress, reportedly the most widely used blogging platform, and Drupal, the most commonly used content management system in the US, are no exception to our discussions. This question is usually at the maelstrom of our storm: Which platform is better for my next project? To answer this, I want to point out the differences between WordPress and Drupal.

WordPress

WordPress is a system that comes hopped up on easy pills, and because of this, bloggers and developers love it equally. With WordPress 2.8, you can have a whole system online within a few minutes, including a pre-packaged theme. But this blogging platform also comes with some disadvantages.

The Positives

• WordPress is easy to install.
• Thousands of extensions make WordPress flexible.
• Online support in the WordPress Codex is very good.
• Easy to update.
• Easy back-end navigation.
• You don’t need to know much PHP.

Getting a site out of idea land and into code is very easy with WordPress. After you run through the short install process, you have thousands of choices on ways to extend your WordPress install by using any number of extensions, some of which even make WordPress act more like a CMS. Take, for example, Sitemap Generator, a plugin that builds a site maps for WordPress sites. Developers would tell you that having a site map ready for Google to consume is essential. Other CMS-like plugins available for WordPress include user permissions extenders and plugins that give you hierarchical page navigation.

One thing you don’t need to worry about is WordPress’ lack of support. Their support site is very thorough. Even learning about WordPress’ specific functions is quite easy. One more note about WordPress’ positive aspects: since WordPress 2.8, you’ve been able to update the platform very easily. Literally with the click of a button, WordPress can get a new back-end.

The Negatives

• WordPress is too popular, and thus a major target for spammers.
• Limited scope.

The reason I mentioned the ease of being able to update WordPress is because, if left in a legacy state your Worpress install will eventually get hacked. Because of its popularity and its core blogging focus, spammers actively try to take advantage of WordPress to post spam comments and posts. But as long as you update your platform, the spammers stay at bay. Using Akismet also helps.

WordPress, too, when compared to other online content platforms, has a very limited scope. Its purpose is really to blog. So, if you are planning to build a site with multiple blogs, each of which have multiple authors, then look for a different platform. Or if you are planning to build a more dynamic site, one which frequently interacts with a database or collects data online, then WordPress probably isn’t for you.

Drupal

Do you look at a page of PHP and release a high-pitched squeal of excitement? If so, Drupal might throw you into cardiac arrest. While that might sound bad to WordPress lovers, Drupal is, in fact, very similar to WordPress in a number of ways. It too has good and bad properties.

The Positives

• Drupal is easy to install.
• You can theme everything, including the back-end.
• Online support is is very good.
• Thousands of extensions are available.
• You can build large sites.

Since version 5, Drupal (which is in version 6 now) has had a similar step-though installation process to that of WordPress. But some call it more challenging. The install processes of both platforms seemed equal to me, neither of which were too complicates. As long as you know your database login information, you are fine.

Similarly too, Drupal has plenty of extensions. Installing extensions, too, is just like installing them in WordPress. Download the files and copy them into a plugin directory.

The major advantage you get from Drupal over WordPress is that you can build sites that go far beyond the blogging scope, though you can blog with Drupal too. Everyone from large corporations to small businesses use Drupal to give themselves a usable web space. Shopping cart systems, for example, are much more common in Drupal than in WordPress. If you use Drupal, however, don’t expect the ride to be as easy as it is on the WordPress train. Getting Drupal to do what you want can sometimes take writing your own PHP or modifying extensions, even though it gives you an excellent framework for adding content and pages to your site. And it comes with more robust architecture for you to exploit in sites, like the ability to add pages in a hierarchy.

The Negatives

• Building extensions requires a thorough knowledge of Drupal’s hook system.
• You must be very well versed in HTML, CSS, and PHP.
• Back-end navigation isn’t as friendly.
• Less clear distinction between front-end and back-end.

Drupal, unlike WordPress, just isn’t as user friendly. There is less of a distinction between the back-end and the front-end of a Drupal site, which often made me feel confused about my location. I kept looking for a back-end, which is why I recommend skinning the back-end and front-end differently. Also, Drupal’s back-end navigation isn’t as friendly. More clicking is involved to get you into CMS settings and content creation, whereas WordPress has everything conveniently organized in their back-end menu.

Those are some basic differences between Drupal and WordPress. Here’s what you should take to the bank: each of these systems can be used to blog, so take that as an excuse to learn both. Once you start blogging in Drupal, you may just turn into a PHP whiz that will never resort to simple blogging again. Or you might find yourself prepared to build more complicated sites for larger clients.