Mambo vs. Drupal

I've tried setting up and using both... and in the end, Drupal is my choice because it's simpler to use and simpler to support.

I liked Mambo's method of adding mods but in the end it proved too confusing for my little head [:0] [:0] [:0] and I gave it up.

Hope this helps!

-Allan

PS - the Bryght group here in Vancouver are using Drupal and are a great source of help... not affiliated with them except as casual acquaintences but they seem to be a good crew.

NOTE: I haven't edited this post, I have to leave home very quickly so please excuse the bad writing.

Keep both as options, both of them are great CMS applications with different focus in mind. Your question is somewhat abstract and your answer could stretch to pages of discussion.

Although I'd highly recommend you to use Joomla instead of Mambo. Mambo's core development team forked Mambo project and renamed it Joomla and since then have released 8 versions with much more organized work process and better security record. Since then Mambo community is still working out their insider political problems. Jommla 1.1.* ready by this summer will have a more textbook correct Model View Control software architecture, better Object Oriented Design, a much more improved API, and GUI based installers/uninstallers for components, Modules, Plugins, Libraries, ... to help you develop pretty much any kind of web application in the CMS family for both Administration and front-end users.

In general Joomla servers both end of the scale. Software Architecture is very appealing to developers with system design background who are concerned about good data modeling, design patters, and such. The draw back that everyday web programmers who often lack senior level training in computer science find that too complex to comprehend therefore development work is not as easy for them.

Joomla is very easy to use for the end user. I have trained people on the phone to use Joomla CMS, the GUI is simply amazing, although you need to do the initial information design and then let the content developers each work on their own categories.

Joomla is a good choice for companies with more old school set up where administrators have all the control from the back-end, and front-end users do little in providing contents. Although that is changing in the new versions of Joomla.

Drupal has a much simpler software architecture. It is not really object oriented, most files are basically list of functions. It is the perfect app for the everyday web programmer, it is easy to understand. Although the administration of Drupal is not as intuitive for people in the Marketing, Product development and sales teams. So a web savvy web-master has to take over that task.

One big advantage of Drupal is it's user management which enables you to create a customized Access Control List. This is not currently Joomla's best feature. Drupal has more characteristics of a social software, and community builder web application. That means front-end users can contribute contents in form of blogs and forums.

Conclusion:

If today I am given a project that User community, User power hierarchy, is the focus I would pick drupal

If Project involves custom we application development for these family of CMS apps ( eCatalog, ePortfolio, eLearning, eCommerce, Point of Sale, CRM, ... ) I'd much rather use Joomla because of the development platform, Decent software architecture, and strong API that it provides.

To see some of my previous projects:

Premier eCatalog
Enterprise level K12 eLearning app

If you had more questions feel free to contact me. I have done couple of thousands of hours Joomla and Mambo development, and don't mind sharing my experience with other developers.

Rastin

Hi. I found this thread as I am doing research in selecting a CMS to start a web site. Since you offered the original poster help, I thought I would jump in and see if you could assist me in selecting a CMS or maybe not. I listen to Leo Laporte on KFI Radio, the tech guy and he recommended Drupal to someone. I have a personal friend recommending Mambo. Now I am starting to read about Joomla. I would love to make a good decision from the start rather than having to start over the project.

My background is that of a web site tinkerer, ready to go to the next level. I have tinkered with PHP, MySQL on the high end. I am wanting to create a web site that will be host to audio podcasts. It will need an RSS feed to a podcast directory. I will want to be able to have another library of audios with clips that can be played and later have the longer versions downloaded and sold via an e-commerce process. I have many more intentions for the web site but the above is what I want to get started. I am hoping that if I make a fair amount of money that I would hire someone to add the upgrades and do the upkeep.

I do have an corporate IT background so technology does not scare me. I have been coding for over 20 years now too and have done a lot of database work. I am wanting to choose a CMS that fits my skill level and web site needs.

It would be my dream that I could get the above limited web site set up in my spare time in a month's time.

Thank you for ANY help you can provide. Or some other questions I should ask myself.

With great appreciation....
Suzan

Hi Suzan,

I've tried both Drupal and Joomla, and without a doubt, I think Joomla is by far the easiest to use. In terms of understanding the structure of the file system, it may be harder than that of Drupal however, Joomla is so much easier to maintain for end users.

I develop sites for normal, everyday people and Joomla is really the best. It's admin interface is dead simple and has been a godsend when it comes to trying to explain simple processes to clients such as updating content or just installing a template or module. Couldn't be much simpler.

There's also a really good and active community for Joomla and tons of free components and modules with above average support. While not perfect, I've found it's made using a CMS a dream. Once you get the hang of it, it's simple enough to maintain multiple sites at once. Give it a shot and ask questions at the joomla forums at joomla.org and you'll see what I mean. Simply put, Joomla is very much about the end user (easy to use) but has a strong and serious code base.

HTH,
kinetik
[:)]

I have to agree. Joomla/Mambo is probably the easiest for the end user, however I think Drupal is by far more powerful. Drupal has a steep learning curve and by far, has the best multisite capability. One installation for 10 different sites. Regardless, it really comes down what you need to do, what your technical knowledge is and how comfortable you are working with either system. Try to install both and see how it goes. Below is some info I have found related to the two CMS.

Use Mambo(Joomla) when:
* you don't know about the tech stuff at all
* you want easy install & setup with your mouse
* you don't want to learn the tool you're using
* you don't need to integrate other scripts etc. to your site
* you want a candy site and don't mind several other sites using the same template(s)
* you don't need SEO out of the box
* you don't care about server resources
* you're running (or planning to to run) only one or max a couple of sites
* you don't need one log-in to several sites
* you don't need user groups & permissions
* you don't run membership site(s)

Use Drupal when:
* you want a rock solid & high quality platform for your sites
* you want or need a real multi-site-feature (only one installation for several sites)
* you need any kind of user groups & user permissions
* you need to run also membership- and community sites, not only CMS etc
* you want a Powerful templating system
* you're ready to invest a bit of your time in order to realize all the huge possibilities of Drupal
* you understand the meaning of clear, high quality code and API (easy to integrate with other solutions etc)
* you want flexibility and don't like limitations


Website Design Vancouver :: Medora

Does Joomla have Taxonomy?
How can you have a CMS if you can't tag a content?

Joomla has been built with functionality into consideration and not taking content into consideration and that's killing it.

Drupal has taxonomy at the core, is faster, scalable and of course has a simple architecture. Joomla also did not have ACL :-)

Drupal powers some prominent sites

http://appel.nasa.gov - NASA
http://www.theonion.com - The Onion
http://www.goodstorm.com - Good Storm
http://www.projectopus.com
http://www.airamerica.com - Air America Radio
http://www.linuxjournal.com - Linux Journal


And I can send you a huge list.

I woud be interested to see a similar high profile list of Joomla Powered sites. When it comes to serving 10s of 1000s of content nodes, Drupal is the best.

IBM has excellent article on why they picked Drupal over Joomla.

We are working with another similar Fortune 500 Computer Giant on Drupal Dev.

Joomla is definitely better marketed and has more downloads and more popularity in Google, etc.

When it comes to number of successful implementations over the number of downloads - Drupal is clear winner.

Roshan Shah

Other Links :
http://www2.revieware.net:82/node/14
http://www.nicklewis.org/mambo-vs-drupal

This thread looks to be quite old, and definitely all the posts are pre-release to Drupal 5.X, however for any newbie still searching for this answer as I was searching myself one month back, I will add some relevant points.

Drupal is more suitable for people who are not afraid of technology and have a big project in mind and not just a simple website. It does not means that it is hard to install or anything. It took me 10 minutes to install Drupal 5.X and roughly 20 minutes to configure it on my site Complete Acne Treatment, even though it was my first CMS system and I am not a professional web designer but looking at the terminology and depth of configurations it can offer, you should have a fair idea of what you are trying to do.

Joomla on other hand is more for smaller site and for new users with not very big plans. Easily configurable, a lot of readymade templates (really a large collection and a lot of variety), and can be setup equally fast.

So the choice will depend on your plans and your own expertise. If you feel you are not afraid of technology and want something big and good then I suggest Drupal because its technologically superior, else go for Joomla for a nice good looking simple website.

I have been experimenting and reading about both of these systems and I have logged most of my findings at my blog DRUPAL VS JOOMLA, you can have a look and find something of your interest.

My main reason for choosing Drupal is its support for SEO something which Joomla lacks as of now. I think it will be quite good if Joomla starts working on it, because its a part of web designing that cannot be ignored anymore by anybody.

I will be updating more of it on my blog.
Good luck to anybody who is trying either of the system

Aren't CMS's the worst thing about web development? I've had difficulty with Joomla because of custom page titles for SEO. I use textpattern.