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CMS Alternative
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CMS (Content Management System) is the software that is powering the internet world. It is a system that helps a common person create, modify and manage the content of a blog or a website without any technical know-how. They are growing and so is their eco-system, and over the past few years, I have spent thousands in this open-source cobweb.
A Content Management System is a great tool for people who don't have the appetite and ability to learn a new skill. It is also true that people are so busy with their work that they actually don't have time to learn the basics.
It is also true that if you want to host a piece of content online you don't need JavaScript or a MySQL database, you just need HTML. If I have to create a web page that says Hello World!! I don't need CMS software to do that, I just have to use an H or P tag inside the body element of an HTML page and it will display the same. Now, the page that comes out of CMS is eye-appealing, people like that no problem let's add CSS to the mix, and you will get a better-looking page.
There are plenty of reasons why people want to shift from one CMS to another but I don't want to shift from one web to another. I would suggest people who are looking for CMS alternative to dive deep if they don't have the time and are ready for the effort then hire a person who will do it for them.
People will spend thousands of their hard-earned money on a plugin that does nothing but adds a meta tag in the head section. This is how the system works, you pick a base which is open source, then just to add or remove the functionality in the base software you buy an addon, but the same thing you can do it manually.
What is a CMS Alternative?
There is only one good alternative to CMS that will depend on your needs, personal or business. If it's for business hire a technical person who will do it for you. If it is for a personal project then get your hands dirty. There are plenty of courses that you can check if you want it free then YouTube has so much content that teaches you the ABC of HTML and CSS that you can drop CMS and work without it.
This site where you are reading this, if you have reached here, is based on simple HTML and CSS. I am not an expert I just know the basics, once the structure is ready I just copy-paste the content from my word document to the HTML page. If a person like me can do it in 10 days I am sure you can do it in 5.
Whenever you shift from one CMS to another or from CMS to No-CMS there are going to be positives and there are going to be negatives, so let's discuss them and bring them into the picture.
Advantages of No-CMS
Skill
This is one of the biggest advantages of going self-develop way. An additional skill, that will make anyone stand out from the crowd. Just by learning HTML and CSS, you are above the knowledge chain.
Control
Another advantage of No-CMS is the control over the content and also how it is displayed. The Owner will decide which meta tags should be used, and which script to run on which page. There is 100% control when you self-develop.
Security
One big advantage is security, when the creator knows every line of code, one can immediately spot an alien code if any. It is easy to safeguard things which one knows inside out.
Customization
The depth of customization that can be done on a self-developed site can not be matched with the packaged CMS.
Cost
I have personally spent money on yearly subscription plugins that now I feel were a waste, I could have got my hands dirty and done it myself.
Attention to detail
I never gave attention to small things like meta tags or H1 or header tags which are so important in terms of not just SEO but also page optimization. Now that I am doing all the heavy lifting in the back end, I spend an extra 30 min on these small details.
Disadvantages of No-CMS
Learning Curve
There is a learning curve to No-CMS, a person with no knowledge can not start a site from day one. One has to get down to basics and move upwards.
Time-consuming
The CMS alternative way is time-consuming, if it takes 2 minutes to post a blog on CMS it will take 30 to 40 min on the No-CMS. CMS comes as a package so when I customize one page that affects all the pages instantly but in No-CMS every page needs to be revisited.
Effort
When it comes to CMS a person only puts his or her effort into generating the content, but when it comes to self-develop it is the content as well as the back end structure.
Community Effect
When you are using a CMS or a plugin there is a huge community that is also using the same so the help is just typing away, but when you code and do it yourself you rely on your own search, learning and understanding.
Closing Thoughts
CMS are a great tool for online communities, but they are also like a cobweb, somehow a person will end up paying some cost. I have learned a lot in the past years my main learning was the money I spent, I could have put that same amount into running ads that would give my site more visibility.
If you want an alternative to CMS the only way is to self-learn and develop, going from one CMS to another is like holding an ear, over the head or around the head. So, please look at the real alternative solution don't go from one ecosystem to another eco-system. Ultimately you are still stuck. Give the alternative that I have discussed above a try and I assure you, It will work, it may take time but you will be satisfied.
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