Andrew Day Posted…

I’ve played around with a TextPattern a fair amount and have to say that I’m impressed. Out of all of the blogging software I’ve tested, it ranks third on my list (behind MovableType 1st and WordPress 2nd). It is completely different from MovableType but to me, seems to be fairly similar to WordPress although it is much easier to use.

Even though this program is incredible, I will most like be switching back to MovableType when they release version 3.0. But I will be using TextPattern on the Water Tectonics because it of it’s “sectioning” flexibility. It will take me under an hour to switch that web site from a plain HTML editor to TextPattern! Using this program will allow the people who I made the site for, who are completely web design incompetent, to edit and make changes to the text of the pages without having to play around with the actual HTML. Also, since Textile is so easy to use, they could make standard markup changes to the site’s text such as inserting links, list, emphasis, images, etc…

Pro’s:

• Instant Posting
• Built in blog roll
• Detailed Admin Privilages
• Built in Refer Log
• 3 minute setup
• Allows Textile and (X)HTML use
• Easy to use CMS tags
• Image Management System (IMS)

Con’s:

• Too Simplistic! Doesn’t allow for enough customizability in general
• CMS Tags aren’t don’t have enough customizability
• To few admin options
• No trackbacks
• No Categories (MT type)
• MySQL database can slow after abundant use
• You can’t switch time from Eastern time (unless up do it by hand…)
• I can’t figure out how to customize the RSS
• Can’t change users passwords

Score: 4.3 out of 5

If you want to test out TextPattern got to my Log In; for a login, type in Editor; and for a password, type qFkcU3 (please, please, please don’t screw my blog up…).

nate Posted…

Andrew - I appreciate your thoughtful comments, especially since you've tried it out.

I do notice a couple of the cons in your list may not be correct, although some are a matter of opinion. Namely these:

• Simple = better for end user.. I found it to be remarkably customizable in terms of what type of output you're looking to render on the final site
• I do agree that there could be more CMS tags, I believe there are several powerful ones on the way
• True, I didn't see a trackback mechanism. Tho I'm not a fan of them, many folks are.
• There are categories.. what do you mean by MT type?
• About the MySQL slowdown - I didn't see it, but I only make one texpattern site so far
• In the admin panel you can adjust the time offset from your servers time, doesn't that allow you to set it to eastern time?

I wanted to chime in with my perspectives because after using the tool, I'm super impressed. I would say that there are some significant and substantial benefits to using Textpattern over other CMS'es (although I have yet to try wordpress). Factor in that this is only the Gamma release, and I think Dean's got a real winner with this one. Of course, for differing purposes, specific tools will outshine others - this is the closest to a user friendly cms as I've seen.