How to build/manage a large static content website?

[Aveligand]

For the past couple of months or so I've been building content minisites (less than 20 pages or so) by hand - just taking the code and hacking it page by page. Needless to say, this is pretty tedious and impractical for larger content sites of say over 50 pages. Maintenence is a bitch too.

So how do you guys manage large statuc content sites such that they're easy to maintain, switch around, add new pages etc WITHOUT having to use a CMS like wordpress or joomla? I definitely see their value, its just that I simply hate the blog-ish looking nature of off-the-shelf CMSs.

 

[emp]

build a template.

Clearly Mark the content area.

<!-- ~~~~~~~~~~ CONTENT ~~~~~~~~~ --> 
<!-- ~~~~~~~~~~ END CONTENT ~~~~~~~~~-->

Only build the content, copy paste save done.

Also check out Free and simple CMS » CushyCMS

Basically makes your site editable easily.

::emp::

 

[nohatter]

I nearly fell for this one and was going to give him an answer. Then i read the last and the first sentence again and realized my answer would be way too complicated for a noob like this dude.

One question, what did you think about emp's answer?

 

[AdHustler]

yea over 50 pages lol

 

[liquifire]

Use BANS as a CMS tool. It's about as easy as they come.

 

[mason]

For the past couple of months or so I've been building content minisites (less than 20 pages or so) by hand - just taking the code and hacking it page by page. Needless to say, this is pretty tedious and impractical for larger content sites of say over 50 pages. Maintenence is a bitch too.

So how do you guys manage large statuc content sites such that they're easy to maintain, switch around, add new pages etc WITHOUT having to use a CMS like wordpress or joomla? I definitely see their value, its just that I simply hate the blog-ish looking nature of off-the-shelf CMSs.

huh? im pretty sure wordpress can be modded to look like anything.

 

[keliix06]

Yeah, so can Joomla. You're writing a normal html template and throwing some tags in to insert contact wherever you want.

 

[dogfighter]

50 pages is not large. I'd recommend wordpress.

 

[Sonny Forelli]

wordpress, not one of my sites looks bloggy.

 

[KunkVentures]

learn basic php, html, and css. Then you can edit wordpress to look however you want or code a simple cms.

 

[-Matt-]

I simply hate the blog-ish looking nature of off-the-shelf CMSs.

Let me put this to you in simple terms: The-CMS-is-not-the-design-of-the-web-site-(period)

Create your own template/theme or use the ones you are using for your static sites and just convert them over into WP themes.

 

[Raydahz]

If I don't want to use a CMS, I'll just use dreamweavers "Find and Replace" tool.

See: Intermediate Dreamweaver: Find/Replace

 

[argh01]

Some people use some script called something dorky like '19 pages.' Myself, I have a set of smarty/PEAR files I use for db access and templating.

 

[finspin]

I use Textpattern · A Flexible, Elegant and Easy-To-Use Content Management System. for everything. Dynamic or static, it's easy to do both. Unlike Wordpress, with Textpattern you have a full control of your website and you don't need to hack anything or write new code.