Which CMS to use for complex project?

CMS, complex site

[galahad2]

I need to know which would be the best CMS to use for a new project. The design layout is very complex so the CMS used must be very adaptable and able to create any design layout. The specification also demands that many different types of module be supported, for example RSS feeds, news and news archives, embedded Flash movies etc.

Also the ability to highly customise META tags / tiles for SEO is a must.

At the same time the CMS should be easy and quick for building the site, and not too difficult for the eventual content managers to use after go-live.

Which CMS would you recommend for such a project?

Thanks

[bill]

Just about any CMS out there can handle your requirements. You'll just need to get used to their individual templating system to match your design.

Have you taken a look at the CMS Matrix site? You can sort various CMS packages by their features to see what might be best for you.

[galahad2]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that site. I guess it really needs to be one that can handle a very complex design and is fully adaptable- but still easy enough to build with.

[bill]

A lot of times that's really an individual choice. What's good for one developer might be too complex for another. That's why I like to try out the platforms to make up my own mind (although I know it's nice to have specific recommendations as well).

If you find some packages that meet your requirements go try some of them out for yourself at the opensourceCMS site. They have a bunch of systems pre-installed that you can test out yourself. It's a great time saver.

[ergophobe]

very complex design

Generally, most CMS are fully skinnable, so the design is not usually limited by the CMS, but by the mind and skill of the designer.

fully adaptable

If by that you mean "any design I want", see above. If you mean that it can adapt from page to page so that you don't have one sitewide template, some CMS are better than others. I personally think a sitewide template is best, but some people like one color header for the forums, one of the blog or some such thing.

What's good for one developer might be too complex for another.

I couldn't agree more. Take the name of almost any CMS and try these two searches:

"[CMS name] sucks"
"[CMS name] rocks"

If you find a CMS that doesn't return results for both of those searches, it means that nobody except the developers themselves are actually using it.