Dreamweaver instead of CMS for small websites?

Can I really stay with Dreamweaver?

[JPcinemamaster]

Hello,
I hope I don't sound silly by asking this:
I'm wondering if it's possible to replace CMS with just Dreamweaver? Especially for small websites (less than 50 pages). Can Dreamweaver be used as a simple CMS?
I always had the idea that CMS is for larger websites and using Dreamweaver for small projects will do just fine.

Thank you gurus
JP

[tangor]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Dreamweaver is a content creator/editor. It is not a CMS. One way or the other you'll need an editor for content. Even if you go CMS (generally a database backend) to create content.

Any site can be created with notepad/dreamweaver and small sites will work just fine. Not sure what you are asking... I maintain 1700 pages in Homesite 4.0... a lesser editor...

[lorax]

The closest you'll get with Dreamweaver is Dreamweaver Contribute. Have you considered using WordPress for your CMS? It's not very complicated and probably easier to use the DW Contribute.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Dreamweaver will be fine if you are in the habit of using it and you already have a copy. If not it will be a dear CMS. ;)

[JPcinemamaster]

thank you for all your replies,
I guess what I am asking if CMS is the end-to-all web application even for small websites. Is CMS essential ? For example, a client asks me to create a small website and he wants CMS because he thinks it's easy for him (and his team) to modify/edit pages. Can I just explain to him that Dreamweaver will do just fine?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

No you can't, because it is unlikely that they will be willing to pay for Dreamweaver or be able to use it.

[ergophobe]

BDW hit it I think - a CMS can be locked down to allow a lot of people to manage the site without breaking it.

[nootkan]

BeeDeeDubbleU is right Dreamweaver is a html editor not a cms. You can create websites/pages with it and even create a template where you only make changes to it and it will apply to all pages using the template. If your client wants to edit the site he or she will have to have a copy of Dreamweaver on their computor and also have access to the server and files so they can download current pages and make changes then upload the changes.

I use Dreamweaver a lot for setting up my template with css styling then implement the template into a cms like Modx where the client can edit the main content on the pages of the site through the front end using the cms WYSIWYG text editor.

[Allen Graves]

Yep - chances are that your client (if you hit him with the DW option) will download some old, crappy free html editor to update his content with - at which time your html structure and formatting will most likely get FUBAR'd.

For yourself, absolutely, DW works great if you can manage the site structure in your head.

Allen