looking for CMS for online dictionary-like database

[zozzen]

I'm trying to build up a dictionary-like database (much less ambitious) and have reviewed some CMS for this. I'd like my database to be editable, so I've tried some Wiki engines.

Mediawiki is powerful but it's possbily to slow and its build-in search capability sucks. In a dictionary where things tend to be very standardized, a standard input form will be better but it doesn't seem easy to implment this in mediawiki . (installing extensions for input box, even semnantic wiki and learning how to make them work is a huge task)

Dokuwiki (a plain-text wiki ) is one of my choice but it also doesn't seem to provide an easy standard for input.

do you know any CMS that can make it easier... or easier to modify?

[ergophobe]

This comment
>>standard input form will be better

Makes me think of Drupal Fields (CCK, Views) and ModX Template Variables.

For ModX, this is built-in, but not nearly as powerful as in Drupal.
In Drupal, it's not built in until version 7, but most Drupal developers install Drupal with the Content Module and Views Module by default.

Search... it's just okay at best in any CMS. If you want good, high-demand, high-quality search, most big sites go Solr/Lucene etc., but that commits you to a fairly substantial server setup.

[zozzen]

thanks so much ergophobe! It seems that, from my basic search results, drupal as wiki is also possible. I'm not familar with this system and i'm going to learn more.

[ergophobe]

You might start with a look at ModX. When I said Drupal is more powerful, it's more in terms of non-text data (images, references to other pages, media, etc) in its fields system. Overall ModX is a simpler system to get your head around.

If it's the sort of thing like the Urban Dictionary where any user can add entries, I'd go with Drupal. If it's more a situation of just a set of admins and writers adding content, I'd give serious consideration to ModX. Actually, I'd go with Drupal in either case, but I've put the time into learning the system. If I were starting fresh and just wanted to get up and running, I'd look at ModX.

Also, though it's in beta still, you might start with Drupal 7 if you think it will be a while before you launch. It's an easier system to get started with and the features you want should be mostly built in.

[zozzen]

ergophobe, sorry for late reply. In the past two days, I've been trying both ModX and Drupal and run it on my localhost. Drupal seems to be rather difficult but powerful to use. Based on your experience and comments in other threads, I tend to trust your choice of drupal has a good reason. I'm stick to Drupal and learn how to use it now. Thanks a lot for your advice.

[ergophobe]

Ah.. never trust me! Trust yourself!

"Why?" said Zarathustra. "You ask why? I am not one of those whom one may ask about their why. Is my experience but of yesterday? It was long ago that I experienced the reasons for my opinions. Would I not have to be a barrel of memory if I wanted to carry my reasons around with me? It is already too much fo me to remember my own opinons; and many a bird flies away.... But what was it that Zarathustra once said to you? Do you now believe that he spoke the truth here? Why do you believe that?"

The disciple answered, "I believe in Zarathustra." But Zarathustra shook his head and smiled.

"Faith does not make me blessed," he said, "especially not faith in me."

Friedrich Nietzsche, "On Poets," Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Portable Nietzsche, p. 238-239)

Goodness, I haven't looked at that in 26 or 27 years I think - since my college days. Always loved that quote though.

[zozzen]

After this thread, I actually discussed my choice over drupal and asked two programmers what they think about drupal.

--------------- POWERFUL! BOOM! The same as what you've said.

[ergophobe]

Oh okay, that takes some pressure off. Trust them ;-)