PHP-MySQL based system for large magazine CMS?

Looking for an appropriate CMS for a large site

[mr_nabo]

Hi,

I've just been asked by a client if I can create a large content management system for a magazine that has the following characteristics (I know, they're asking for a lot):

- A blog integrated into the CMS with a commenting system
- Ability to enable commenting on an article/page in the system (separate from the blog) and a way to rate the article
- Ability for purchasing subscriptions online.
- Subscriber-restricted articles (i.e. purchase a subscription to see articles) and articles available only to users registered with the site
- RSS feeds (one main one and several for various sections of the site)
- Homepage with latest article from each section (i.e. News Features, Review etc.)
- Top 5 News, Top 5 jobs, Top 5 events boxes in a column
- A way to search through previous issues of a magazine
- Events area
- Jobs listings with a way to filter results based on salary, closing date and location
- Registration form that includes numerous personal details.

Jst writing that list has left me shaking with fear about taking this job on, but it would be interesting to hear whether you think a PHP-MySQL CMS like Joomla would be appropriate for a job like this or whether something bigger like Plone would be better.

Any advice massively wecome as I feel a little out of my depth on this one.

Thanks

[coopster]

asked by a client if I can create a large content management system

They asked for create so I assume they are not interested in using an open source application? Are they asking you to give them a quote for developing this from scratch?

[mr_nabo]

Hi Coopster,

No, I can use an opensource CMS, I just worded my post badly.

I'd be concerned about using too many addons though as maintenance and updates could become a nightmare. Ideally it would be a system that is easy to modify out the box - they're fans of Joomla already as they know how it works etc. which is why I was questioning Joomla as an option.

Thanks

[coopster]

as maintenance and updates could become a nightmare

Whenever you introduce user-managed content you introduce maintenance and update nightmares. Period. I don't care which CMS you use.

[mr_nabo]

That's true, so is there a particular CMS you recommend? In my experience, Joomla seems like a fairly sturdy option, but possibly it could be slow for large numbers of pages from what I've read...?

[henry0]

You are speaking about purchase, user level accounts etc...
any free CMS such as Joomla had and will be hacked.
forget about it and either you may code/outsource the all project or pass on it.
be aware that to build it and test it
such a task from ground zero may call for pretty much a 1-man/year of dev.
Be prepared for meetings with no real decision made and content or review that takes forever to reach you :)

[choster]

My understanding is that Joomla's permissions system is not very granular, and so it might be difficult to distribute the appropriate rights to contributors, editors, marketers, and so on.

Consider Drupal, which is what The Onion runs on.