I am really interested in learning modx Revolution fast. I need to build a couple sites asap. Will the book by Packt help me, given that is about the Evolution product (I presume). Also, I know there are other tutorials on Evolution out there. In general, would they still be of value to a newbie?
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.
Thanks,
Randy Leinen
Thanks for the quick reply!
Actually I have already begun to go through your tutorials, and they are a great help. I also have begun to go through the docs. But it seems as though there a lot of holes, conceptually, in terms of how to build a site in modx. For a newbie, I am wondering if the concepts of Evo will communicate the methodology and terminology needed to get my brain around the modx way. I have used several different cms systems and they all have their own way of thinking. Anyway, is there any value to that book or even your own tutorials on Evo, or is it just a waste of time to go there?
Thanks,
Randy
I don’t think it’s a waste of time, you’ll find the underlying concepts and terminologies (with some exceptions) are pretty much the same, so if you have the time it certainly won’t hurt. What you’ll need to be careful about is that some of the Evo snippets may not be available in Revo or may have been replaced - for example in Revo getResources is the way to go, not Ditto.
As far as filling holes is concerned, IMHO the better route to go, and how I would do it, is that if you have a need to get your Revo sites up quickly, concentrate on the Revo resources and ask questions as you go. You may also find that the holes appear to be there because MODx doesn’t constrain you in the HOW to build your site. There’s a lot of flexibility around where you put stuff and how you structure things, and I think each of us develops a how-to that works for us as we go.
What exactly is it that you’re struggling with? Perhaps if you ask some specific questions we can help.
Good advice, thank you. I am not at a place yet where I can ask intelligent questions. I did install it locally and it works fine. So, I will try to work through it as you say and then post specific questions as they come up. Is this the right forum to post those kinds of questions.
Thanks again for your help, and you willingness to put together excellent tutorials.
Mary’s tutorials are a great place to start.
There have been a number of recent threads about the documentation, the built in Help function and the names/terms/definitions of some of the key building blocks. One thread became bogged down over why are "resources" so named etc. All of this sort of skirts around the real task at hand: actually building sites!
The only way to move forward here is to roll up your sleeves and start building. You will not know the roadblocks until you come to them. Achieving success with these systems varies depending on user talent, experience, patience, and approach. What can seem frustratingly impossible on Monday can be rewarded with a welcome "aha!" moment on Tuesday and a "why did I think that was so hard?" realization by Wednesday.
That being said I for one still find some of the documentation and presentation to be too geeky. Instead of detailing parameter options I wish the documentation/presentation would focus on success: describe how to build stuff! Show more examples! Fortunately there are more "this is how you build sites" tutorials and videos appearing on the scene. Mary’s contribution is the poster child for learning in this arena...
Photowebmax,
I agree with what you have said and I am a web developer, so I understand and write code for a living. But all of these cms systems do the same thing in different ways and call the pieces different things. If there was, as a part of the docs, a simple tutorial that did the following it would go along way in my opinion towards helping most people get over the learning curve.
1. Start with a good & free html/css template that has the basic functionality ost websites need, and bring it into modx as a template (I know Mary does this in her tutorial but the template is not free).
2. Show how to use modx to make several standard type pages from that template - home page, back pages, etc. that most sites will need.
3. Continue to build off of that and add new types of pages over time - some simple, some complex - each one showing off cool features of modx.
If #1 & #2 were done well, they could form the basis for #3 as an ongoing project which could be contributed to by many others. Then over time it would become a great library of how to build really good pages in modx - which as you said, is the bottom line that we are all looking to do.
Maybe once I get the hang of Revo I will tackle participating in that.
Just my humble thoughts.
Randy
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Randy,
To get back to your original question about Using Evo and that book? I think its only worth getting that book if you can get it at a bargain used price. I own it and found it missed the mark as the definitive MODx guide. It was also somewhat out of date by the time it was printed. That being said some sections are worth reading.
I am still in the "messing around" stage when it comes to learning Revo. I find I can do more with Evo, but that is just me. I am very pleased to see the new efforts with respect to TV options in the new Evo 1.0.5. I am a designer so I lean heavily on CSS, layout and image presentation. I like using custom CSS for imbedded images in documents and both EvoGallery and a FancyBox(jQuery) modified version of MaxiGallery to present slideshows etc. So far I find Gallery in Revo too confusing and lacking in presentation style to fall in love with it.
MODx is not a plug and play system. This can be its greatest virtue or source of frustration depending on where you come from. Some snippets/plugins/functionality seem to require too much custom messing around with program code, snippets calls, figuring out less than cryptic snippet parameters etc, etc. Sometimes all you want to do is turn something on and have it do its thing for you without having to spend hours figuring out how to get it to function.
The alternative of course is deploying a system with tons of added plug and play features. The issue/challenge then changes: you have more stuff to deal with. Trying to do custom work or deploying your own template/design means catering to the strange and oft rigid skeleton that these systems are built around. It becomes a game of pick your poison really. Some say MODx connects more with developer types. I am not one of them. But MODx is by far and away the best CMS I have found that allows you to implement custom design, layouts and templates etc.
In the end I am sure you will come to the conclusion that most of us here have reached: you can’t beat MODx for its well thought out system, its flexibility, allowing you to do things more than one way and its great community...
