Learning Revo through Evo?

Quote from: rleinen at Feb 03, 2011, 04:34 PM

,

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.

Hey Randy
That’s essentially what the series I’m doing will build to. I realize the template is not free, but that really shouldn’t be a deterrent, the concepts are the same no matter what template you use. I took a long time trying to decide what template to use and finally decided on a paid template simply because I couldn’t find a free one that was complex enough to show off all the different things you can do with MODx. I used a free template for the Evolution series but ran into some barriers in that regard. Using a complex template will allow me to be able to discuss different snippets and tricky templating issues that you would never face with a simple template

Choosing a premium template also gave me the opportunity to promote themeforest using my affiliate link, in the hopes that I will make something small in the process to keep the coding pad up and running. The harsh reality is that people generally ignore the donate button, as many will attest. I do disclose clearly that my themeforest links are all affiliate links

That said, you really don’t need to have that particular template to follow along with the tutorial, you can use any template of your choice. The concepts as I said will be the same no matter what template you use

Mary,

I see your point about the premium template. And please don’t think that I am knocking your tutorials - they are great. I just have a couple of wishes that could take the whole community learning to another level - for what its worth.

1. Maybe that theme company would be willing to allow you to give that template away for free - to give them more exposure - as each person following your tutorial would be able to see the quality and usability of their templates for modx. Plus... #2

2. If others could do their own tutorial off of the same template and it could be combined somehow with your tutorials, then it could really become a nice array of examples of how to make pages with modx - some yours - and some others. The template company would get much more exposure that way - as their template would become kind of an official standard of modx. Think JA_Purity of Joomla. Plus, how many people are actually going to buy that template anyway - so they would not be giving that much away for free. And I would certainly be willing to contribute to the effort once I am up to speed on the product.

Photowebmax,

Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I am more of a developer but my wife is more of a designer. Modx appeals to me because I hate fighting with customizing templates using other cms systems. My wife makes these nice designs and then we have to figure out how to put the square peg into the round hole. So, modx looks like a great option, and I am not afraid of the code or learning. I looked at Expression Engine and it looked really promising for the same reason. But the cost is really a barrier to entry for most of our clients. On the good side, it was while I was learning about EE that someone mentioned modx as an open source version of EE, so that’s why I am here.

Mark, Thanks for the links. I’ll definitely check those out.

I look forward to interacting with you all as I go down this modx road with you. So far the help and response is very impressive.

Cheers to all,
Randy

Great post Randy,

The main attraction for me with MODx is the freedom when it comes to building and deploying templates. Anything can be adapted to a MODx template. You can take any static system and pour that into a custom MODx template while taking full advantages of all the flexible dynamic features that any powerful CMS has to offer.

I can meet with a client and together we can sketch out what they need from the site and how it should look. I am not fearful of a client saying "I want this here and that there" etc. I then go to Photoshop and build a mockup. Once I get the thumbs up I can use the layered PSD document to build a design using CSS and images that will work with static, valid Strict XHTML markup. I can then instantly toss this static mockup up on a test server for the client to see. Then comes transferring all that into MODx.

I don’t have to concern myself with the underlying constraints of most CMS template systems. This for me is the underlying genius with MODx. Nothing I have tried comes close. It really just fits with my poor brain and the way I work. I lack PHP and programming skills. But I can still function very nicely with MODx with my limitations. I would not have been able to overcome these hurdles without the support of this community though...

Quote from: Photowebmax at Feb 03, 2011, 09:48 PM

Great post Randy,

The main attraction for me with MODx is the freedom when it comes to building and deploying templates. Anything can be adapted to a MODx template. You can take any static system and pour that into a custom MODx template while taking full advantages of all the flexible dynamic features that any powerful CMS has to offer.

I can meet with a client and together we can sketch out what they need from the site and how it should look. I am not fearful of a client saying "I want this here and that there" etc. I then go to Photoshop and build a mockup. Once I get the thumbs up I can use the layered PSD document to build a design using CSS and images that will work with static, valid Strict XHTML markup. I can then instantly toss this static mockup up on a test server for the client to see. Then comes transferring all that into MODx.

I don’t have to concern myself with the underlying constraints of most CMS template systems. This for me is the underlying genius with MODx. Nothing I have tried comes close. It really just fits with my poor brain and the way I work. I lack PHP and programming skills. But I can still function very nicely with MODx with my limitations. I would not have been able to overcome these hurdles without the support of this community though...

Well said!!

Randy,
I’ll put in a vote for Evo, even though I use both. The operative word was speed, and I still think that Evo’s interface is easier to use, and ease gives speed. Revo (with all due respect to the great developers) is still not 100% fully-baked, in my opinion. There are new bugs being found every day. Loads of people are not enjoying the new interface yet (though many, especially those that have been using it for a year, love it). I use Revo every day because I do see its excellent potential, but I still don’t like the Manager interface that much. My colleagues who are designers definitely do not like Revo. Also, I think a client will find Evo easier to use at this time, until somebody makes a nice new Manager theme.

I have a new client, and they asked me to help them decide which version to use. I listed pro’s and con’s, and they finally chose Revo because they wanted the new codebase for future expandability and so on, which is a very reasonable idea. They also need multisite, and that sealed the deal. They’re pretty web savvy, but they have had trouble doing the simplest things in the Revo Manager. So it’s kind of funny, they have to ask me to do the easiest little things, even though I’ve tried to show them.

Another speed element - if you need lots of apps, Evo has many more, just by virtue of its having been around longer.

I have the Packit book, and I would say that it’s a great way to get acquainted with the system.

Hope that helps, Dave

To everyone posting responses:

Thanks for all of your insights (including Dave’s take). They have been extremely helpful to me as I consider all the options.

So far this community is really awesome.

Another great post there Samba!

What I would recommend is installing MAMP or WAMP and trying both flavors of MODx.

I did a fresh new test install of Revo this afternoon and did more things than I have tried in the past. There is a lot to like about the new Manager. But my focus is always with the finished product that I hand over to the client. Call me an old dog but I still prefer Evo. This of course might be that I am more used to the system and am more polished in presenting the Manager. But it is important to know who the end user will be.

MODx presents many options and ways of doing things. Its not a "one size fits all" solution...

Revolution FTW. I’m beginning to think that I’m one of the noisiest proponents of Revo in the community

In all fairness, Evo is a good, solid system that has excellent performance and compatibility across a wide variety of hosting environments. It’s extremely simple to install Evo and get a basic site up and running in minimal time. Evo is always a safe bet.

But Revolution is truly the cream of the crop. I recently had a client who uses ExpressionEngine to manage one site, tell me that MODx (Revo) is such a better system and had very little trouble picking up the workflow without any training from me. Granted she is very web savvy and has coding experience, but it just reinforces and validates my decision to continue using Revo on all current and future projects. Bottom line: my clients love it, and I love developing on it.

Caveat emptor: Revo still requires ’the right host’ to function without issue and at optimum performance. It’s a very advanced system that pulls a lot of server resources, and some hosts just crumble under the strain (*cough..aplus..*) excuse me . I would wager that many Revo prospects have been wrongfully attributing poor performance and manager issues to MODx design flaws, rather than the real underlying cause of inadequate hosting.

I think everybody should install EVO on their localhost (at least) and check it out.
EVO is perfect for normal size websites and works on every host. (If not, that host is a disgrace.)

A great parable is to view EVO as an ipod touch vs. REVO / iphone.
With the iphone you can do much more, but i did hack my ipod and connected a special headset for wifi calling!