Can MODx Learn from Bixtrix

In my quest to find the perfect (or as near to perfect as possible) CMS, I stumbled upon Bitrix CMS.

Now, I know it has been around a while and the sites and templates they produce all look bad (web1.0, tables font tags etc), but gee the admin user interface and workflow for the new vwersion 5 sure looks sweet.

If we could ’borrow’ some of the UI ideas for the MODx manager, combined with MODx’s power/flexibiity I think we would be on another level.

Cheers

Dean

interface design looks gr8, but i bet code sucks ass , and as you say use of tables / web 0-1 styling is a big let down for modern web apps etc. how much is it aswell, modx is free thank god

What in particular attracts you to this? And what workflow features are there to learn from?

Quote from: PaulGregory at Nov 06, 2006, 05:23 PM

What in particular attracts you to this? And what workflow features are there to learn from?

Try the demo. Sorry haven’t got time right now to detail exactly...its more of a gut feel that I understand what I can do quickly and easily.

Cheers

Dean

Bixtrix CMS is a well established commercial CMS which has been around for quite some time. I see they have greatly improved their product since last year when I gave it a peek. I don’t much like the pre-packaged feel of the product (despite some interresting features and an overall very catchy product -> for end users) but as you say the admin is very well polished. But man, no matter what it looks, this is heavy and complex.

MODx GUI already is too complex in a way. And complex is bad. In a complex overinformed world you want simple, because simple is faster to process and doesn’t stress your brain into making sense. Think 37signals, Think Apple, Think Google ! Those guys have engineered simple and successful products, which people enjoy. The words I’d like to hear from our users are : fast, easy, enjoyable, unequivoqual (and possibly : My god is that Apple Content Management ? MOD-OS-X ? ).

We really have to engineer the future manager GUI with the same breakthrough thinking those guys did !

That interface was ugly, bloated, ugly, ugly and I would stop using MODx immediately if it looked that way!

Quote from: Uncle68 at Nov 07, 2006, 04:13 AM

That interface was ugly, bloated, ugly, ugly and I would stop using MODx immediately if it looked that way!

Fair enough Each to their own.

But, I still think this UI interface has a lot of merit, I have looked at many many CMS and UI interfaces and there are not many good ones.

My opinion

I believe the intention in the future is to enable and encourage multiple manager interfaces, so people can choose the one they like. I would imagine that this will result in a lot of interfaces that mimic environments that people may be familiar with, making migration easier for end-users.

After all, MODx is all about flexibility, and that should carry through to the Manager itself.

I really doubt that MODx would ever switch to Bixtrix-style manager as the default. I’m not even that sure there’s enough developer interest to make the development of a Bixtrix-esque manager interface viable.

As to the complexity issue - well, I’m in favour of complex managers! I’m a Windows user but I don’t use the simple Windows Explorer to browse my files, I use Directory Opus because it has many time-saving features. To look at, it may be far more complex, but it makes doing things simple. I am always discovering new features that were just there waiting for me to need them. I’m happier in an environment where I haven’t pressed every button, because I’m more confident that my future needs will be met.

What you want is the simple things to be prominent, and the complex things to be waiting in the sidelines. Like a video player with a big PLAY button, but the set clock function hidden under a flap. Simple and complex in the same interface.

Quote from: kiwi_dude at Nov 07, 2006, 06:45 AM

Fair enough Each to their own. But, I still think this UI interface has a lot of merit, I have looked at many many CMS and UI interfaces and there are not many good ones. My opinion

And I share that opinion.
If you read the "Rethinking MODx" post :

Quote from: davidm at Nov 05, 2006, 09:29 AM

I am very much in agreement there. Usability most definitely is one area where CMS are lacking. Be sure we are working on this and have plans to make a significant leap with MODx 1.0. I don’t know if you checked the OpenUsability project and more particularly the CMS User Interface Guidelines, but we did and we’ll definitely have and will give a lot of thoughts about this.

Plus, there is what Paul rightly points out :

Quote from: PaulGregory at Nov 07, 2006, 07:34 AM

I believe the intention in the future is to enable and encourage multiple manager interfaces, so people can choose the one they like. I would imagine that this will result in a lot of interfaces that mimic environments that people may be familiar with, making migration easier for end-users. After all, MODx is all about flexibility, and that should carry through to the Manager itself.

Jason could jump-in and flesh out what the next-gen manager will be, but I think it’s in the hopper alright, having the same flexibility for the manager that we have today for the frontend templating...

Quote from: PaulGregory

As to the complexity issue - well, I’m in favour of complex managers! I’m a Windows user but I don’t use the simple Windows Explorer to browse my files, I use Directory Opus because it has many time-saving features. To look at, it may be far more complex, but it makes doing things simple. I am always discovering new features that were just there waiting for me to need them. I’m happier in an environment where I haven’t pressed every button, because I’m more confident that my future needs will be met.

What you want is the simple things to be prominent, and the complex things to be waiting in the sidelines. Like a video player with a big PLAY button, but the set clock function hidden under a flap. Simple and complex in the same interface.

Exactly ! That’s what will allow for a dumbed-down UI for end users and access to additionnal controls for admins, dev, or designers...

The trick is to find the smart and elegant way to achieve that.
Sources of inspiration are well know... Apple, 37signals, Google...