First Time User FeedBack

Hi thanks for allowing the download and test of this CMS

I would like to note as a brand new user never seen the product before.

Installation simple.
Configuration Confusing
Modules/addons - None found- Forums - Picture Gallery - News - PodCast all should be in default install
Mod- Rewrite- Fails and is not user friendly
Many items found to not have a back option, unless you use the browser back button you get lost
Theme section is very confusing - wide to me means full page this never happened for me all centered


From a noob with no prior MODx usage its a thumbs down because after 60minutes Ive given up and searching for a different option.

Thanks for the chance to test and good luck.


Cheers Skippy

Skippy,

I think you are looking for a different type of CMS. I think--and many may agree--that the marketing may be a little misleading for people who are used to Joomla, Drupal or WordPress. MODx is a CMS, yes but it is more of a Content Management Framework for devs to add and extend into virtually limitless custom configs for clients and projects.

If you were seeking a install and use, end-user oriented CMS then MODx is likely not for you. If you are a designer, developer or a combination of both that wants a great basis for CMS sites but don’t wan’t to get stuck hacking core or days trying to figure out how to make it do something it wasn’t designed to do and you have some rudimentary PHP/MySQL skills (I am far from an expert) MODx will work.

Personally, I think the homepage makes it sound easier than WordPress to get going but the fact is that it is easier when you want more from your CMS. Wordpress uses an arcane templating system. Building a template for MODx is as easy as coding a flat XHTML/CSS site and pasting it into the head and linking a couple of files.

The one thing MODx is in need of growth is Docs but as it moves toward 1.0 you will see much more enhancement to all areas. Keep your eye on it and find the CMS that suits your project.

One final note:

Modules/Addons in MODx come indifferent varieties, Snippets (php scripts), Chunks (of HTML) and Modules (application within MODx). There are tonnes in the repository and forums but they may be tricky to get used to until you get into the terminology.

Why not do a local install with the default DB data and play when you have time. Check out the Wiki, Docs and some of the forums to see that there are many reasons why we choose MODx.

All the best,

Jay

Skippy, Sorry to read of your troubles. As smashingred stated there some differences in approach in MODx compared to other more mainstream CMS. Some things in MODx are very easy and straight forward, and there are some very powerfull snippets that handle a wide array of stuff. And the best thing is that once you get into the API you can do almost anything that you may need.

I would like to see some features that I think would make MODx much more user friendly. For example an easy one step way to add a Blog or a Forum. I see this in soo many other CMS that it has become standard. However I suspect that MODx will have these as soon as the community gets around to making it happen. As the community grows and new demands come to play things just get better.