If you’re into web development or blogging, you surely know these two Open Source web applications I am to talk about - Joomla and WordPress. I have been doing web programming since 2001 which I turned to be an offshore freelance web developer, worked in an I.T. firm in Manila, then came back home to finish my studies but still doing I.T. Consultancy/Web Development and blogging of course. Let me just say that I help write and code the web.

Okay, going back to business now…

WordPress was the first web application I installed when I got my own domain name. I was setting up a blog site that is. WordPress is a blog and publishing platform that you can install in your personal websites if you have a domain name or sign-up a WordPress account for free as a sub-domain of WordPress.org. The advantage of having your own domain name is that you can tweak your WordPress platform according to your preferences. You can even design your own theme or layout, install plugins, and even convert your WordPress to a CMS (Content Management System). Yeah, but that would include some programming. I’ll teach you how later, just keep posted.

Common to many hosting packages is that they have a number of ready-to-install applications over CPANEL which they usually call it Fantastico. CPANEL is your web-based control panel to manage your website. And, installing WordPress is easy as 1-2-3, just follow the steps and your blog will be up and running.

Screenshot of WordPress over CPANEL

Joomla, another open-source application, is a content management system (CMS). You can install Joomla by downloading it or via CPANEL, although it is not common to all CPANEL Fantastico to have Joomla. Just check it with your web host.

It was with some web development projects I explored more about Joomla. At first, I see it complicated based on what I see on its Administrator page. But as the projects went along, I learned how to manage it, from installing components, modules and plugins, create own template, and develop custom modules, components, and plugins. I will post some tutorials on how do tweak and develop Joomla adds-on soon.

Joomla can be used for news publishing, corporate websites, e-commerce, blogging, or simply just any type of website.

Remember that WordPress & Joomla are an open-source web applications, so it’s free. But there are many developers and consultants that accepts services to customize it for a fee.