Hi all, I am setting out on a little journey to build a multi-user, multi-site site... does that make sense?

 

The idea is that a user can sign up (all for free), and create their own site based on a set of pre-defined templates, using a sub-domain of my main domain (for example, their site would be mysite.domainname.com). They could then change some text, images and what-not to make it their own. It would need them to be able to add members to their own site for 'hidden areas' of the site etc...

 

What is the best CMS to do this with? I'd like it to ideally be a 'front end editor' for the end user too, not a CMS dashboard if it can be avoided.

 

I appreciate this is a big ask, but any advice or recommendations would be great - this is only for a very very niche market who would never actually get a website unless it was totally free

Trying to think of a way but nothing springs to mind except a lot of custom coding.

 

Not to get all skeptical but would it be an idea to point them to somewhere like about.me or similar instead?

 

Edit - sorry missed this bit "It would need them to be able to add members to their own site for 'hidden areas' of the site etc..."

Edited May 29, 201214 yr by oakleaves

No CMS springs to mind, but that could be that I have limited myself greatly to only a handful of CMS's

 

So anything the forum can throw at me, would be great

Wordpress Network - http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network

^ I'll watch and wait with interest

Wordpress network was my first thought - BUT the reason I moved away from it was purely that I use WP for a lot of things, and didn't want to jump into something just because I am comfortable with it, when something else out there could do the job much better.

 

Cheers

Yeah, I'd have to agree this is something WP can do.

Yeah, I'd have to agree this is something WP can do.

 

Really?

 

"a user can sign up (all for free), and create their own site based on a set of pre-defined templates, using a sub-domain of my main domain (for example, their site would be mysite.domainname.com)."

 

Automated or would terydinho have to do it all?

 

 

"I'd like it be a 'front end editor'"

 

This too?

I know that WP MU does the first bit fairly easily - then I would need to mess with a few plugins to totally get Front End Editing in place (there are some plugins that already do that)

 

Sounds like my route forwards

 

Sounds like my route forwards

 

nice one!

Really?

 

"a user can sign up (all for free), and create their own site based on a set of pre-defined templates, using a sub-domain of my main domain (for example, their site would be mysite.domainname.com)."

 

Automated or would terydinho have to do it all?

 

Automated, if he sets up wildcard subdomains in his DNS.

 

"I'd like it be a 'front end editor'"

 

This too?

 

Plugins exist or failing that, could be created.

Automated, if he sets up wildcard subdomains in his DNS.

 

 

 

Plugins exist or failing that, could be created.

 

 

ok, cool. Might try that myself some day if the need arises.

Most of that to me does sound like a WordPress network - but with some fiddling of the permissions. For example, ability to activate themes, but not to install.

For the front-end editor, we use and recommend the following plugin to our WordPress users;

 

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/front-end-editor/

 

Suitably named don't you think?

 

Rich

there used to be a lot of site builder scripts around - some can be integrated into Cpanel such as http://www.sitereptile.com/ or http://www.rvsitebuilder.com/

Yup. Another vote for WP network here. Be aware that not all plugins work with it, and there's a couple of other little niggles I noticed with it, but it seems it's ideally suited for the job you require.

There are number of content management systems which you can try apart from WordPress. You can use Drupal, Magento, Ektron or osCommerce. Choose whichever suites your business needs.

osCommerce

 

You think the op should use oscommerce for this.. That post alone should get you banned.

You think the op should use oscommerce for this.. That post alone should get you banned.

Or an "Idiot of the day" award?

There are number of content management systems which you can try apart from WordPress. You can use Drupal, Magento, Ektron or osCommerce. Choose whichever suites your business needs.

 

Apart from osCommerce and Magento being just plain wrong for the job, Drupal is way too complicated for what he wants, if he just wants them to be able to update pictures and text. Wordpress sounds ideal. Multi site with themes that the users can choose from and adjust images and text? Sounds like WP to me.

 

Not familiar with Ektron.

Why not Drupal? See below:

 

Hi all, I am setting out on a little journey to build a multi-user,Drupal does this out of the box multi-site site Why not a microsite? this way you can set permissions on a user role basis and dependent on the users role / permissions, they can create their own microsite within your site. Instead of this being a sub domain it would be a sub directory... does that make sense?

 

The idea is that a user can sign up (all for free), and create their own site based on a set of pre-defined templates, You can very easily set up permissions for users on a drupal site to be able to switch between enabled themes using a sub-domain of my main domain (for example, their site would be mysite.domainname.com). They could then change some text, images and what-not to make it their own. What they can and can't do when creating their microsite is completely configurable by simply managing the fields of the content type It would need them to be able to add members to their own site for 'hidden areas' of the site etc... This part would require a little more looking into but I can't see this to much of a problem

 

What is the best CMS to do this with? I'd like it to ideally be a 'front end editor' for the end user too, not a CMS dashboard if it can be avoided.

 

I appreciate this is a big ask, but any advice or recommendations would be great - this is only for a very very niche market who would never actually get a website unless it was totally free

 

All in all I would think Drupal would be your best option at this moment in time