Content Management System Development
Bubble
Professional
CMS Development is a global community of developers focused on building, customizing, and maintaining content management systems, such ...Show more
Content Management System Development
Bubble
Professional
CMS Development is a global community of developers focused on building, customizing, and maintaining content management systems, such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. This group exchanges expertise on themes, plugins, performance, security, and best practices for scalable and flexible digital platforms.
Statistics
Estimated Global Reach
1.3M
Popularity
Medium
Regional Hotspot
Worldwide
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General Q&A
CMS development focuses on building, customizing, and optimizing content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla to meet diverse needs and ensure robust, scalable digital experiences.
Community Q&A
CMS development focuses on building, customizing, and optimizing content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla to meet diverse needs and ensure robust, scalable digital experiences.
Community ties form through online forums, open-source contributions, platform-specific events, and collaborative hackathons where ideas and code are freely exchanged.
Community Q&A
Summary
Key Findings
Platform Loyalty
Identity MarkersDevelopers show strong allegiance to specific CMS platforms, often engaging in playful rivalries and sharing unique humor like 'hook hell' or 'plugin bloat,' signaling insider status and deep platform expertise.
Custom Code Debate
Opinion ShiftsA central insider tension exists between valuing custom code for flexibility versus relying on community plugins for speed, shaping support dynamics and project decisions within the bubble.
Update Vulnerability
Community DynamicsInsiders commonly bond over war stories about breaking legacy installs during updates, cultivating a cautious but collaborative culture emphasizing meticulous testing and knowledge exchange.
Evolving Standards
Social NormsThe community constantly adapts to emerging trends like headless CMS, accessibility, and security demands, creating an insider norm of continuous learning rarely visible to outsiders.
Sub Groups
WordPress Developers
Focused on WordPress core, plugin, and theme development.
Drupal Developers
Specializing in Drupal module development, site building, and performance.
Joomla Developers
Community around Joomla extensions, templates, and site management.
Headless CMS & JAMstack Enthusiasts
Developers working with decoupled CMS architectures and modern web stacks.
Security & Performance Experts
Subgroup focused on CMS hardening, optimization, and best practices.
Statistics and Demographics
Platform Distribution
1 / 3
GitHub
35%GitHub is the primary platform for collaborative CMS development, code sharing, plugin/theme repositories, and issue tracking.
Reddit
15%Reddit hosts active subreddits for WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and general CMS development discussions and troubleshooting.
Discord
15%Discord servers provide real-time chat, support, and collaboration for CMS developer communities.
Gender & Age Distribution
Ideological & Social Divides
Community Development
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Insider Knowledge
Terminology
Greeting Salutations
Example Conversation
Insider
Happy coding!
Outsider
Huh? What do you mean by that?
Insider
It's a friendly way to wish someone well on their development work—a nod to our shared craft.
Outsider
Oh, that makes sense. I like that!
Cultural Context
This greeting reflects the pride and camaraderie among developers, wishing continued success at their often challenging work.
Inside Jokes
Why did the developer go broke? Because they lost their cache.
A pun playing on 'cache' (temporary data storage in CMSs) and 'cash' (money), humorously highlighting frustration with caching bugs.
I tried to explain hooks in CMS development to my grandma… she said, 'Sounds like fishing.'
This joke plays on the double meaning of 'hook' — in CMSs, hooks are events or callbacks; to non-tech people, they’re fishing hooks.
Facts & Sayings
„Plugin bloat“
Refers to the problem when sites use too many plugins, causing slow performance and maintenance headaches, often a running joke about over-reliance on third-party code.
„Hook hell“
Describes the complexity and confusion when too many overlapping event hooks or callbacks interact, making debugging difficult in CMS platforms.
„Theme thrashing“
A humorous term for repeatedly switching or heavily customizing themes during development, sometimes leading to unexpected layout issues.
„Multisite spaghetti“
Refers to the tangled complexity when managing multiple sites within a single CMS installation, including user roles, network-wide vs site-specific settings.
„Headless hype“
An ironic phrase used in debates about the trendiness of headless CMS architecture versus traditional coupled systems.
Unwritten Rules
Always test updates on staging environments before production.
This prevents accidental site crashes and protects client assets, showing professionalism and care.
Contribute back to open-source projects when possible.
Engaging in community improvements builds reputation and trust within CMS development circles.
Document custom code thoroughly.
Clear documentation ensures maintainability and eases onboarding for other developers.
Respect other developers’ plugin choices; avoid unnecessary criticism.
Fostering collaboration rather than gatekeeping helps the ecosystem thrive.
Fictional Portraits
1 / 3
Lena, 29
Web DeveloperfemaleLena is a frontend web developer specializing in WordPress themes, working for a digital marketing agency in Germany.
Community supportCode qualityContinuous learning
Motivations
- Creating user-friendly and visually appealing CMS websites
- Staying updated on the latest CMS development trends and security best practices
- Contributing to open-source CMS projects to improve community tools
Challenges
- Keeping up with rapid changes in CMS frameworks and plugins
- Balancing client demands with best practices and code quality
- Finding reliable resources to troubleshoot complex theme customization issues
Platforms
Slack channelsReddit r/WordPressLocal dev meetups
hookschild themesREST APISEO optimizationplugin conflicts
Insights & Background
Historical Timeline
Main Subjects
Technologies
WordPress
The world’s most widely used CMS, with a massive plugin/theme ecosystem and PHP/MySQL foundation.↗
Dominant CMSPlugin EcosystemPHP MySQL
Drupal
A highly modular, taxonomy-driven CMS known for flexibility and enterprise-grade implementations.↗
Enterprise ReadyTaxonomy FocusHook System
Joomla
A user-friendly, extensible platform balancing ease of use with advanced features and ACL controls.↗
ACL ManagementMid-Market ChoiceTemplate Overrides
Magento
Open source e-commerce platform built on PHP, widely used for complex online stores.
E-Commerce CoreModular ArchitecturePayment Integrations
Ghost
A modern, Node.js-based CMS optimized for publishing and minimal, content-first experiences.
Headless FriendlyMarkdown WorkflowNode.js Core
TYPO3
Enterprise-focused CMS with strong localization, multisite, and permission features.
Enterprise LocalizationMultisite MasteryExtbase MVC
Contentful
API-first headless CMS offering content infrastructure and delivery via REST/GraphQL.
Headless APICloud NativeGraphQL Support
Strapi
Open source Node.js headless CMS with plugin marketplace and database agnostic core.
Developer FriendlyPlugin MarketplaceDatabase Agnostic
Adobe Experience Manager
Proprietary enterprise CMS in the Adobe Marketing Cloud, supporting digital asset management.
Enterprise SuiteDAM IntegrationMarketing Cloud
Sitecore
ASP.NET-based digital experience platform with personalization and analytics built-in.
Personalization EngineAnalytics Built-In.NET Core
1 / 3
1 / 3
Technologies
WordPress
The world’s most widely used CMS, with a massive plugin/theme ecosystem and PHP/MySQL foundation.↗
Dominant CMSPlugin EcosystemPHP MySQL
Drupal
A highly modular, taxonomy-driven CMS known for flexibility and enterprise-grade implementations.↗
Enterprise ReadyTaxonomy FocusHook System
Joomla
A user-friendly, extensible platform balancing ease of use with advanced features and ACL controls.↗
ACL ManagementMid-Market ChoiceTemplate Overrides
Magento
Open source e-commerce platform built on PHP, widely used for complex online stores.
E-Commerce CoreModular ArchitecturePayment Integrations
Ghost
A modern, Node.js-based CMS optimized for publishing and minimal, content-first experiences.
Headless FriendlyMarkdown WorkflowNode.js Core
TYPO3
Enterprise-focused CMS with strong localization, multisite, and permission features.
Enterprise LocalizationMultisite MasteryExtbase MVC
Contentful
API-first headless CMS offering content infrastructure and delivery via REST/GraphQL.
Headless APICloud NativeGraphQL Support
Strapi
Open source Node.js headless CMS with plugin marketplace and database agnostic core.
Developer FriendlyPlugin MarketplaceDatabase Agnostic
Adobe Experience Manager
Proprietary enterprise CMS in the Adobe Marketing Cloud, supporting digital asset management.
Enterprise SuiteDAM IntegrationMarketing Cloud
Sitecore
ASP.NET-based digital experience platform with personalization and analytics built-in.
Personalization EngineAnalytics Built-In.NET Core
First Steps & Resources
Get-Started Steps
Time to basics: 2-4 weeks
1
Set Up Local CMS Environment
2-4 hoursBasic
Summary: Install a popular CMS (like WordPress or Drupal) locally to explore its structure and features firsthand.
Details: Begin by installing a widely-used CMS on your local machine—WordPress and Drupal are excellent starting points due to their large communities and extensive documentation. Use local development tools (such as XAMPP, MAMP, or Docker) to simulate a web server environment. This hands-on setup allows you to safely experiment without affecting live sites. Common beginner challenges include configuring the local server, understanding file structures, and troubleshooting installation errors. Overcome these by following official installation guides and seeking help in beginner forums. Explore the admin dashboard, create sample content, and examine how themes and plugins/modules are managed. This foundational step is crucial: it demystifies the CMS ecosystem and builds confidence for deeper customization. Evaluate your progress by successfully installing the CMS, navigating its backend, and making simple changes (like editing a page or installing a plugin/module).
2
Join Developer Community Forums
1-2 hoursBasic
Summary: Register and participate in CMS-specific developer forums to observe discussions and ask beginner questions.
Details: Engage with established CMS developer communities by joining their official forums or discussion boards. Choose one aligned with your CMS of interest (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, Joomla). Start by reading through recent threads to understand common topics, etiquette, and frequently asked questions. Introduce yourself in the appropriate section and ask thoughtful beginner questions—such as best practices for customization or recommended learning resources. A common challenge is feeling intimidated by experienced members or fearing 'basic' questions. Overcome this by reading forum guidelines and searching for existing answers before posting. Participation in these forums is vital for staying updated on trends, troubleshooting issues, and building professional connections. Progress is measured by your comfort in navigating the forum, contributing to discussions, and receiving helpful responses.
3
Explore Theme and Plugin Development
1-2 daysIntermediate
Summary: Follow beginner tutorials to create a simple custom theme or plugin/module for your chosen CMS.
Details: Move beyond basic usage by attempting to build a simple theme or plugin/module. Start with official documentation or reputable community tutorials that walk through the process step by step. For themes, learn about template hierarchy, hooks, and styling. For plugins/modules, focus on basic functionality (like adding a custom widget or content type). Beginners often struggle with understanding the CMS’s architecture and debugging code. Use code editors with syntax highlighting and leverage community support when stuck. This step is essential because it introduces you to the extensibility and modularity that define CMS development. Evaluate your progress by successfully creating a basic, functioning theme or plugin/module and understanding how it integrates with the CMS.
1
Set Up Local CMS Environment
2-4 hoursBasic
Summary: Install a popular CMS (like WordPress or Drupal) locally to explore its structure and features firsthand.
Details: Begin by installing a widely-used CMS on your local machine—WordPress and Drupal are excellent starting points due to their large communities and extensive documentation. Use local development tools (such as XAMPP, MAMP, or Docker) to simulate a web server environment. This hands-on setup allows you to safely experiment without affecting live sites. Common beginner challenges include configuring the local server, understanding file structures, and troubleshooting installation errors. Overcome these by following official installation guides and seeking help in beginner forums. Explore the admin dashboard, create sample content, and examine how themes and plugins/modules are managed. This foundational step is crucial: it demystifies the CMS ecosystem and builds confidence for deeper customization. Evaluate your progress by successfully installing the CMS, navigating its backend, and making simple changes (like editing a page or installing a plugin/module).
2
Join Developer Community Forums
1-2 hoursBasic
Summary: Register and participate in CMS-specific developer forums to observe discussions and ask beginner questions.
Details: Engage with established CMS developer communities by joining their official forums or discussion boards. Choose one aligned with your CMS of interest (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, Joomla). Start by reading through recent threads to understand common topics, etiquette, and frequently asked questions. Introduce yourself in the appropriate section and ask thoughtful beginner questions—such as best practices for customization or recommended learning resources. A common challenge is feeling intimidated by experienced members or fearing 'basic' questions. Overcome this by reading forum guidelines and searching for existing answers before posting. Participation in these forums is vital for staying updated on trends, troubleshooting issues, and building professional connections. Progress is measured by your comfort in navigating the forum, contributing to discussions, and receiving helpful responses.
3
Explore Theme and Plugin Development
1-2 daysIntermediate
Summary: Follow beginner tutorials to create a simple custom theme or plugin/module for your chosen CMS.
Details: Move beyond basic usage by attempting to build a simple theme or plugin/module. Start with official documentation or reputable community tutorials that walk through the process step by step. For themes, learn about template hierarchy, hooks, and styling. For plugins/modules, focus on basic functionality (like adding a custom widget or content type). Beginners often struggle with understanding the CMS’s architecture and debugging code. Use code editors with syntax highlighting and leverage community support when stuck. This step is essential because it introduces you to the extensibility and modularity that define CMS development. Evaluate your progress by successfully creating a basic, functioning theme or plugin/module and understanding how it integrates with the CMS.
4
Learn Version Control Basics
2-4 hoursIntermediate
Summary: Set up a Git repository for your CMS project to track changes and collaborate effectively.
Details: Version control is a core skill in CMS development. Install Git and initialize a repository for your local CMS project. Learn basic commands: clone, commit, push, pull, and branch. Follow beginner guides that explain how to structure repositories for CMS projects, including ignoring sensitive files (like configuration files with passwords). Beginners often find the command line intimidating or make mistakes with merges. Overcome this by practicing with small changes and using visual Git tools if needed. Mastering version control is crucial for collaborating with others, managing updates, and contributing to open-source CMS projects. Assess your progress by successfully tracking changes, reverting to previous versions, and understanding the workflow for collaborative development.
5
Contribute to Open Source Projects
1-2 daysAdvanced
Summary: Make a small contribution (like fixing a typo or reporting an issue) to a CMS-related open source project.
Details: Find an open source project related to your chosen CMS—this could be the core CMS, a plugin/module, or a theme. Start by reading the project’s contribution guidelines and code of conduct. Look for beginner-friendly issues (often labeled 'good first issue') or documentation improvements. Even small contributions, such as fixing typos or clarifying instructions, are valuable and recognized by the community. Beginners may feel overwhelmed by large codebases or unsure about the contribution process. Overcome this by starting small, asking for guidance, and following submission templates. This step is important for building credibility, learning collaborative workflows, and giving back to the community. Progress is marked by having a contribution accepted or receiving feedback from maintainers.
Welcoming Practices
„Invitation to contribute on GitHub“
New members are encouraged to submit pull requests or report issues on project repositories, integrating them into community collaboration.
„Welcome threads in developer forums“
Posting introductory messages in forums helps newcomers connect and gain advice, emphasizing inclusivity.
Beginner Mistakes
Installing too many plugins without performance checks.
Only use essential plugins and test site speed regularly to avoid 'plugin bloat.'
Directly modifying core CMS files.
Use child themes or custom plugins to preserve core updates and maintain upgrade paths.
Pathway to Credibility
Tap a pathway step to view details
Active contribution to open-source plugins or themes
Shows dedication and skill, earning recognition from peers.
Speaking at CMS community events or webinars
Sharing knowledge publicly establishes authority and trustworthiness.
Maintaining popular plugins or themes
Responsibility for widely used tools demonstrates expertise and reliability.
Facts
Regional Differences
North America
North American CMS developers often focus on enterprise-scale solutions with emphasis on accessibility and compliance standards.
Europe
European developers prioritize data privacy (e.g., GDPR compliance) and multilingual CMS setups due to diverse languages.
Asia
Asian CMS development communities sometimes emphasize headless CMS for mobile-first, app-integrated architectures.
Misconceptions
Misconception #1
All CMSs are simple drag-and-drop website builders.
Reality
While some CMSs offer easy interfaces, professional CMS development involves complex architecture, performance tuning, security, and custom coding.
Misconception #2
Plugins are always safe and trustworthy additions.
Reality
Plugins can introduce security vulnerabilities or conflicts; careful vetting, updates, and compatibility tests are essential.
Misconception #3
Using community plugins is lazy; all custom code is better.
Reality
Community plugins can be well-maintained and robust; balancing custom and community code is a key skill in CMS development.
Clothing & Styles
Hacker hoodie
Casual hoodies have become iconic among CMS developers at meetups and hackathons, symbolizing the casual, focused programmer culture.
Conference badge lanyard
Dev-specific event badges worn proudly, often showing affiliation with particular CMS platforms or contribution statuses.
