By Partho, Gaea News Network (original source: Simple Thoughts Blog)
Before heading towards Java content management systems(CMS), let’s know what CMS is all about. To put it in simple words, CMS is a system that assists in managing the contents of a website. CMS comprises of two components – content management application (CMA) and the content delivery application (CDA). With the help of tools provided by CMA an content manager or author with knowledge of HTML( for some applications it’s not required) can create, edit, manage, or remove content from the website without any help from IT experts. Using the CDA tools are used to complile the information and publishes it on the website.
Typically, a CMS includes web-based publishing, format management, revision control, and indexing, search, and retrieval. In the recent years, there has been a horde for enterprises content management systems that assists businesses in managing their news articles, operators’ manuals, technical manuals, sales guides, and marketing brochures on websites. Having said that, I must add that there are sophisticated CMS high on prices, but for those on budget should obviously look for free content management software. This brought me across the lists free open-source Java based CMS to be installed and managed on your supplied web server. There are several software to choose from, so to makes things easier for you I picked the Top 10 Java based Content Management Software.
1. Alfresco
It is an open source enterprise content management repository and portlets (CMS). Alfresco offers Document Management, Collaboration, Records Management, Knowledge Management, Web Content Management and Imaging. It features a modular architecture that uses latest open src Java technologies – Spring, Hibernate, Lucene and JSF.
2. DotCMS
This is an open source enterprise class content management system that integrates content management with eCommerce, personalization, and CRM tools. It can create data structures for various purposes and establish relationship between them to create database easily. DotCMS can be used to create containers that are included in templates that generate pages. It features a WYSIWYG editor for standardized content. The user can avail loads of functions using Velocity Macros in the templates that supports Ajax through XML-RPC, pagination, searching, and built in mp3 player, slideshow, and gallery functions.
3. Magnolia
This Java-based content management system is in its forth generation. Magnolia is one of the unique supports to introduce production ready content delivery templates that offer an array of out-of-box functionality. Moreover the content delivery is search engine optimized and it follows the W3C accessibility guidelines. It also supports the upcoming standard API for java content repositories (JCR).
4. OpenCms
It offers tools for creating and managing complex websites easily. For creation of content, it offers an easy to use interface with an integrated WYSIWYG editor. For creating a corporate layout OpenCms provides a sophisticated template engine.Link
5. AtLeap
Blandware AtLeap is a multilingual free Java CMS (Content Management System) with full-text search engine. Blandware AtLeap is a framework which allows you to rapidly start your own Web application.Link
6. Fedora
Fedora stands for Flexible Extensible Digital Object Repository Architecture and don’t confuse it for the Linux distribution named Fedora. This is a Digital Asset Management system that can be used to create many types of digital library, institutional repositories, digital archives, and digital libraries systems.
7. Apache Lenya
It is a open source Java/XML Content Management System featuring revision control , multisite management, scheduling, search, WYSIWYG editors, and workflow. Apache Lyenya features Cocoon framework built on component based web-development.
8. MeshCMS
This is a fast online editing system in Java. MeshCMS takes a traditional approach to CMS with features like storing pages in regular HTML files and all additional features are file-based. It is considered to be a quick tool to edit pages online, as it discards several features that are offered by other CMes. It allows users to edit pages, manage files and create some common components like menus, breadcrumbs, mail forms, image galleries and so on. There are no database, no content approval and no versioning. Above all, MeshCMS requires just few resources – the default 64MB heap can easily handle handful of sites. The features included in MeshCMS includes cross-browser, wysiwyg editor integrated, file manager, themes, modules, tag library, page caching, hotlinking prevention, file-based and easy to install.
9. OpenEdit
OpenEdit is an open source CMS designed for Digital Assets Online providing assistance for maintaining media rich websites. It offers online editing, dynamic layouts, spell check, user manager, file manager, version control and notification tools. It includes enterprise grade plugins such as eCommerce, Content Management, Blog, Events Calendar, Social Networking Tools and more.
10. Contelligent
This Java-based open source solution helps to create and manage personalized web sites. It has full J2EE compliance. With advanced features Contelligent allows content management, personalization and integration of third-party systems.