Alternatives To Blogger
The vast majority of bloggers begin with Blogger. This is a two-edged sword because while there are huge numbers of bloggers on the system, a read-made community to explore, there are restrictions with content, formatting and expandability.
There are other blogging platforms, some who’s authors will host the blog for you (like on Blogger, what I’ve referred to as vendor hosting below), some who require you to have a server on which to host the software and some allowing you to do both.
Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, each aimed at a slightly different type of blogger. Most are free, as are themes and skins, but some aren’t.
b2Evolution
Main Site/Info: http://b2evolution.net/
Download: http://b2evolution.net/download/
Documentation: http://b2evolution.net/about/features.html (features page)
Vendor Hosting: N/A
Templates: http://skins.b2evolution.net/
Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B2evolution
Programming/DB Environment:
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
bBlob
Unfortunately the site http://www.bblog.org/, that I have as the source of this SW no longer resolves, if anyone knows if it still exists perhaps they could email me.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Blojsom
All Blojsom info can be access from this wiki : http://wiki.blojsom.com/wiki/display/blojsom3/About+blojsom
Programming/DB Environment: Java/Flat Files
Blosxom
The Blosxom web site is currently inaccessible (http://www.blosxom.com/) this may be another vendor/project that’s fallen by the wayside.
Programming/DB Environment: Perl/Data Files
Ellis Lab (Formerly PMachine Pro)
No longer under development, but you can get a free download from http://ellislab.com/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Expression Engine (Ellis Lab)
This is an interesting one see http://expressionengine.com/ for details. The basic system is free, but I don’t know how basic that is :). The rest of the system has to be paid for.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
MoveableType
Start here http://www.movabletype.org/ for al MoveableType info. I don’t know too much about this one so if anyone has any experience of it …
Programming/DB Environment: Perl/Several DBs, incl. MySQL, Berkeley, Postgres
Nucleus
I tried Nucleaus once, but couldn’t get along with it. From the version I saw it’s more of a Content Management System than a straight piece of blogging SW. Now that may be exactly what you want and I believe it has a very loyal following. See here for further rinfo http://nucleuscms.org/
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Trivia note: There’s a disclaimer in the FAQ section of their site because “At least one [unnamed] terrorist organisation” has chosen Nucleus for its website. As they point out there’s little any GNU/GPL software provider can do about who uses their SW.
Pivot
See here for details http://www.pivotlog.net/. Pivot is free and does not require a database to run, like Blosxom and Blojsom.
Programming/DB Environment: PHP4.0.6/Flat Files
Serendipity
I’ve never used this but here’s the site http://www.s9y.org/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL or Postgress with PHP
SPIP
Details here http://www.spip.net/en . The system uses PHP 3 and MySQL. Worryingly your server must understand the .php3 as being a PHP file which is odd as it’s been deprocated for years and can cause compatibility/security issues. Asside from that the site’s logo is a cute flying squirrel :D.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 3
Text Pattern
Details available here http://www.textpattern.com/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL 3.23 and above with PHP 4.3 and above
WordPress
We use WP and we love it. The system can be used as a basic piece of blogging software or you can tweak it with widgets or custom code (if you host it yourself).
Main site/Info: http://wordpress.org/
Download: http://wordpress.org/download/
Documentation: http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page
Vendor Hosting: http://wordpress.com/
Templates: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress
If you are thinking of paying for your own site ensure that your host supports the correct Programming/DB Environment as listed above.
If anyone knows of any more or has any information about these systems supplemental to that which I’ve covered pleas let me know and I’ll add it to this post.
Personally I believe that Blogger or WordPress hosted by WordPress is a good place to start, especially if you have limited technical knowledge, but as you mature as a blogger you may wish to consider the alternatives. That’s not to say you should switch away from blogger but it’s always best to be aware of the alternatives.
In addition to those systems listed above there are of course the new Vlogging sites (YouTube for example allows Vlogging), but that’s another post …
There are other blogging platforms, some who’s authors will host the blog for you (like on Blogger, what I’ve referred to as vendor hosting below), some who require you to have a server on which to host the software and some allowing you to do both.
Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, each aimed at a slightly different type of blogger. Most are free, as are themes and skins, but some aren’t.
b2Evolution
Main Site/Info: http://b2evolution.net/
Download: http://b2evolution.net/download/
Documentation: http://b2evolution.net/about/features.html (features page)
Vendor Hosting: N/A
Templates: http://skins.b2evolution.net/
Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B2evolution
Programming/DB Environment:
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
bBlob
Unfortunately the site http://www.bblog.org/, that I have as the source of this SW no longer resolves, if anyone knows if it still exists perhaps they could email me.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Blojsom
All Blojsom info can be access from this wiki : http://wiki.blojsom.com/wiki/display/blojsom3/About+blojsom
Programming/DB Environment: Java/Flat Files
Blosxom
The Blosxom web site is currently inaccessible (http://www.blosxom.com/) this may be another vendor/project that’s fallen by the wayside.
Programming/DB Environment: Perl/Data Files
Ellis Lab (Formerly PMachine Pro)
No longer under development, but you can get a free download from http://ellislab.com/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Expression Engine (Ellis Lab)
This is an interesting one see http://expressionengine.com/ for details. The basic system is free, but I don’t know how basic that is :). The rest of the system has to be paid for.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
MoveableType
Start here http://www.movabletype.org/ for al MoveableType info. I don’t know too much about this one so if anyone has any experience of it …
Programming/DB Environment: Perl/Several DBs, incl. MySQL, Berkeley, Postgres
Nucleus
I tried Nucleaus once, but couldn’t get along with it. From the version I saw it’s more of a Content Management System than a straight piece of blogging SW. Now that may be exactly what you want and I believe it has a very loyal following. See here for further rinfo http://nucleuscms.org/
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 4.1 (or higher?)
Trivia note: There’s a disclaimer in the FAQ section of their site because “At least one [unnamed] terrorist organisation” has chosen Nucleus for its website. As they point out there’s little any GNU/GPL software provider can do about who uses their SW.
Pivot
See here for details http://www.pivotlog.net/. Pivot is free and does not require a database to run, like Blosxom and Blojsom.
Programming/DB Environment: PHP4.0.6/Flat Files
Serendipity
I’ve never used this but here’s the site http://www.s9y.org/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL or Postgress with PHP
SPIP
Details here http://www.spip.net/en . The system uses PHP 3 and MySQL. Worryingly your server must understand the .php3 as being a PHP file which is odd as it’s been deprocated for years and can cause compatibility/security issues. Asside from that the site’s logo is a cute flying squirrel :D.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL with PHP 3
Text Pattern
Details available here http://www.textpattern.com/.
Programming/DB Environment: MySQL 3.23 and above with PHP 4.3 and above
WordPress
We use WP and we love it. The system can be used as a basic piece of blogging software or you can tweak it with widgets or custom code (if you host it yourself).
Main site/Info: http://wordpress.org/
Download: http://wordpress.org/download/
Documentation: http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page
Vendor Hosting: http://wordpress.com/
Templates: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress
If you are thinking of paying for your own site ensure that your host supports the correct Programming/DB Environment as listed above.
If anyone knows of any more or has any information about these systems supplemental to that which I’ve covered pleas let me know and I’ll add it to this post.
Personally I believe that Blogger or WordPress hosted by WordPress is a good place to start, especially if you have limited technical knowledge, but as you mature as a blogger you may wish to consider the alternatives. That’s not to say you should switch away from blogger but it’s always best to be aware of the alternatives.
In addition to those systems listed above there are of course the new Vlogging sites (YouTube for example allows Vlogging), but that’s another post …
posted by Alex at 2:20 pm
5 Comments:
Hosting was something I looked at once upon a time, before Blogger Beta went live.
Blogger does seem to be far more stable now and provides a decent platform. Not being a programmer, I don't relish the idea of messing with coding and the like on my 'own' server.
I realise that it frustrates a lot of people, but for me, for the time being (and after problems registering domain names) Blogger will do.
I think Wordpress.com is an excellent alternative to Blogger. It's hosted for you and you don't need to have your own domain name (but if you do, you can use that, too).
Personally I think WP has better templating and layouts, and the option to create static pages is very useful, too.
I'm a dedicated WP user myself and I definitely prefer to host my own version of WP so I can customize to heart's content. But those who don't like to mess with code would be wise to check out WP.com
Just my $.02 :)
I'm now advising folks who are thinking of starting a blog to go to hosted Wordpress. And if it is going to be around for more than 6 months, move to your own domain.
Blogger just has too many spam blogs, and I remember well Blogger's, er, hiccups. Very frustrating.
I've seen mention that Wordpress seems to interact better with Google Blogsearch (maybe on Problogger?).
Wordpress also function as a lightweight CMS/website, because of the ability to create additional pages as you need them. And a huge set of plug-ins to add functionality.
We've just moved sensualwriter, which is the WordPress platform, but hosted via an adult friendly server, so its actively approving of adult blogs.
We'd been jack of blogger for a while, but while we liked wordpress but didn't feel it was suitable for our particular brand of nsfw blogging. I tripped over sensualwriter a few weeks ago and its perfect.
The platform is smooth as silk... everything is just easier. Template tinkering isn't as easy, at least not beyond the widget level. The widget stuff which is there is as good as blogger or a touch better, but not all the templates support it yet and almost none allow widget control of the header. It'll take you longer to learn to fully customise things, but if you do, though, its much more powerful than blogger.
But tinkering aside, the day to day blogging side of things is much better. Just little things like the blogroll which is sweet. And the way it handles pictures... it keeps a gallery of all your images which you can reinsert at will.
We're very happy with it.
Cheers
P and P
Just out of curiousity, how come thumblogger isn't in there? I use it for some of my other blogs and find it very easy to use. In particular, it's meant for adult blogs and even has a warning page you can adapt to fit your blog.
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