Build Your Own Website with Drupal

It's a good idea, I think, that you get a high level view of what Drupal is all about before you start playing with it. Although Drupal is often described as a "content management system" (CMS) it is also a "content management framework, and is geared more for configuration and customization. On the other hand, Drupal treats most content types as variations on the same concept: a node. Pages, blog posts, & news items are stored in a common pool.

Although Drupal has a very flexible framework, it is not necessarily the best solution for your particular requirements. There are situations where Drupal may not be your best choice. If your only requirement is to write a personal blog, you may want to evaluate a specialized blogging platform such as Wordpress. Similarly, if your only requirement is to create a wiki, you should probably consider using dedicated wiki software like Wikimedia.

With every release, Drupal is becoming easier to use, but like most powerful tools, it will always have a learning curve. If you are not prepared to spend some time learning the basics of how Drupal works, it may not be your best option. Having said that, Drupal is an excellent choice for any of the following requirements:

• You need a site that is flexible enough to evolve. For example, you might start with a blog but want the option of adding other features like a wiki, electronic commerce, and forums later.
• You need a site that can easily be configured to interact with other sites or with other technologies.
• You need a site that can easily handle complex forms and workflows.
• You need the ability to create your own content types. For example, by adding a custom fields to a page.

Drupal is not a standard application that normally is available on hosting platforms, but you can easily install it using your FTP account when you signup for a hosting plan.