EPiServer on steroids
A template driven CMS with properties for editors to fill in makes wonders for the usability but sets boundaries for the creative mind. The result is often that you got to have templates with multiple properties in order to compensate for the "rigid" way templates work. Well - not any more, introducing an easy to use Web Part Framework!
Originally developed for the biggest EPiServer site in Norway, www.regjeringen.no (the Norwegian Government - with 300 000 + pages at launch with 2 000 + pages created every week) the Web Part Framework introduces new ways of working with content in EPiServer.
One of the most important aspects when the framework was developed was to have a high usability level and at the same time give the editors enough freedom to work with content. Many systems have failed this task giving us flexible interfaces but with no thought of the actual usage - so combining a standard template approach with Web Parts seems a good idea. However, introducing this in your first customer meeting will (unless it is a demand) make EPiServer look complicated and hard to use and give the same editorial feeling as other other CMS's (it has nothing to do with the implementation).
The different web parts included with the framework are page list, page, link, banners (pictures) and the WYSIWYG editor! Go to EPiCode and check it out with full source for free.
Want to see what it looks like? Watch the screencast.
PS. With the new way of installing modules in CMS 5 you can actually get the Web Part Framework installed without compiling or editing web.config. Get the *.zip at EPiCode.
12 February 2008