Hi everyone! I'm a music historian and archivist with only basic coding skills (just HTML and CSS). I've built a timeline website that can only be updated by manually editing an index file, and it's becoming a real chore because there's so much more I want to add. I'm thinking about transitioning to some kind of CMS or database to make adding and updating entries easier. I'm starting from scratch and could really use some guidance here. What options do you recommend for someone in my position? Thanks!
5 Answers
Have you thought about using a headless CMS? It gives you the flexibility to manage your structured data without tying it down to a specific front end. You can still serve your site however you want while having an intuitive interface to add and manage your entries. It might be a bit of a learning curve, but worth it for a smoother operation!
If you're concerned about dealing with a full CMS, you might want to consider a static site generator like Jekyll or Eleventy. These tools allow you to create pages from simple files like JSON or YAML, which could save you a ton of time. Plus, once you set everything up, adding new entries can be as simple as adding a new data file. It may take some initial effort to learn, but it could be more manageable for you in the long run!
Since you're looking for an easy way to manage your timeline, using a CMS is probably a solid choice. WordPress would be a good option because you could create each timeline entry as a post. That way, adding new items would just require filling out a form instead of coding. If you're worried about the design, there are plenty of themes you could customize. Just keep in mind that it might take a bit of time to find or set up the theme that fits your vision.
I’d say give WordPress a try. It can definitely handle timeline-type sites pretty well, especially with the right plugins. You won’t have to keep manually entering everything, which should save you lots of time! You can keep your current design to some extent, too. Just make sure to pick a reliable host that suits your needs. If you're already with IONOS, that should work well!
Thanks for all the tips! I’ll check out WordPress. I hope IONOS will be just fine for it.
Honestly, if you want the simplest solution with less maintenance, just stick with a static site generator for now. They are powerful tools that let you build your site efficiently without the overhead of a CMS. Jekyll and Eleventy would be my top picks here. Just feed your data in a file, and they'll help churn out clean HTML pages for you. No database fuss involved!
Totally agree! I recently moved to Eleventy, and it was a breeze setting everything up. Just make sure you're comfortable with some basic file management!
Exactly! And static site generators are usually lower maintenance since you won't have to deal with plugins or frequent updates like with a CMS.