In the modern digital world, having a website is a must for any company or project. But how to create one? Many start with simple website builders, but sooner or later they run into their limitations. For real freedom, flexibility and scalability, you need professional website content management systems (CMS). The market for domestic solutions is actively developing in Russia, and one of the promising Russian CMS is GIRVAS from the Karelian Developer company. Let"s figure out how CMS fundamentally differs from builders and why they open up much more opportunities for creating a company website or a serious project.
What is a CMS (Content Management System)?
CMS (Content Management System) is a website program installed on your own server (hosting). Its main task is to provide tools for easy creation, editing, publishing and managing content (texts, images, products, etc.) without having to write code for each page. The user works with a convenient administrative panel, and the CMS takes care of all the technical parts: it creates pages, stores data, and ensures security.
CMS vs. website builders: The main differences and advantages of CMS
Website builders (like the popular uCoz, Tilda Publishing, and the like) offer a quick start due to:
- Ready-made templates: A choice from a limited set of designs.
- Drag-and-Drop editor: Visual drag-and-drop of blocks.
- Built-in hosting: Everything "in one place".
However, this simplicity comes at a price:
- Limited flexibility: You are strictly tied to the functionality and structure offered by the builder. Going beyond the templates and blocks is either impossible, or requires paying expensive rates or working with the API (which is difficult).
- Closed code: You do not own the source code of your site. You rent space within the builder platform. Transferring a website to another hosting or radically changing the functionality is often impossible.
- Provider dependence: Prices, rules, and service availability are dictated by the constructor owner. Risk of service closure or change in conditions.
- SEO difficulties: Although basic SEO is available, fine optimization for complex queries, management of technical aspects (URL, meta tags, loading speed) is often limited.
- Scalability: It is difficult to add complex non-standard functionality (for example, customized product catalogs, integration with specific systems, complex payment forms).
- Multilingualism: Implementation of full-fledged multilingualism with separate URLs and SEO optimization for each language is often difficult or requires crutches.
CMS (including "GIRVAS") provide a fundamentally different level of freedom and control:
- Full control: You own the site files and database. The site is on your hosting.
- Open source (in case of Open Source, like GIRVAS): Ability to customize any part of the functionality to suit your unique tasks. Involve your own programmers.
- Unlimited scalability: Easily add new functionality via modules/plugins or your own development. The site can grow with your business.
- Deep SEO optimization: Full control over all aspects of SEO (URL, meta tags, headers, data structure, speed). The key advantage of GIRVAS is its initial focus on loading speed and SEO, including the unique ability to index multilingual content by one URL.
- Flexible design: Creation of a unique design without the limitations of ready-made templates. GIRVAS has a programmable template system.
- Advanced management capabilities: Complex content structures, categories, multi-level user access rights, built-in analytics (which is also available in GIRVAS).
«GIRVAS»: Karelian CMS with an emphasis on speed and capabilities
Developed by individual entrepreneur Andrey Shestakov, CMS «GIRVAS» is a shining example of a modern Russian cms with open source code. It was created with a clear goal: to give users a tool for creating fast, multilingual and easily indexed by search engines web resources.
What makes GIRVAS stand out even in the CMS world and especially compared to designers:
- Multilingualism "out of the box" with SEO: A unique opportunity to publish content in different languages with subsequent correct indexing by robots at one address is critical for international business.
- Focus on speed: The system architecture was originally designed for the fastest possible page loading.
- Built-in analytics: No need to install complex external systems. GIRVAS provides tools for analyzing traffic and user actions directly in the admin panel.
- Modularity: The system can be expanded to suit your needs using modules.
- Modern technology stack: PHP 8.2+, PostgreSQL/MySQL (support for different DBMS) – ensures performance and security.
- Easy and free: Minimum disk requirements (from 50 MB), distribution free of charge.
- Legal purity: Included in the Register of Russian software of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation (No. 25012), which is important for government procurement and many companies.
Functionality unavailable or limited in designers, but implemented in GIRVAS:
- Creation of complex hierarchies of content categories.
- Flexible configuration of access rights for different user groups (e.g. editors, moderators, administrators).
- Deep work with Markdown for convenient formatting.
- A full-fledged comment system with management.
- The ability to create any type of content and site structure due to openness and modularity.
Conclusion
Choosing between a website builder and a CMS is a choice between a quick start with restrictions and a long-term perspective with full control and freedom. Website content management systems, such as "GIRVAS", are a professional tool for creating truly powerful, flexible, fast and scalable web resources. If your goal is not just a "business card site", but a serious platform for business, a project or creating a company website with unique functionality, multilingualism and deep SEO optimization, then the Russian CMS "GIRVAS" from "Karelian Developer" is a modern, free and legally clean solution worthy of attention. This is a website program that gives you real freedom of action.