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It’s Software, Not Religion
June 13, 2008
When I launched the ExpressionEngine screencasts, I put up a companion mini-site to help raise awareness of the new video tutorials. It was never meant as the official site because that would be the PragProg store, the only place you can actually purchase my EE screencasts.
Someone in the EE forums noticed that the site was not powered by ExpressionEngine. How they realized this was actually a fluke. In the footer of the site there was a badge that read: “Powered by Rails Machine.” This, of course, referred to the hosting (generously offered by the fine people at Rails Machine) and not the CMS. I can see how this was confusing. The site actually wasn’t built on EE, so they were correct.
The person who raised this issue about the mini-site not running EE, used that as reasoning for not purchasing my screencasts. It was as if the site I built to support the EE screencasts should, naturally, run EE. It sounds logical, right? Shouldn’t I do that, just to prove a point, save criticism and show that I stand behind my claim that EE is the next CMS you should use?
My response to this critcism was very simple and honest. Use the right solution to the right problem. If you’re building a site that essentially has two pages to it (a mini-site) there’s no need to trot a thoroughbred like ExpressionEngine out of the stable. I would not offer EE to a client who didn’t need it or whose needs exceeded it.
That’s not a pot shot at EE. It’s software, not a religion or blind-eyed fanaticism. It is great software that enjoy using so much that I’m motivated to share that information and what I’ve learned with others. But that doesn’t mean I should use it if it doesn’t fit the bill.
This, of course, goes for anything. Programming languages, frameworks, houses and cars. Pick and use what is proper for the situation and nothing else. No golden calves, no incense, no flickering candles.
It’s software, not religion.
Why do you hate Expression Engine?
Why isn’t Expression Engine powering my new iPhone?
I heard Expression Engine voted for Huckabee.
I heard Twitter runs on ExpressionEngine and that’s why it’s so slow. Right?
The tutorials are awesome, man. Keep up the good work and let the haters continue to look ridiculous.
Why do you hate Rails? Isn’t EE powered by Rails? Rails is teh awesome.
Ryan, I thought you would have learned by now: On the Internet, everything is religion.
By the time you simply got EE configured and deployed to serve up those two pages, an static version could be out the door and visible to the world. Some people just have too much time on their hands.
Doesn’t EE have a module to filter Troll posts out?? Thos guys above are just waayyyy out of line! Gosh!
Hi Ryan,
Well said. This is what we, as the makers of ExpressionEngine, also recommend. There is enough this v. that in the web developers life. sigh.
EE voted for Kodos, if you must know.
Like I always say, “Why use a CMS when you’re THIS proficient in Dreamweaver 3?”
Hi Ryan; the series is very nice. I just finished the 5th video at work today and I’m looking forward to some advanced concepts like SAEF, file uploads (I hope you’ll include some info on that as well as field validation) and maybe a photo gallery.
I really like how you guide us thru each step, sometimes it’s a little tedious watching you retype stuff over and over, but it’s easy to follow so I appreciate it.
I’m still figuring out how to transition an existing site to EE rather than build a new one, so I’m facing some unique challenges due to my current structure and workflow, but I feel like EE2 will be the platform I’m looking for.
My experience with the EE backend makes admin a little tedious where I’d like to design something a little more customized (and attractive).
Look, screencasts about web based software are fine and all but can we get some of that talkie video on subjects that really matter? I think I speak for the rest of the Internet when I say that we could all use a refresher course on refrigeration repair and being a better private detective.
Dave: SAEF is covered in the next screencast and the future episodes will be more advanced. I had to first address the dearth of good beginners material on EE before moving on to advanced topics.
As far as watching me repeat steps, at first it was necessary to help people learn, but as you saw in #5, we used a dissolve to cut out some of that retyping.
Thanks for the feedback!
The first four videos were awesome. And I intend to purchase more when more than one is available.
Outside of a newspaper site, I’d like to know how you add the tumblr-like links into your weblog. :)
well iit simms to be intresting but it’s not i’m sorry.
The tutorials are awesome! The good work and let the haters continue to look ridiculous. Thank you!
Hum..m thats interesting. Actually why you dislike EE? How you benefited RM rather than EE?
What about Navision! Another helpful event for any industry.Specially for the business paln and distribution.
ExpressionEngine looks good to me, I guess it is a matter of an opinion not religion. Awesome videos, thanks.
No it’s not religion but you wouldn’t see the pope wearing a yarmulke either.....
Then again I doubt the CEO’s of many companies don’t use their products themselves.
heard Twitter runs on ExpressionEngine and that’s why it’s so slow. Right?
I doubt the amount of people who actually notice or even care that your mini site was not created with Expressions Express will affect your business very much.
i love to use expression engine. I always use it with good success. i am not why you are having problems.
forex trading forum
The first four videos were awesome. And I intend to purchase more when more than one is available.
Outside of a newspaper site, I’d like to know how you add the tumblr-like links into your weblog.
I’m happy with EE, not sure what problems you’ve been running into.