Back40Design
Week 1
My first week at Back40Design consisted of learning about their custom CMS, Javelin.
I sat in on two client training sessions; the first was with a more experienced client, the second with a more novice client.
Through the sessions, I learned how Javelin works. It's proprietary software, and very clever. The website is based on a series of templates, much like other CMS's, but instead of working through a user back-end, the client changes content through an front-end user interface, allowing a better feeling of instant gratification while creating content—a feature I find to be leaps and bounds above other, more clunky CMS's.
Javelin has a novice-oriented feel, but also contains features suitable for those familiar with (X)HTML and CSS. Through easy to access (yet not obvious) settings, a user can have much more control than what appears on the surface.
- Things I like about Javelin:
- Front-end user interface
- Easy, in-browser image editing
- Multiple File Upload!
- Easy blogging
- Show/Hide pages based on times
Though the sessions, I also learned a bit about working with clients, which is something they don't, or can't easily teach us in school. The best idea we have is horror stories we hear on clientcopia or theoatmeal.
Feb 5, 2010
