Any CARMA users?
 

I'm looking at CMS's and was wondering how this compares to the others that have been around longer. I viewed a couple of online demos of others, and have to say that the MAS looks like it's pretty user friendly.

Any recommendation for the CARMA?

We use carma, it's good and we are happy with it - there are always extra features that could be added to make things a little easier, but overall it's good.

Anyone else? Greg can't be the only one using it?

bumpitty bump for some Carma users

I just started using it. It's REALLY nice. We have a really complicated members area and CARMA was the only software I found, after trying many of them, that was able to manage my site exactly how I wanted it.

If you use NATS and SPARTA as well, it adds even more features that you can do with it.

We have recently made the migration from SiteDepth to CARMA for all our sites (tours and member's areas), and I have assisted in the transfer and setup of over 25 sites now for various companies.

I've worked extensively on SiteDepth, AWW etc in the past, and it is in my opinion that CARMA is without any doubt, the best CMS system I have used.

Obviously needs change from situation to situation, but for me, the main points of importance are:

1) Built w/ scalibility, stability and security in mind. We run a fistful of high traffic, high load members areas and tours, and we've never had a problem with speed, or stability. We've not had any security issues, which were common problems with previous CMS systems.

2) Templating. Obviously an astetic, but the templating system that CARMA uses (SMARTY) is perfect for the job. I need not say more than this: ANYTHING you want to do in CARMA - visually, layout, functionality-wise - is totally possible. As above, I've come across all sorts of member's areas whilst migrating people to CARMA, from the simply to the downright totally custom - and I've never had a problem getting it to match their plans / original site, pixel perfect.

3) Service. Without a doubt, the most important part of the package. The service of TMM is great. Submit a ticket, have a response. Chat to one of the developers online about a feature, and if it's sensible, it'll probably already be in the system, or added within a few days.

4) Finally, 'the suite' - CARMA fits hand in hand with NATS and SPARTA. To be honest, if you're using NATS, I can't see much reason to use anything else as your CMS - and if you're using CARMA - there's no reason at ALL not to use SPARTA (to the best of my knowledge, it's the only site protection tool that is an apache module - not a bunch of slow / hackable scripts.

Anyhow, that's my considered opinion. BTW, the overview on CARMA's homepage sucks - so don't judge a book by it's cover there :)

Shane's not lying by the way - when I mentioned in my post some people had really, really complicated / custom designs, Shane's was the site I was talking about.

I'd be somewhat surprised if ANY other CMS could actually do what we wanted / needed to do there.

Thanks Quantum-x. We've put quite a lot into CARMA and really feel just like NATS its the most flexible and configurable software of its type out there.

Thanks Shane & Greg also. Sorry I missed you. I always read from the bottom up :)