I decided to go on a hunt tonight for a suitable replacement for the weblog software I’m running, bplog. Bplog was easy to set up and does what it advertises: it is simple weblogger. The only thing is I’ve outgrown it.
Movable Type is one gaining much attention in the weblogging world. While I like the way it looks, I have to admit that I’ve become an open-source convert. Don’t get me wrong – I am happy to spend money on good software. I just detest spending my own money on good software. Movable Type is good software but its license differentiates between work and play and somehow that just rubs me the wrong way.
My search began by Googling the phrase “movable type”+GPL. Up popped an article by Doc Searls, the editor of LinuxJournal (and also previously mentioned here), talking about just that very thing: free competitors to Movable Type.
Choices include Geeklog, the sexy B2, the international Drupal, new upstart XOOPS, and the granddaddy of them all, GreyMatter. In addition, I found some discussion on the topic that should help narrow my choices.
I haven’t had time to sort through all the candidates yet, but I’m glad to see so many good possibilities are available.
Actually, that’s one of the pros and cons of the open source movement: so many choices. Rather than work together on projects, some developers would rather start their own projects from scratch. Thus the Linux world is littered with half-finished software that sucks. One of the promises of the GPL is that you won’t have to reinvent the wheel. Ironic, huh?
I’ll be test-driving these new bloggers soon with the goal of picking a winner very soon. Don’t be surprised if you visit this page and it’s had a facelift!