how to use plone as a framework

Question

I am creating a web app that allows people to debate topics. I started prototyping with Django and have a functional app. I have not yet decided on what framework to use.

I've read about Plone the app and Plone the framework. I just can't seem to find any online documentation on using Plone as a framework. I'm looking for a tutorial or something that will show me how to build a web app starting with Plone. I just want to evaluate Plone before I choose my framework.

Anyone have any refs or recommendations on learning how to use Plone as a framework?

Answer 1

Hi,

u should start here:

http://plone.org/documentation

A really good book is: http://www.packtpub.com/Professional-Plone-web-applications-CMS/book

Plone is build on Zope Application Server (zope.org). You should read into the zope book too. Its free.

The IRC Channel (#plone) on freenode is full of experts that are willing to help. They like to discuss with :)

Hope it helped.

Greets Gomez

Answer 2

I think that the most important factor in choosing a framework is the existence of good documentation. If you can't find good docs for using plone in the way that you want without having to ask here first, that's all the "evaluation" you need.

I'd stick with Django.

Answer 3

Don't use Plone as Framework.

Plone is an CMS. You can use it as framework,You can use Zope2 application server + Zope3 component architecture but I don't recomented to do this. Plone was designed to be an CMS so why You want use him as framework?

Why don't use Plone as framework:

1. Plone is Slow!!! 30 sec. on every restart is too much. When You change somethink, you need restart. Autorestart(http://plone.org/products/collective.autorestart) don't help, you still need restart Plone every time when You change zcml, portlet's code and sometime with python code.
2. Plone is to complex. So big code base. Different coding styles (old Zope2, new component base Zope3, some parts are writen with Grok).
3. You will need write .xml (Generic Setup).
4. Nobody can say what you must use Archetypes, Formlib, z3c.form or Dexterity?
5. Plone don't have good documentation. Too much old documentation (plone.org/documentation) and there are no place where you can read what is right way to do. The only one good documentation is in Martin Aspelli book (martinaspeli.net/plone-book) but you will need more and this book isn't open, so You will need buy it.
6. Plone has so many products but if you need realy stable and quality staff you will need write your own.
7. Plone is Slow!!! Forget test driven development.