For many small businesses, free content management systems and low-cost SaaS CMS platforms make it possible to have a professional and well-designed site in no time.

However, for larger businesses or companies that are looking for advanced functionality, building a custom CMS is probably necessary.

When you build a custom CMS, you're no longer constrained by the existing frameworks of standard CMS platforms. At the same time, it also means that you're responsible for important details, including security, maintainability, design, and SEO.

To help you decide whether you should build a custom CMS or go with one of the standard options, let's take a look at the pros and cons of building a tailor-made CMS.

A content management system (CMS) is a software application that helps users build and manage the content on a website without having any coding skills or specialized technical knowledge.

A CMS offers a user-friendly interface through which you can create, modify, manage, and publish content. By purchasing or downloading extensions or templates, you can customize the functionality and design of your site.

In short, you can use a CMS to build a website without 

The type of system you choose, however, will determine the functionalities that your site can have. Let's take a look at the basic types of content management systems.

This is the best choice if you're looking for the simplest and most straightforward way to set up a website. A number of hosting companies offer SaaS (

) CMS platforms that offer you a ready-made page.

Users typically pay a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee to use these services. While this is a popular choice for online store owners, it doesn't offer the user very much flexibility.

Open source CMS solutions are maintained by a community of developers instead of being owned by one single company. The most popular open-source platform is WordPress, which includes the features of a template system and a plugin architecture.

While this can be a cost-effective method with several benefits, including flexibility, frequent updates, and plenty of online resources available, there can also be issues with limited support and security concerns.

A custom CMS is developed based on your desired specifications. Developed specifically for your needs, this can give your business access to tools that wouldn't be available through SaaS or open source CMS solutions.

Building a custom CMS can give you a result you simply couldn't achieve using a pre-built CMS. While they take more time to create and are typically much more expensive than the standard options, there are several reasons why your business might find it worth the time and expense to build a custom CMS.

A custom CMS is likely the right choice if security is essential for your site. Unfortunately, popular CMS applications are an appealing target for people looking to hack into valuable user data and private information. While using a custom CMS doesn't mean that it's inherently more secure, it does mean that there's less of a probability that bad actors will target it.

When using a standard CMS, you rely on the platform's provider for the necessary security features. This could mean that much is left to be desired when it comes to the level of protection you're receiving. When you have a custom CMS developed, you can express your specific security needs to ensure that your site has up-to-date and sufficient protection.

Of course, increased security doesn't automatically appear when you build a custom CMS. Instead, maintaining security over time and initially building securely becomes the responsibility of you and your developer.

Custom solutions can allow you to create a site that is easy for your users to navigate, even if your business and industry have complex and unique rules. Businesses with complicated structures might struggle to fit their organizational systems into existing CMS platforms, which can mean a difficult and un-intuitive user experience for your audience.

If you are starting a run-of-the-mill e-commerce store, maybe a traditional CMS app will work fine for you. The more specific and unique your needs are, the more likely you would benefit from building a custom CMS.

When you build a custom CMS, the only real limits to the outcome of your site are money and time. If there's something you want your site to do that isn't outside the bounds of what is possible, a qualified developer can make it happen for you.

This is definitely one of the most obvious benefits of building a custom CMS rather than selecting one of the more cookie-cutter options. Depending on your business and industry, you might find that you can't provide the user experience you require through standard platforms.

While there are a number of standard CMS platforms that allow you to customize your site, they still tend to have a number of typical stylistic characteristics. When you build a custom CMS, you have absolute control over how your content is presented. This also means that your designers don't have to work around the constraints presented by an existing platform.

You can also expect that you will receive support and comprehensive documentation from the developer you hire to build your custom CMS. This means that you don't have to spend hours lost in internet forums about specific platforms– the developer should be able to help you understand the system and train you to use it optimally.

If you choose to use a classic CMS platform, your content team is going to be guided by the application rather than the other way around. If your team already has a workflow that works for them or has been working to create a framework for your company, a custom CMS allows you to build your site around the needs of your team.

It isn't uncommon for standard CMS platforms to offer integration with other major systems, but they might not offer integration with the systems that would be most useful to you. If you build a custom system, on the other hand, it can be specifically built to interact with any system you need it to.

This means that you don't have to partner with the major vendors available but can choose the partners best suited for your business needs.

While there are definitely advantages to building a custom CMS for many large companies or those that require advanced functionalities, starting from scratch isn't always the best choice. Here are some of the disadvantages of building a custom CMS rather than using one of the available pre-built options.

Building a custom CMS will be quite a bit more expensive than using one of the other available options. Exactly how much it costs is going to depend on a number of different factors, including your required features and functionalities as well as who you hire to get the job done.

That being said, you might find that building a custom CMS is well worth the costs when considering the benefits it will provide your organization.

When hiring a software developer, it can be hard to know how much a fair price is for their services. This article takes a look at 

how to know if your software developer is overcharging you

When you use a SaaS CMS model or an open source model, you could have your site built the same day you create your account. If you choose to go the route of building a custom CMS, on the other hand, the entire process will take quite a bit longer.

Using one of the standard CMS platforms means that a bunch of the work has already been done for you. With a custom CMS, the entire framework is being built from scratch. This means that developers will have many more projects to take on to create your site.

When you build a custom CMS, you will likely continue to work with the developer that created your site. Whenever you need to make a modification, they'll be who you call. You might find that you are thoroughly pleased with the ongoing interactions you have with the developer, but it's also possible that you will find that the attention they give you after the site is launched doesn't quite meet your needs.

If this is the case, you might choose to hire a new developer to deal with modifications and management of your site. Your new developer will need to take time to learn the existing framework, which will likely cost even more money.

Are you wondering what it would entail to switch app developers mid-project? Take a look at 

 to learn how to change developers when necessary.

If you build a custom CMS, you'll probably have to pay for most of the modifications you make to your site. Of course, the specifics of what you have to pay for will be found in your contract with your developer.

On the other hand, modifications can usually be made to sites created using open source CMS apps by using free plugins. Even if you have to make a purchase to implement the change you're looking for, it will likely be much less costly than it is when you're using a custom CMS.

You'll want to make sure that your custom CMS is designed with SEO in mind if driving traffic to your site is important to you. While existing CMS platforms aren't always perfect when it comes to SEO, they are already built with SEO considerations in mind. If you're building a CMS from scratch, you'll have to factor in your SEO needs in order to get the results you're looking for.

In order to build a good CMS, a wide range of technical expertise is required. You'll want your CMS to be efficient and fast, which means that you need highly-skilled back-end developers. At the same time, you want your site to be compatible with several different end user environments, requiring skilled front-end developers.

On top of that, you'll want the designers creating your CMS to be able to create the best possible user experience.

There are plenty of development teams out there that can help you create what you're looking for out of a CMS. However, if you're hobbling together a team to try and create a custom CMS on a budget, it's important to understand how much technical skill is required to create a solid end product. If you don't have the resources necessary to create a CMS that genuinely meets your needs, you'll probably want to go with a classic CMS.

Are you looking to hire developers but aren't sure how to know whether they have the necessary technical skills to get the job done? Check out this article on 

how to test your developer's skills before hiring

Whether building a custom CMS is the right choice for you depends on a number of different factors. For many small businesses, a pre-built CMS platform like Drupal or WordPress might be perfectly suitable. Building a custom CMS might be the best option for others that require more advanced functionalities.

At Planetary, we specialize in helping clients bring great ideas to life. We've worked with the likes of General Electric, Buzzfeed, and Hermès to build apps, websites, interactive event installations, and other custom digital products.

Even though we've worked with some heavy-hitters, our team of experts would love to hear about your product, whether you're a Fortune 500 company or a brand new startup. If you have a new idea you're working on and you're looking for the right team to partner with, drop us a line and 

What Are The Pros and Cons of Building a Custom CMS?

Switching app developers mid-project is less than ideal, but sometimes it's absolutely necessary. Whether your current developer has been missing deadlines, is too inexperienced, or the scope of the project has outgrown their capabilities, passing the project onto a new development team is something you'll want to do carefully and thoughtfully.

In some cases, you might decide to move on to a new developer even though you have a positive relationship with your existing developer. This is great news because it means that you can incorporate your current developer into the transition process. You'll save time, money, and a lot of headaches this way.

This won't always be possible, though. If your old developer has stopped responding to your emails or you're embroiled in a conflict, the chances that they will cooperate in this process are incredibly slim.

If the time has come for a new developer to take on your ongoing project, you can take several steps to make the transition as smooth as possible. Let's dive in and look at everything you need to know.

It's difficult to change developers in the middle of a project, but sometimes it's necessary.

Maybe your current developer isn't able to handle the technical challenges that come along with increasing traffic to your app, or maybe they have proven that they are incapable of meeting important deadlines. Sometimes they aren't even doing anything glaringly wrong, but you feel that you aren't a great fit working together, and you want to find a developer better suited to your personal style.

Whatever the reason is, it's important to understand what you're signing up for when you decide to transfer a project from one developer to another.

Let's look at some of the steps that you'll need to take to help you get a sense of what the process will entail.

When you've decided to change app developers in the middle of a project, it is vital to have transparency between your old developer and your new developer. It's therefore ideal to schedule transfer sessions where any ongoing projects' details are shared between developers.

When it comes to transferring knowledge and resources, you'll want to include:

Any code that is under review or has been finalized

All of the documentation that is relevant to the app

Apple App Store dev accounts and certificates

Google Play Store dev accounts and certificates

Documentation with deployment steps based on different environments

Accounts and credentials for database management services

Any other account credentials for third-party services

When switching developers, you want to minimize the amount of time in transition and keep your project on the right timeline. An even more important concern, though, is to make sure you avoid any legal trouble that could crop up.

For that reason, make sure that the old developer lets go of the ownership they have over the code unless it is considered to be their own intellectual property.

Are you considering changing developers because you think your current developer is charging you too much money? Take a look at our guide to help you determine if 

Your new developer or team of developers will need to receive any code that has been written so far. When both the development roadmap and the documentation for the code are passed between developers, the transition will be a lot more seamless and fluid.

When choosing a new developer, make sure you find someone that is familiar with legacy migration or cloud migration. They'll need to receive all the necessary assets, including the source code, logos, and GitHub repositories.

It's essential that you make sure all of the code in your project belongs to you. You'll want to check your project's IP/Source Code for this purpose.

Any certificates used to create your apps on various app stores will need to be handed over to your new team of developers. On top of that, you'll also want to make sure all p.12 keys and 

You'll want to get the old developer to put in writing that they won't keep any of the details of your projects, including the code.

When you've switched between development teams, it can be tempting to put all of this behind you. However, this is a great opportunity to learn from any mistakes that were made and avoid them in the future.

You'll want to assess what went wrong, what can be improved, and how you want to proceed with your relationship with the new developers.

It's important to have a well-thought-out action plan when you're switching developers. Without one, you'll likely find that the transition is stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. On top of that, you could run into legal issues with your old developer.

Determine the Right Time to Make the Switch

Unless a developer has completely ghosted you or isn't fulfilling their end of the bargain, it can be hard to know when to pull the plug and make the switch.

There are better and worse times to transition between teams, and it's a good idea to have your old developers finish any features that are near completion if possible. This is because it will take a new developer a lot more time to complete little bits of unfinished work than it will for your current developer. Assuming, of course, that you have a decent relationship with them and are confident in their ability to finish this part of the project.

Ask Your Old Developer to Write a Hand-Over Document

In some instances, you might be switching developers simply because the scope of your project has grown too large for your current developer. The relationship hasn't gone sour; it's just time for you to part ways.

If possible, it can be immensely helpful to have your old developer write a hand-over document. Your new developers are going to have to jump into the deep end to understand the ins and outs of your project, and your old developer will be able to help them get a head start with a well-written explanation of what's going on.

Some of the things that you'll want your old developer to include in this document are:

The larger concept underlying their architecture

The major decisions that led to certain outcomes

Explaining and showcasing any critical infrastructure

Pointing out weak spots or unstable areas that will need special attention

In the case that a freelance developer completely disappears or you are embroiled in a conflict, you might not have the luxury of this step in the process.

Instead, your new developers will have to piece together the details on their own. Any qualified developer you hire should be fully capable of this task, but it will likely add billable hours to the project.

If you're on bad terms with your old developer, make sure you create a backup of the code and database of your app and store it somewhere safe.

The easier you make things for your new development team, the less time they'll have to spend getting their bearings. When switching developers, take the time to gather useful information that will help them understand the specifics of what needs to be done to complete your app and its purposes.

When you're onboarding your new developer, you'll want to share with them:

The problem that your app is solving for users

A to-do list of the work that isn't yet completed, broken down into categories of bugs, started but unfinished features, and features that haven't been started

A copy of your current site's code and database (you might consider having the new developer sign a 

A description of your hosting infrastructure

Any existing development procedures that you're happy with

Do you have an app idea, but you aren't sure how to make it into something tangible? Check out our 

step-by-step guide to turning an app idea into reality

How to Avoid Needing to Switch Developers

Sometimes, you simply can't avoid the reality that you need a new development team to take over your project. However, prevention is ultimately better than the cure. If you're hiring a developer for a new project, let's look at some things you can watch out for to reduce the likelihood that you will have to switch developers halfway through.

One of the best ways to avoid having to switch developers in the middle of a project is for both of you to be on the same page. There are a number of things that you'll want to have clearly in writing before the project begins. Some examples include:

How will decisions be made about site design, and how many changes can you ask the developer to make before there is a price increase?

How much extra will it cost if you need to make more changes than expected?

What can be changed down the road, and what design choices need to be determined ahead of time?

What functions and features will the site have?

Who is responsible for writing copy on your site?

How should you deliver content and copy to developers if you're the one writing it?

Getting as much in writing as possible will help ensure the picture you have in your head of your app is in line with what your developer is envisioning.

Communicate Clearly About Deadlines and Timeline

It's essential to be very clear about the timeline you have in mind for the project and any important deadlines. Even if you aren't in a rush, you don't want to sign on with a developer without them agreeing that they can deliver the project by a specific date.

Of course, there are some things that can make a timeline change during app development. It's a good idea to outline acceptable reasons for pushing back the completion date.

Write Post-Launch Expectations Into Your Contract

Apps need ongoing maintenance, and it's important to determine whether your developer will be participating in this process. Otherwise, you might find that they are MIA after site launch when you have important questions about maintaining the site or problems that pop up.

For this reason, you'll want to know what you can expect later ahead of time.

Talk to your new developer about whether they will train you regarding how to update the site later on. Will they include written documentation? Will they be available after launch to answer questions, and will there be an additional charge for these communications?

What happens if you notice issues after launch? Will they be willing to fix those things without charging extra, or will it cost more?

If they aren't available to help you after launch, you can ask them to recommend online resources or other people that could answer any questions you might have.

You'll also want to ask if your developer has availability in their schedule in the future and if you'll receive priority if you need any additional features or upgrades in the coming months.

Are You Looking For a New App Development Team?

Sometimes you have to know when to cut your losses with a developer and pass the project on to a new team. While switching developers halfway through a project is far from ideal, only you can determine whether it is the right call based on the work of the current developer and your intended outcomes for the app.

Whether you're searching for a new team after your current developer stopped returning your emails, or you're looking for developers for a brand-new app idea you have, we'd love to hear about it. We work with clients that range from fresh startups to Fortune 500 companies and consist of a team of developers, designers, and product experts that can help turn your app idea into a reality.

If you're in the market for a new app development team, drop us a line and 

The Ultimate Guide to Changing App Developers Mid-Project

If you don't have any order to the madness when you're building a piece of software, you'll likely run into a lot of issues along the way that create delays and use vital resources unnecessarily.

To help combat this reality, the systems development life cycle (SDLC) has become the de-facto process for software development and building information systems from the ground up.

The reason that the SDLC has become standard is that it allows teams to balance quality, costs, and time to meet the demands of the modern world.

So, what are the systems development life cycle phases, and what should you know about them? What are the different SDLC methodologies used by developers? Let's take a look at the answers to these questions and more.

What Is the Software System Development Life Cycle?

Creating high-quality information systems is no simple feat, and it is usually a drawn-out and tedious process to develop software from start to finish. Using system development life cycles can help system analysts and project managers deploy software products or information systems in a manner that is more efficient and predictable.

In the most basic sense, a system development life cycle (also known as an SDLC) is a project management model. The SDLC outlines the various essential stages of the development process to turn a project from an idea into a reality.

The Phases of the System Development Life Cycle

The SDLC framework outlines an order of operations for system developers and designers. Different methodologies have varying numbers of phases, but they all adhere to essential phases that are a necessary part of the development process.

Also referred to as the feasibility stage, the planning stage is when developers map out their plan for their project. This is where teams can pin down the specific problem they are trying to solve and identify any systems that already exist to solve this problem. Developers will also clearly outline the primary objectives for the project during this stage.

This stage is important because it will help developers plan for potential issues, create an overarching plan for the project, and find resources and funding to make their project a reality.

The project schedule is also set during the planning stage, which is a vital part of the process if the product has a set release deadline.

Some companies choose to outline the planning stage in three specific steps, which are:

: Working to define the objectives of the client and precisely pinpointing the problems that are being studied

: This is where you can work to develop your ideas using the research you conducted during the initial analysis

: Now it's time to dig into the benefits and costs of the solutions you are proposing and determine whether you should leave the system the way it is, make improvements to an existing system, or build a new system

Now that the project is planned out in the broadest sense, it's time to move on to the analysis stage. This is when you gather all of the necessary details that will be needed to create the new system.

During this stage, developers will also come up with some of the first ideas for prototypes.

An SRS document (software requirement specification document) is often also created at this time. This is what describes the hardware, software, and network requirements for their intended system.

Developers might also evaluate existing prototype alternatives, define the system requirements of prototypes, and perform research and analysis to better understand what the end-user will need from the product.

After the analysis phase, development teams can describe the system's desired features and operations in detail. At this point, the design of user interfaces, system interfaces, databases, network, and applications are mapped out.

The SRS document will also be transformed into a logical structure. Then, using the specifications outlined in the SRS document, this structure can be implemented using a programming language.

During this stage, plans will be created for operation, training, and maintenance. This lets developers get a sense of what will need to be done at each stage of the cycle.

Finally, it's time for developers to actually write code and build the digital product or system. They will use all of the specifications and design documents created during the previous stages.

If the previous steps went smoothly and the team accomplished what they expected to, the development phase can actually be pretty straightforward.

A number of different tools will be used, including debuggers, compilers, and interpreters by developers, and they will stick to the organization's defined coding guidelines during the process.

Are you starting to wonder if you're paying too much for your new app to be built? Take a look at this article to learn if 

your software developer is overcharging you

Once the software has been built, the process of extensively testing the system will begin. It's important that the product offers the intended user experience and that there aren't any bugs or errors that need to be handled.

Software developers will grow through every square inch of their software during the testing phase. They will note any defects or bugs that need to be corrected and retested.

Sometimes this is a very fast phase, while others can stretch on for an extended period. How long the testing stage goes on depends on how complex the software is, the developers' skills, and the requirements for the end-user.

Also known as the deployment stage, this is when the product is made available to its intended users.

Depending on the type of software that was created, this can be a fairly simple and automated process, or it can be quite complex. For example, if the project involves upgrading a database to a new application for an entire company, this can be a fairly involved process.

The hard work isn't over once your intended users have the ability to use the product. Developers instead shift their attention to the maintenance of the project.

During this phase, the team can take care of any issues that users report with the software. If developers find that changes need to be made after the software is deployed, this is also their responsibility.

Some tasks developers might undertake during this time include resolving new issues and taking care of bugs that couldn't be fixed before the product launch.

How involved the maintenance stage is depends on the system's size. A larger system will probably involve a more extensive maintenance stage than a smaller one.

Do you have a great concept for an app, but you just aren't sure what the heck to do next? Check out 

our guide to turning an app idea into reality

What Are the Benefits of Using the System Development Life Cycle?

It goes without saying that you want your project to be successful. Following the system development life cycle can help the whole process stay on track and ensure that the products you create fit the needs of the end user.

Using a well-defined SDLC allows you to have better management control over the development project from start to finish. It also offers clarity on what the requirements are, meaning that time and resources aren't spent heading in the wrong direction before being corrected.

All of the processes also benefit from transparency and visibility, which keeps the project on track. Everyone involved in the process is also able to share a single vision, rather than dealing with an unfortunate reality where everyone pictures a slightly different end result.

One of the major benefits of following the SDLC is that it can help keep the results you receive in terms of costs, time, and deliverables predictable.

Finally, there is less wasted effort when an entire team follows a well-defined SDLC. The team is more oriented in the same direction and is much less likely to get side-tracked. You'll likely find that your team is able to feel more confident at each step along the way because the phases are so clearly outlined.

It's worth noting that there are some disadvantages to using an SDLC during your development process. For example, development teams can be slowed down when the testing is performed at the end of the development process, and some of these SDLC approaches are flexible enough for the needs of development teams.

System Development Life Cycle Methodologies

Depending on your goals, you can utilize more specific methodologies to create the desired results. Let's take a look at some basic SDLC methodologies.

The oldest system development life cycle methodology, 

, dictates that development teams never move on to the next phase of the project until the previous step is complete. In this simple and linear model, teams can use what they learned in one stage to help avoid issues in the following stages.

The downside of this method is that delays are more common early in the process.

Short for verification and validation, the V-model isn't that different from the waterfall model. However, it builds off the oldest model by including a testing phase in each stage to catch any defects or bugs that could pop up.

If you're looking for a more flexible methodology, 

 might appeal to you. Instead of operating linearly, projects flow through four primary phases over and over again in a circular way.

This can be useful for large projects because it allows teams to incorporate feedback into the project early on in the process.

Repeat testing and repetition are the main focuses of the iterative model. At the end of each phase, new iterations of the software project are created in order to spot potential bugs and errors. This means that teams can constantly be working to improve the final software product by launch time.

One of the better-known methodologies in the software development industry for SDLC is the agile model. In this model, the name of the game is a quick and continuous release cycle. Between each release, developers make small and incremental tweaks to the product.

This means that the agile model typically incorporates a lot more tests and iterations of the product than some of the other models listed here.

The big bang model is most commonly used when a customer isn't exactly sure what they want and needs help developing a fairly broad idea. The reason for this is that this model doesn't follow a strict or rigorous process and is very flexible.

How to Choose the Right SDLC Methodology For Your Product

It is ideal for the client and the development team to work together to choose an SDLC model. 

When you're deciding which methodology to use, you'll want to ask a number of questions, including:

What are the needs and concerns of the stakeholders?

How large is the team, and what skills do they possess?

What are the specifications of the project?

If your client is focused on launching ASAP, you might find that an agile SDLC model is a good option. On the other hand, if solid documentation is one of their primary concerns, you'll likely find that a V-shape or waterfall model best suits their needs.

From Discovery to Support: Let Planetary Create a Custom Plan For Your Needs

At Planetary, we love helping clients with every software development life cycle phase. Whether you're trying to clarify your idea for a digital product or need help with the development phase, we'd love to work with you.

Our team of global experts is here to help you turn your idea into a reality. Whether you need help with just a few things or you're looking for end-to-end services, we're always happy to create a custom plan that fits the needs of our clients.

Are you looking for the right team to work with for your next app or digital product? 

[Guide] What Are The System Development Life Cycle Phases?

Whether you're looking to hire a full-time, part-time, or freelance developer, it can be difficult to know whether they have the necessary skills before you bring them on board. While you can receive some vital information from a person's resume and portfolio, you likely won't truly know what you're getting until the first project is underway.

You can gain insight into a developer's soft skills through an interview process, but their technical skills won't necessarily be clear from a thirty-minute video chat.

How can you test your developer's skills before you hire them? What are the best ways to determine if someone is the right fit for the job?

Let's take a look at some methods you can use to identify the best candidate to work as a developer for your brand.

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