Open Source DMS/ECM review

Web based Document management system have come a long way. Filenet and Documentum were a few pioneer technologies that made life easy for organizations that need to maintain loads of electronic documents. The second generation of DMS appeared in shape of client server based system which used java webstart like techniques for document hosting. Xinco is a good example. The third generations of web based DMS have appeared more like a enterprise content management solution rather than a simple DMS. Here in this post , I would discuss third generation web based DMS and the features they offer.

In open source arena, There are multiple such solution available. This multiplicity of projects have either matured as a complete enterprise DMS solution or died off after setting future roadmap for other DMS projects. I have able to sort out a few DMS solution that can serve document management requirements based on either volume or number of features they provide.

Joe Stump’s Interview

This is an excerpt from Joe Stump’s interview. Joe is lead architect at Digg.

Break stuff. Break everything. Poke, prod and explore. Don’t listen to people who tell you that you can’t do something or that you’re wasting your time. More practical advice is that you should learn to know and love design patterns and avoid GUI’s. I have a real problem with people who say they know SQL because they’re well versed with an ORM or a DB’s GUI. Go back and read up on relational algebra and SQL92 before you say you know SQL okay?I’ll probably get flamed for this, but I think people should learn a single environment in and out and stick with it. This might mean you learn Microsoft’s technologies in and out or Cocoa or LAMP. You simply can’t be an expert in an area of computers without picking a single environment and sticking with it. Dabble, sure, but pick a horse and learn everything you can about it.If you choose UNIX read one man page a day until you’ve read all of the GNU utilities’ man pages. You’re not a true UNIX geek unless you’ve typed man man at once point in your life.

This is one of the best which I have read in recent times. One can’t be an expert in all the area. You need to choose one and know as much as possible about it. The illusion of having opinion about every techie stuff going around you will lead nowhere except confusion for yourself.