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content-management-systemcontent-managementdocument-managementdms

Content Repository , Document Repository , whats the difference if any?

What is the difference between CMSs and DMSs ? Both store date , give access to the data , where do they differ? Can apache Jack Rabbit be used in place of Alfresco ?

Solution

  • I would differentiate the two based on they mutability of the data under management:

    • In a Document Management System, the Documents are immutable (and often opaque) blobs created by external applications
    • A Content Management system contains mutable data (the content) and provides an interface to mutate said content.

    Of course, DMSs have evolved to break this rule - for example, by adding document properties to a Word Document... however, people seem comfortable with calling this "metadata" and therefore it can break all the rules.

    Given the immutable nature of the data, a DMS can make assumptions that a CMS can not - given these assumptions, I would be careful stating (as per Wolfwyrd's comment) that DMS is a subset of CMS.