How To Create My Own Classifieds?

Which is better when developing a website: open source or bespoke scripting?

• Hi, I am looking to create an online classifieds website with a few features such as paypal payments and car reg look up. I have spoken to a number of developers (freelance and ...show more

• Answer:

  In practice I suspect this is simply a difference in emphasis between the various proposals you have received, since virtually any site is going to use elements of both bespoke coding and off-the-shelf software, either commercial or open source. For example, most sites, and especially one like yours, is going to have a database back end. No programmer in their right mind would implement one from scratch. Instead they will select a suitable database engine - e.g. SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and tailor that to fit the requirements. At the other end of the spectrum the look and feel of your site will probably be heavily bespoke in nature to make it distinctive. Over-reliance on a well-known content management system, especially using a standard theme, is a good way of making your site look generic and cheap. You presumably don't want your users to look at your site and think "Oh, it's just another MediaWiki/Wordpress/whatever site", particularly if you are asking them to trust you with their money, since it makes you look like a fly by night operator.