[photopress:Kelly_Clarkson.jpg,thumb,alignright]As you know, I’ve been pondering my own blog situation lately. After careful consideration, I decided to start my own blog and I decided to host it myself. Also, I decided against using WordPress and I picked SubText instead. I probably wouldn’t recommend this route for most Rain City Guide readers, but then again, I’m Miss independent. Miss self-sufficient. And ooh, I fell in love.
At any rate, I’ve created my first blog posting, I’ve added links to my sidebar, and I’m tweaking my theme (although folks in the ASP.net / Subtext land, call them skins), but it’s probably only 70% there. Still, I’m looking forward to what I’ll do. I suspect my blog will be geeky, so if you’re into that kind of thing, by all means visit. And if you’re not, add my blog’s RSS feed to your reader and stay in touch. In case your curious, why I picked SubText, here’s my tale of the tape.
- Managing multiple blogs seems easier than WordPress
- FCK Editor that SubText uses is better than the HTML editor WordPress ships with
- I liked image uploading handling better than WordPress
- Can use the AylarSolutions plug-in for source code syntax coloring (very important if you are a blogging Software Engineer)
- Doesn’t require PHP or MySQL, so SubText will use my server’s resources more efficiently than WordPress would (very important if you host paying customer’s IDX / MLS search web sites).
- Open source / BSD License (better than GPL, not quite as good as WTFPL)
- Source code is in a language I love & platform I know (C# / ASP.net / Windows Server)
- Cool code names like “Poseidon
It looks good, Robbie. Your independence amazes me. I didn’t even know there were ASP-based blogging platforms.
FWIW, PHP is like JavaScript, loosely-typed C with a lot of object-like baggage. You could soak it up in half a day, but the extreme lack of rigor/syntax-checking/type-checking might make you nuts. PHP is a prototyping language where, when you’ve finished the prototype, you’re done. 😉
Great site, in any case. I look forward to seeing what comes up in the feed.
Robbie,
I always enjoy your post! This one was informative and made me chuckle too. I am using a blog format that you posted on around the end of January at widows live spaces which I want to thank you for because it has worked out good for the cost.
I think that it may be hard for others to post comments so I am once again looking for a host that is still easy to work with and allows links management and other user friendly options. I think I will take a look at your host SubText. Thanks again and I am adding your link today!
Greg,
Ironically, there is a pretty active & growing open source community on the Windows platform. It’s just not as cool or popular as the Linux kids are, but it’s the crowd I hang out with.
I didn’t want to go with WordPress. PHP is like a bad classic ASP flashback (uglier code, better class library, same shortcomings). Also conventional wisdom says PHP doesn’t scale.
I don’t know, running PHP & IIS together is like buying a Mac to run Windows Vista. Just because it can be done, doesn’t mean that’s the way it should be done. Besides, at the end of the day, I’m stubborn C#/ASP.net developer first, blogger second.
PS – Thanks for the kudos.
Shane,
SubText is a “product” and not a “host”. So you’ll still have to find somebody to host it (FYI – Parcom.net is a good Windows Web hosting company I’ve had good luck with).
In my case, I already pay for server co-location, so self hosting my own blog made sense.
The 8-core Mac Pro is four of the fastest Windows machines on Earth. 😉
Maybe I should’ve stuck to my original Toyota & NASCAR analogy. 😛
Hey Robbie,
Great post!! 🙂 Although, I don’t have enough tech knowlege to fully understand all the stuff you & your commentors are talking about; it’s still good to hear what works best for others. Will you be giving us routine reports on RCG as to how things develop? I’d be interested to read what you have to say so I could possibly setup my own blog(s) later.
Joe,
You can probably ignore all the tech speak. Arguing about technologies is like arguing about Ford & Chevy. Only the gear-heads really care about whats under the hood.
So far, the biggest complaint I have w/ Subtext (and WordPress has the same shortcoming in my limited experience), is that developing a good looking theme/skin that is unique to your blog or site takes more time / effort than most people want to put into it (and usually requires CSS mastery).