What I check when evaluating a CMS

When I evaluate a CMS for real projects, I care less about demo screenshots and more about what happens after install.

I usually walk through the same checklist:

• Install and hosting fit — PHP version, database quirks, SSL, and whether the installer behaves clearly on shared hosting.
• Content workflow — how fast I can create pages, posts, media, and navigation without fighting the UI.
• Media and URLs — uploads, image sizes, HTTPS links, and whether the public site stays consistent after changes.
• Caching — whether new content appears immediately, or if I need a manual cache clear.
• Editing experience — WYSIWYG vs raw HTML, custom fields, and how reusable sidebar/footer content is managed.

This site is that checklist in practice: a small portfolio built on Ratals CMS so I can judge install friction, content editing, media, and day-to-day publishing on a live host.

If you are comparing tools, run one real site end-to-end. Marketing pages hide the rough edges; a live install does not.