What is the best app builder to create a portal?
 

Is XML the way to go? If so, what is a good product ? It doesn't have to be free software either, I'm just looking for a good tool that will save me lots of time.

JC

XML is a format, not an "app builder". It's good for as a common communication, storage, etc, format, but you can't actually *build* applications with it, you'd need some programming language.

Is that what you are looking for? Some programming tool that will allow you to make applications? Cause then you better invest some time in learning a language (for quick apps, look at Java, Python, VB.NET).

you might want to try this:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/tikiwiki/

cludwin

Thanks cludwin !
Tiki is really cool !

JC

Yeah I have seen some really neat sites that use it,
good luck.

-cludwin

Pre-built portal using PHP-Nuke or Post-Nuke. Just change the text and bingo! Loads of time saved and totally customizable!

Just the mere mention of portal made me think of Nuke...dunno why nobody suggested it yet.

I didn't think, at first, nuke was for me until I saw the amount of modules, blocks and themes for it. I then realised it would be perfect as a portal, with little time to spare to do one myself. I also created a few custom blocks and modules and bingo its just what I wanted!

Zope + plone is a pretty good cookie-cutter portal system as well. Mmmm... zope ...

Thanks alot for the ideas. They are all helpful, and have pointed me in the right direction.

JC

You could try a look inside http://www.opensourcecms.com

zope