The easiest way to determine how a site was built

**JimWaller** · June 27th, 2012, 10:13 PM

Here's the thing, some webmasters will bounce their code between a number of programs using different ones for how easily they perform a certain task. This is done in much the same way that some graphic artists will open a graphic in multiple programs for their ease of use.
I realize you're mostly looking for a basic idea, but I just wanted to point out that there is not always easily identifiable trace code for a specific program. This may be another reason BuiltWith could be easily fooled. Still, it's good to have another tool in the tool belt. Thanks for sharing.

Jim

**akirk** · June 28th, 2012, 6:32 AM

I think though Jim that tends to be either the software with which they write the code / the libraries they use - but generally once in place a website uses only one approach...
The point made above - which I think makes sense - is that when looking one is trying to establish:
- bespoke (in which case move on)
- infrastructure / known system - in which case what is its name...

when someone is using a system such as wordpress / Joomla / etc. etc. then there tend to be clues left in the code...
the viewer can in theory then get the same system / template and pop up a mirror / something similar...

Alasdair

**JimWaller** · June 29th, 2012, 11:41 AM

I was not sure if the goal was merely to see what platform it is built on, if it was to be able to replicate the look and feel of the site, or if it was to know every program used in the process of creating the site. Sometimes, it is possible to replicate the look and feel of a site using a different platform.

I was involved in a discussion in another forum that was similar, because a site owner was considering switching from a Drupal based site to a WordPress based site so it would be easier for her to admin the site as she was not familiar with Drupal and had to pay someone for even the simplest of updates. I offered her a list of plugins that would allow her to replicate the look and feel of her site without compromising the functionality.

With that said, I understand how time consuming and labor intensive it could be to convert a site from hand coded HTML to a known platform or from one platform to another. I merely wanted to point out that if you were looking to know every program used in the process of creating a site, it's almost impossible. I also want to point out that it is sometimes possible to replicate the look and feel of a site without using the same platform.

Additionally, sometimes a site is built on a platform that is not necessarily the best way to achieve the functionality of the site. Some WordPress based sites would be better served using a true CMS (content management system) designed for that purpose rather than being a little clunky. Sometimes using a CMS is overcomplicated for the functionality of the site.

If a site is bespoke, you can still sometimes replicate the look, feel, and functionality using a known platform and the right plugins. You just have to get a bit creative sometimes. Maybe that's just the artist in me coming out.

Regards,

Jim

**Chabrenas** · June 29th, 2012, 11:55 AM

Grynge, alasdair, how did you do that? The only page source I can see is an invocation of a frameset.

**akirk** · July 2nd, 2012, 3:38 AM

Originally Posted by Chabrenas

Grynge, alasdair, how did you do that? The only page source I can see is an invocation of a frameset.

not sure how you managed that!
go to the website and right-click - virtually anywhere on the page / on the grey background / the header / the main content - gives you the source code...

Alasdair

**akirk** · July 2nd, 2012, 3:39 AM

Jim,
your points are valid - if you are a coder - for many on here they don't have technical experience and use packages to provide the functionality they need...
therefore looking for a framework they can install is very helpful - it is more about the framework being able to deliver the functionality they want than needing to exactly replicate a website...

Alasdair

**Chabrenas** · July 3rd, 2012, 9:01 AM

not sure how you managed that!

Nor am I, but both right click and Firefox CTRL-U produced the same result. Works fine today, so I must have been looking at a different URL - perhaps imbedded in something somehow or other. All I saw was a frameset invocation and a NOFRAMES link, but when I cut & pasted that I still ended up on the same page.

**JimWaller** · July 3rd, 2012, 11:13 PM

I'm sorry if I'm coming across as overly technical, I'm not trying to do that, I'm merely pointing out there is more than one way to "skin a cat" as the saying goes. For total clarity, there can be more than one way to achieve a desired result. In this case the look and feel of a site from the visitor's perspective.

I agree that it can be useful to know on which platform or framework a site is built in order to have a starting point from which to work toward and achieve those desired results.

As a marketer, it is additionally helpful (not required, but helpful) to have a working knowledge (not full coding capabilities) of more than one framework or platform in order to know if the approach to the look and feel of the site is best served by that particular approach. Simply put, if you don't know it at all, you'll have to pay someone for even the simplest of updates, which is bad business if the site is your business.

Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of WordPress. With all of the various themes and plugins out there, you can get the desired look and feel as well as functionality for almost any site of which you can conceive. But, as I pointed out earlier, sometimes (not always, but sometimes) it is not the best framework on which to build a site.

An example would be a very simple site would be over-complicated by installing WordPress. (Comparable to bringing a nuclear bomb to a fist fight.

) A hand-coded single page site might be all that is needed. Tools like HyperVRE, Sales Letter Factory, or My Free Website Builder might be more helpful in those instances. (Just examples of programs designed to easily spit out that type of site.)

A really advanced site with multiple blogs, forums, and whatnot might not be best served by WordPress. That is where Joomla or Drupal might be better.

I'm just trying to be helpful.

Jim

**akirk** · July 4th, 2012, 3:14 AM

Jim,

no problem with what you are saying - just observing that for most people, like being in a comfortable car - they look at the badge to see which one to buy for themselves - they are not interested in the engine / suspension workings etc... - so with a website they might find one with a similar functionality... I agree that it is useful to know various tools - though I have less enthusiasm for WP than you (have installed it twice in the last 1,000+ client projects!), but it and other options do have the ability to move someone fast to where they wish to be...

ultimately it all comes down to why someone has a website / what their business plans might be online etc. - in theory their website should be the result of driving the business plan forward, often it is a side thought!

Alasdair

**JimWaller** · July 4th, 2012, 7:22 AM

My enthusiasm for WP is very similar to the old Mac vs. PC argument with WP being like the PC. It is not the best at most tasks, but is very useful, because more people are interested in creating tools for it. WP was designed for blogging, and in that capacity, it is very proficient, however, in other applications, we get into the "clunkiness" I mentioned earlier.

For less experienced site builders, WP is one of the easiest to build and maintain. Teaching someone to admin a Drupal based site would take a lot of instruction by comparison, but the capabilities are more extensive due to it being a true CMS.

Jim