CMS Platform Workflows
This reference keeps the high-level platform map close to the skill so the agent can choose the right seam quickly.
Platform Map
| Platform | Primary extension surfaces | Media and asset convention | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | Themes, plugins, template parts, hooks | Theme assets inside the active theme; authored media under uploads-style paths | Good fit for template hierarchy, taxonomy, custom fields, and local/static export workflows |
| WooCommerce | WordPress themes and plugins plus product/catalog extensions | Same base conventions as WordPress, with product imagery as authored media | Treat it as WordPress first, then apply commerce-specific content and admin rules |
| Shopify | Themes, Liquid sections, blocks, apps, metafields | Theme assets and hosted store media are distinct concerns | Prefer app or metafield seams over theme-only hacks when data must survive redesigns |
| Wix | Site builder surfaces, apps, content collections, custom elements | Hosted media library plus editor-managed assets | Favor editor-safe changes and avoid assuming file-system level access |
| Squarespace | Templates, code injection, content collections, commerce settings | Hosted asset library managed through the platform | Expect narrower extension points and stronger hosted constraints |
| Drupal | Themes, modules, content types, views, taxonomy | Managed files and theme assets are separate | Strong fit for structured content, enterprise workflows, and migration-heavy changes |
| Joomla | Templates, modules, components, plugins | Managed media plus template-owned assets | Similar split between templates and extensions; watch routing and content component boundaries |
| HubSpot CMS Hub | Themes, modules, templates, serverless functions, CRM-linked content | Hosted file manager plus theme assets | Content, marketing, and CRM concerns are tightly coupled |
| Webflow | Designer, CMS collections, components, embeds, limited code export | Hosted assets and CMS collection media | Export constraints matter; distinguish what survives export from what depends on hosted CMS features |
| Adobe Experience Manager | Components, templates, content fragments, experience fragments, workflows | DAM-managed assets plus component resources | Enterprise governance, authoring workflows, and content fragment models drive most changes |
Media Rule of Thumb
- Theme-owned images belong with the theme or template package.
- User-authored images belong in the platform's upload or media-library flow.
- If a project supports both, keep them distinct in config and in code paths.
Generic CMS Responsibility Map
Most CMS codebases group behavior into the same handful of responsibilities. Use this as a checklist when locating the owning seam in any project:
- Runtime assembly and request routing
- Theme or template system and shared template helpers
- Admin and editor controllers with their view templates
- Content, taxonomy, and settings persistence (repositories, models, schema/migrations)
- Content transformation utilities (markdown, shortcodes, block renderers)
- Static export, deploy, or render pipeline entry points
Map the project to these responsibilities first, then make the smallest change that preserves the platform's structure.