Installing a CMS, E-commerce solution or other Web platform can be pretty tedious to new users especially if they wish to achieve it on their own computer rather than on a hosting site. It can possibly be more discouraging if the main purpose is to evaluate the platform since you may end up going through another tedious process in uninstalling the platform so you can try out another without conflicts. While there is really no better way in evaluating a Web platform than installing it yourself, there are a couple quicker workarounds that can at least give you a first impression on how the platform works.
Try Out the Demo
One of the more obvious ways in evaluating a platform is to find a website that is powered by it. However, you won’t get access to the admin panel and other features hidden to regular users. This is why many developers provide a demo of the admin features so you can log into a test account, get acquainted with the user interface and possibly try out features yourself. If you cannot find a link to a demo on the platform’s official website, try contacting the support team and request for a demo.
Check it Out on YouTube
Perhaps the quickest way to see the ins and outs of a Web platform is to find a video that tours the viewer. YouTube is a great place to start since companies and users alike share videos there. One of the advantages of this approach is that the video may have commentary so you can better understand the features of the Web platform while you evaluate the interface. YouTube is also a good source for Web platform reviews.
Find Free “1-click” Solutions
There are a number of Web hosting providers that not only offer their hosting services for free but also make it easier to install the popular scripts and Web platforms. Services often advertise this as “1-click Install” solutions. You sign up for a free account, go to the control panel and pick the script or platform you want to evaluate. Without going through the process of entering database details and other stuff, you immediately have access to the platform and can proceed to actually using it.