Bitrix. Everything they won't say

I have a very skeptical attitude towards the popular Bitrix and all its projects - CMS Bitrix, Bitrix24 and Bitrix24.Sites. We purposefully do not develop websites on it, and with great reluctance we undertake maintenance.

If it is possible to transfer a person from Bitrix to the same Wordpress or -Cart - we do exactly that. And I would not have written this text if the Bitrix.Official user had not asked what my negative assessment was related to.

I'll tell you right away. I have two programmers with higher education who work with Bitrix, so I understand what I'm talking about.

___________

The first thing to start with. With a business model.

Few people know how Bitrix's business model works, and why all its products are so popular. I explain on my fingers.

1) Any agency offers you to make a website on Bitrix. It costs N amount of money - engine + template + work of programmers + work of content managers

2) This agency will receive your money, buy a license from Bitrix and get something like cashback from it. 

3) The developer himself DOES NOT PROVIDE technical support, sending the consumer either to his forums, or... yes, yes, to certified representatives

4) Exactly one year later you will be reminded: ding-ding, it's time to renew the license. You will renew the license through the agency, and it will earn cashback again.

5) If you decide to leave this contractor, either freelancers or some other agency will help you.

The business model is built simply. You get hooked and you start paying. Not only Bitrix earns from each of your payments, but also representatives on the ground. When such a site is sold to you, you become a regular customer.

The scheme is a win-win. We do ahem.. "product", the main thing for you is to sell it. Next, the client will not jump anywhere, and if he does not pay for the license, we will disable the. PROFIT functionality!!!

____________

The second point. Technical aspects.

Truly brilliant programmers work at Bitrix. I do not know of any website engine that would be promoted better on the web - if only self-written things.

And in many ways, this is why the main settings and functions of the site are hidden in different places, duplicate each other, are not obvious and hidden from the consumer. And in order for the owner of the site, God forbid, not to figure out where everything is hidden, training and trainings are regularly held for the Bitrix community, where they tell you exactly where this or that point is located.

Bitrix is purposefully complicated so that an ordinary person does not figure it out. And ordinary html and php programmers will not understand. 90% will be understood only by those who specialize in Bitrix and EARN money from the owners of the site. 

___________

The third point. Expensive again.

The need to have a programmer causes VERY HIGH COSTS for the maintenance of the site on Bitra. Do not think that even if you have deployed a website on hosting and downloaded a free template, then you will cope. Be ready for constant investments in paid (!!!) product.

Let's say more. At numerous "courses" of Bitrix there is a course "Content manager", where ordinary boys and girls are explained how to put text and insert photos in a text editor. But even here they explain a lot of technical subtleties that the site owner is unlikely to recognize. 

For sure, the supporters of Bitrix (and the official representative himself) will write: training is the key to stable work, blah, blah, blah..

PS Do you want a beautiful page - with icons, decorations and buttons? Hire a layout designer, because a complex page needs to be made up in code. There is no normal visual editor here and there will not be. It's not profitable.  

PSPS Can be used by Bitrix24.Sites are incredibly beautiful, and absolutely unsuitable - only if as a landing page for contextual advertising.

___________

The fourth point. To summarize.

I hope from the above it is clear why Bitrix is so popular. No, no, not because it's a brilliant solution, but because thousands of certified representatives sell it to ignorant people, getting hooked on oh..nno thick hook.

Yes, there are areas where the APC is indispensable: very large online stores, integration with 1C, interaction with authorities. By the way, the popularity of Bitrix in the state order is due not only to the fact that it is a "domestic manufacturer", but also to warm and friendly relations with all authorities - law enforcement and not so much.

The reasons for the popularity of Bitrix.

- Active representatives, general hype, trust of government agencies

The reasons for the community's dislike of him:

- Purposeful complication of simple things, poor functionality, complexity of configuration, connection and operation. 

The reasons for my personal dislike:

- I never deceive people. And I do not know how to say: your site costs 50 thousand turnkey, and after six months "remember": oh, you need to pay extra.

___________

The fifth point. Conclusion.

This post is subjective and entertaining. It expresses a personal point of view and is not aimed at insulting, infringing or causing other harm (commercial, reputational) to Bitrix Corporation.

I will be glad if the supporters of this company (of course, if they are here) express their personal point of view in the comments.