Two Rails CMSes and Rails 3
I have used and contributed code for two big Rails cms frameworks: adva-cms.org and ubiquo.me.
I give a very quick overview. In high level they both are similarly built on top of rails engines and providing tools for speeding up dev speed for creating more classical websites with common feature requirements. However, the scope of two are actually a bit different. Adva-cms has broader scope and provides features such as photos, articles, newsletters and so on, but Ubiquo currently focuses on providing tools for creating quick admin interfaces.
Even though they both provide real value on the table, they are on the same time quite a big dependency itself (hint-hint Rails 3 :-) I know, we can blame the Rails world itself for moving so fast that the hot code in morning is already badly outdated for evening :-)
However to minimize this, I do believe that CRMs should embrace even more eagerly what rails community offers. For example, why nowadays Adva and Ubiquo still has its own access controls when we have declarative authorization out there. Or let's put it other way, why we don't see CMS custom made access controls competing and winning openly at ruby-toolbox.com?
Anyhow, I hope new Rails 3 brings more modularity on the whole Rails community but probably it won't go as far as Pancakes goes.
