A flat-file CMS for building websites and blogs that stores content as JSON, so no database is needed.
1.5K+1 this week340PHPMITWell maintainedUpdated 4 hours ago
flatpressblog/flatpress
A lightweight PHP blogging engine that stores all posts as files, so no database is required.
Open-source alternative to:WordPress
- Stars
- 218
- Forks
- 68
- Open issues
- 26
- Last commit
- 5 days ago
What is it?
FlatPress is a blogging engine written in PHP that keeps all content in files rather than a database. Installation is a matter of uploading the files to a web server and running the built-in installer, and backing up a site means copying its directory.
The engine supports themes built on the Smarty template system and a plugin system with widget support for extending functionality. It includes a comment feature with spam protection and a multilingual interface with many language packs.
It runs on common web servers such as Apache, NGINX, or IIS with PHP 7.2 through PHP 8.5. The project uses PHPStan and CodeQL checks through GitHub Actions.
Key features
- 01Stores all content as files with no database required
- 02Plugin system with widget support
- 03Themes powered by Smarty templates
- 04Built-in comments with spam protection
- 05Easy installation and backup by copying files
- 06Multilingual interface with many language packs
Use cases
- Running a personal blog on a basic shared web host without database setup
- Maintaining a small site that needs simple file-based backups
- Customizing a blog's look with Smarty themes
Quick start
- 1
Download FlatPress from the official download page
- 2
Unzip and upload the files to your web server
- 3
Browse to your web server and run the FlatPress installer
Things to know
- Requires a web server with PHP 7.2 to PHP 8.5; no database is needed.
- Setup is manual: download, unzip, upload, then run the web installer.
In collections
Topics
FAQ
- What is flatpress?
- A lightweight PHP blogging engine that stores all posts as files, so no database is required. FlatPress is a blogging engine written in PHP that keeps all content in files rather than a database. Installation is a matter of uploading the files to a web server and running the built-in installer, and backing up a site means copying its directory.
- Is flatpress free to use? What license does it have?
- flatpress is open source under the GPL-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
- Is flatpress still maintained?
- Actively maintained. The last commit to flatpress was on Nov 3, 2026.
- What can I use flatpress for?
- Running a personal blog on a basic shared web host without database setup Maintaining a small site that needs simple file-based backups Customizing a blog's look with Smarty themes
- How do I install flatpress?
- Download FlatPress from the official download page Unzip and upload the files to your web server Browse to your web server and run the FlatPress installer
- Where can I get flatpress?
- The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/flatpressblog/flatpress
Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.
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