SimplePHP — a flat-file CMS that gets out of your way
No database, no build step, no framework to learn. Content lives in a single JSON file, editing happens right on the page, and if you outgrow the built-in design you can paste in your own HTML/CSS/JS — the backend keeps working underneath it.
Get Started
Why SimplePHP?
No Database Required
Everything lives in data/content.json. No MySQL, no migrations, nothing to configure before you can start editing.
Inline Editing
Log in as admin, click any element on the live page, and edit it in place — changes autosave with automatic backups.
Module System
Extend the site with modules that hook into the page lifecycle. Five demo modules are included: Hello World, SEO Manager, Analytics Tracker, Backup Manager, and Theme Customizer.
Bring Your Own Design
Paste a full HTML5/CSS/JS template — even one generated by ChatGPT — and the admin panel keeps working through simple placeholders like {{CONTENT}} and {{NAV}}.
Full Admin Panel
Manage site settings, navigation, pages, users, and design from a single dashboard — no code required for day-to-day changes.
Open Source
PHP 8.1+, runs anywhere Apache and PHP do. Clone it, drop it in your web root, and you're live.