Automad

Automad is a flat-file content management system and template engine designed for building websites without a database. Content is stored as human-readable files, while Automad still provides core features like searching, tagging, and caching for fast page rendering.

Key Features

• Flat-file storage (no database required), suitable for version control workflows
• Browser-based admin dashboard for content, settings, uploads, and theme management
• Block editor for composing pages/posts from reusable content blocks
• In-page edit mode for editing content while browsing the site
• Multi-layer caching engine for high performance on limited hardware
• Flexible template language and PHP extension mechanism for advanced customization
• Optional headless mode exposing content via a read-only JSON API
• Package ecosystem for installing themes and extensions

Use Cases

• Personal sites, portfolios, and blogs that benefit from a lightweight stack
• Small business or brochure sites needing a simple editorial workflow
• Headless content backend for custom frontends consuming a JSON API

Automad is a strong fit when you want a database-free CMS with a modern editing experience, templating built in, and the option to switch between monolithic and headless setups as needed.