SilverStripe

SilverStripe is an open-source, PHP-based content management system (CMS) and accompanying MVC framework designed for both content authors and developers. It provides a web-based administration UI for editors and a structured framework and ORM for developers to build custom websites and web applications.

Key Features

• Web-based admin UI with rich-text editing, block-based content and split-screen preview for editors
• SilverStripe Framework (MVC) with an ORM that scaffolds and migrates database schema
• REST and GraphQL APIs for decoupled or headless content delivery
• Asset management with image resizing, file handling and media controls
• Versioning, draft/publish workflows, role-based permissions and content history
• Extensible module ecosystem distributed via Composer; modular architecture for reusable components
• Developer tooling integrates Composer for PHP dependencies and Node/Yarn + Webpack for front-end builds
• Multi-language support and configurable URL/meta controls for SEO

Use Cases

• Custom-designed corporate, government or institutional websites requiring editorial workflows and security
• Content-driven web applications where developers need an opinionated PHP framework and ORM
• Decoupled/headless setups delivering content to SPAs or mobile apps via GraphQL or REST APIs

Limitations and Considerations

• Customization requires PHP and Composer familiarity; many integrations and deeper custom features need developer involvement
• Front-end admin and theme changes commonly rely on Node/Yarn and build tooling, which raises the developer toolchain requirement
• Out-of-the-box appearance and marketplace themes are fewer than some managed SaaS CMS marketplaces, so projects often require design/development effort

SilverStripe combines an editor-friendly CMS with a developer-oriented framework, making it well suited to projects that need both robust editorial controls and custom development. It is most productive when teams include developers familiar with PHP and modern front-end build tooling.