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Textpattern CMS

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Lightweight PHP content management system with a tag-based template engine

881 stars 110 forks last commit first released GPL-2.0

Actively maintained

Last commit 22 Aug 2026.

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Textpattern CMS is a lightweight, fast content management system written in PHP, designed for building websites and blogs with clean, controllable markup. It uses a tag-based templating language and keeps the core lean while remaining extensible through plugins.

Key Features

  • Browser-based administration interface with a deliberately uncluttered, accessible UI
  • Tag-based template language for layouts, pages, and reusable components
  • Plugin ecosystem to extend core functionality
  • Multi-language admin interface with extensive localization
  • Supports authoring content with Textile; Markdown support is available via plugins
  • Designed to keep generated HTML clean and under your control

Use Cases

  • Personal or editorial blogs with structured content and custom templates
  • Lightweight CMS for small-to-medium business or brochure websites
  • Custom-designed sites where precise control over markup and presentation matters

Limitations and Considerations

  • Some functionality (for example Markdown authoring) may require installing plugins

Textpattern CMS is a mature, long-running project focused on simplicity, performance, and clean site building. It suits teams and individuals who want a traditional CMS with strong template control and an extensible plugin ecosystem.

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