
Textpattern CMS
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.

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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