MODX Revolution

MODX Revolution is a PHP‑based, open‑source CMS that doubles as an application framework. At its core it exposes a lightweight request–response pipeline built on the MVC pattern, with a highly extensible component system that allows developers to inject custom logic at virtually every stage of page rendering or API handling. The engine itself is a single‑file bootstrap that loads the modX core, parses the request URI, resolves resource trees from a relational database, and hands off rendering to template snippets or custom PHP classes. This tight integration between content data and executable code gives developers fine‑grained control over markup, caching, and business logic without the overhead of a monolithic framework.

Architecture

• Language & Runtime – PHP 8.x, with optional Composer‑based autoloading for third‑party libraries.
• Database – MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, or SQLite; the schema is fully normalized and versioned via migrations included in the core.
• Core Framework – A custom, component‑based architecture that supports plugins, snippets, and chunk templating. Plugins are PHP classes that hook into the event system (OnPageInit, OnDocFormSave, etc.), while snippets are reusable PHP code blocks that can be inserted into templates.
• Caching – Multi‑tier caching (file, Redis, Memcached) is built into the core, with a declarative cache policy per resource. The engine automatically invalidates caches on content changes.
• API Layer – RESTful endpoints are exposed via the /api/ namespace. Developers can create custom resource types and expose them through the API, leveraging the same permission model that protects CMS content.

Core Capabilities

• Dynamic Template Engine – Combine chunks, snippets, and placeholders to build pixel‑perfect pages without hardcoding HTML in PHP.
• Event System – 200+ predefined events allow fine‑grained hooks; developers can register listeners via the manager or code.
• Extensible Permissions – Role‑based ACLs that apply to both CMS resources and API endpoints, enabling secure multi‑user workflows.
• Internationalization – Built‑in lexicon system with full language packs; developers can add custom locale files without touching core code.
• Developer Tools – Integrated debugging console, profiler, and error logging. The manager UI offers a code editor with syntax highlighting for PHP, CSS, and JavaScript.

Deployment & Infrastructure

MODX is designed to run on any LAMP/LEMP stack. It requires PHP 8.x, a relational database, and a web server (Apache, Nginx, or Caddy). For production environments, the recommended approach is to containerize the application using Docker Compose; official images are available on Docker Hub, and the repository includes a docker-compose.yml template. Horizontal scaling is straightforward: stateless PHP containers behind a load balancer, with Redis or Memcached for shared caching. The CMS can also be deployed to serverless platforms (e.g., AWS Lambda via Bref) thanks to its lightweight bootstrap.

Integration & Extensibility

The plugin architecture is the heart of MODX’s extensibility. Plugins can be written in pure PHP and registered to any event, allowing developers to modify request data, inject headers, or alter database queries on the fly. The API layer supports OAuth2 authentication and webhooks, enabling integration with external services such as CI/CD pipelines or headless front‑ends. Additionally, the manager exposes a REST API for CRUD operations on resources, making it trivial to build headless applications that consume MODX content.

Developer Experience

MODX’s documentation is comprehensive, with a dedicated developer guide that covers core concepts, event handling, and API usage. The community is active on Slack, GitHub, and the official forums, providing rapid support for both newcomers and seasoned contributors. The licensing (GPL v2) allows unrestricted use in commercial projects, while the open‑source nature ensures that developers can audit and modify every line of code. Configuration is largely driven by the config.core.php file, but many settings can be overridden via the manager UI or via environment variables in container deployments.

Use Cases

• Headless CMS – Expose content via the /api/ endpoints and consume it in a React or Vue front‑end.
• Multi‑domain Sites – Manage several languages and domains from a single instance, leveraging the resource tree and ACLs.
• Enterprise Portals – Build custom workflows with plugins, secure sensitive data with role‑based permissions, and integrate with existing LDAP or SAML providers.
• Rapid Prototyping – Use the snippet system to iterate on page layouts without touching the core, ideal for marketing teams that need instant visual feedback.

Advantages

Developers choose MODX for its performance (built‑in caching and minimal overhead), flexibility (no opinionated routing or ORM), and control (full access to PHP code). Unlike other CMSs that impose a strict content model, MODX lets you define arbitrary data structures via custom resource types and template variables. The licensing model (GPL v2) ensures that you can ship proprietary applications without paying for a commercial license. Finally, the active community and well‑maintained codebase mean that bugs are quickly patched, and new features (e.g., the recent API enhancements) arrive in a timely manner.