Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS is a lightweight, PHP‑driven content management system that prioritizes speed, security, and developer flexibility. Built on a clean MVC‑ish architecture, it exposes content through a tag‑based templating engine that is both human‑readable and highly extensible. The core remains intentionally minimal, allowing developers to layer additional functionality via a robust plugin ecosystem without bloating the codebase. Its open‑source license (GPLv3) encourages community contributions and reuse in custom projects.

Technical Stack & Architecture

• Language: PHP 7.4+ (with support for 8.x) running on an Apache/Nginx stack.
• Database: MySQL/MariaDB; schema is versioned and migrations are handled through the upgrades directory.
• Templating: Custom tag syntax ({if}, {loop}) compiled into PHP at runtime, enabling tight integration with the CMS logic while keeping templates free of framework noise.
• Routing: A front‑controller (index.php) parses URL segments, dispatches to the appropriate controller, and enforces permissions via a role‑based ACL.
• Extensibility: Hooks (plugin::hook_name) and a plugin API (textpattern:// URI scheme) allow developers to inject code before/after core actions, create custom fields, and expose REST endpoints.

Core Capabilities & APIs

• Tag‑based Template Engine: Provides conditional logic, loops, and content manipulation without the need for JavaScript or CSS dependencies.
• RESTful API: Exposes CRUD operations on articles, pages, and media; supports OAuth2 for third‑party integrations.
• Webhooks: Built‑in support for triggering external services on events such as publish, update, or delete.
• Multi‑site: The tar.gz distribution includes a multi‑tenant configuration that shares the same codebase across isolated databases.
• Internationalization: Full gettext support with automatic language detection and a translation workflow integrated into the admin UI.

Deployment & Infrastructure

Textpattern can be deployed on any LAMP/LEMP stack that satisfies its PHP and MySQL requirements. It scales horizontally by separating the web tier from the database, and can be containerized with Docker (official images are available on Docker Hub). For high‑traffic scenarios, a read‑replica setup or caching layer (e.g., Redis) can be added to reduce database load. The lean codebase means that a single-node deployment is often sufficient for small to medium sites, while the multi‑site feature allows consolidation of multiple domains onto one server.

Integration & Extensibility

The plugin system is the primary entry point for customization. Developers can register hooks, create new template tags, or override core classes via the plugins directory. The API and webhooks provide seamless integration with external services such as headless CMS workflows, CI/CD pipelines, or analytics platforms. Because the templating language compiles to pure PHP, it is trivial to embed custom logic or third‑party libraries directly into templates.

Developer Experience

• Documentation: The official docs cover installation, API usage, and plugin development; the code is heavily commented for readability.
• Community: An active forum, mailing list, and GitHub issue tracker provide rapid support. The project’s long history (22+ years) ensures stability and a wealth of legacy plugins.
• Testing: Unit tests are written in PHPUnit, and continuous integration is maintained on GitHub Actions.

Use Cases

• Personal Blogs & Portfolios: Rapid setup with minimal overhead; the tag system allows designers to craft custom layouts.
• Small Business Websites: Multi‑site capability lets a single instance manage several brand sites with isolated content.
• Headless CMS: The REST API and webhook support make it suitable for delivering content to SPA frontends or mobile apps.
• Educational Projects: The clear architecture and PHP base make it an excellent teaching tool for web development fundamentals.

Advantages Over Alternatives

For developers seeking a small, secure, and highly customizable PHP CMS that can be extended or turned into a headless backend with minimal friction, Textpattern offers a compelling blend of performance, extensibility, and community support.