Flat File Cms - Webmaster Forums - Webmaster forum for HTML, PHP, ASP, CSS and more

ashwani · 06-29-2006, 04:33 AM

Can any body plz tell me where can I find an open source PHP based cms. It should not have a backend database setup. It should us flat file concept instead.

hairyfreak · 08-03-2006, 01:36 AM

I wouldn't recommend using a flatfile CMS, especially if you are planning to run a largeish site. MySQL databases are much easier to manage, and a lot more stable. They also tend to be compressed better as well, so file sizes are smaller.

shane.carr · 08-04-2006, 04:30 AM

I personally prefer text files for data rather than mysql. I have made this code which I use often on my site. All you need to do is make vars.txt with 777 permissions. Don't worry if you don't use it; I already had it made. If you want the text file in a different location, just choose edit > find and replace "vars.txt".

PHP Code:


		
			
<?

//variable functions
function getVar($variablename){
    //get the contents of the file
    $variabledatabase = file_get_contents("vars.txt");
    
    //find the value of the variable:
    $variablea = split("
", $variabledatabase);
    $return = false;
    foreach($variablea as $variablec){
        $variableb = split('\$', $variablec);
        if($variableb[1] == $variablename){
            $return = $variableb[2];
        }
        $i++;
    }
    return $return;
}

function newVar($variablenamenew, $variablecontentsnew){
    if(!getVar($variablenamenew) && getVar($variablenamenew) !== ""){ //if the variable doesn't exist
        //add a new one
        $hnew = fopen("vars.txt", "a");
        $allvarnew = "\$".$variablenamenew."\$".$variablecontentsnew."
";
        fwrite($hnew, $allvarnew);
        fclose($hnew);
        return true;
    } else return false;
}

function setVar($variablenameset, $variablecontentsset){
    if(getVar($variablenameset) || getVar($variablenameset) === ""){ //if the variable exists
        //get the contents of the file
        $varstxtcontents = file_get_contents("vars.txt");
        
        //change the variable
        $varstxtcontentsa = split('\$', $varstxtcontents);
        $j = 1;
        while($j<sizeof($varstxtcontentsa)){
            if($varstxtcontentsa[$j] == $variablenameset){
                $j++;
                $varstxtcontentsa[$j] = $variablecontentsset."
";
                $j--;
            }
            $j = $j + 2;
        }
        $variablecontentssetb = join("\$", $varstxtcontentsa);
        
        //actually write the new file
        $hsetw = fopen("vars.txt", "w");
        fwrite($hsetw, $variablecontentssetb);
        fclose($hsetw);
        return true;
    } else return false;
}

function delVar($varnamedel){
    if(getVar($varnamedel) || getVar($varnamedel) === ""){ //if the variable exists
        //get the contents
        $contentsdel = file_get_contents("vars.txt");
        
        //find and remove the variable
        $contentsdeli = 1;
        $contentsdel1 = split('\$', $contentsdel);
        while($contentsdeli < sizeof($contentsdel1)){
            if($contentsdel1[$contentsdeli] == $varnamedel){
                array_splice($contentsdel1, $contentsdeli, 2); //where it's actually removed
                $contentsdeli -= 2;
            }
            $contentsdeli += 2;
        }
        
        //put it back together
        $contentsdel1 = join("\$", $contentsdel1);
        
        //write it!
        $delh = fopen("vars.txt", "w");
        fwrite($delh, $contentsdel1);
        fclose($delh);
        
        return true;
    } else return false;
}

?>

neilc · 08-19-2006, 08:15 AM

I, too, shared your search for a flat file CMS. Tried cmsimple, jaf, sapid, reload, guppy, xml, openedit and pivot but finally decided on Limbo.

I'm a Joomla/Mambo user so I found the integration easy. Limbo can even use some (not many) Mambo templates. It's PHP so pretty easy to hack to your specific needs. It comes with a gallery, contact, weblinks and faq components plus many more. Best of all, it has a backup manager that allows you to backup/restore the "database". It's not a remote database - just an sql file stored in the directory structure (/data/backup). You can stuff up a page then use the restore function to put it back.

Obviously, you can't expect full blown features but you'll be pleasently surprised how much you can do with it.

It functions well "out of the box" but you'll probably want to clean up the text a bit.

BTW, download the limbo1042Lt version. It comes pre-packed with extra components.

saidev · 08-19-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairyfreak

I wouldn't recommend using a flatfile CMS, especially if you are planning to run a largeish site. MySQL databases are much easier to manage, and a lot more stable. They also tend to be compressed better as well, so file sizes are smaller.

Like hairyfreak said, you wouldn't want to use flatfile cms. Not for webapp, not only that database backend is easier to manage and stable, it also increase the security. If you store everything in text file and it is under the webroot, other users can download all your content at once.

shane.carr · 08-19-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saidev

If you store everything in text file and it is under the webroot, other users can download all your content at once.

That's assuming that there is more than one user. I greatly prefer using flat file because you can actually see what is in them by opening your text file, and you can directly edit the content rather than always running php scripts to do it for you.

saidev · 08-20-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane.carr

That's assuming that there is more than one user. I greatly prefer using flat file because you can actually see what is in them by opening your text file, and you can directly edit the content rather than always running php scripts to do it for you.

Don't think the issue is more than one user or not, if your flatfile database is in the webroot or htdocs, than is on the net; like you directed the other user to chmod file to 777, which mean is world read/writable. You can directly edit your text with database file text as you would using a text editor, use on o the many free query browser out there to edit the database information us you would in a text editor. If you know how to setup ssh tunnels, you can even edit your information via a secure line. Not sure what youmean, that "always running php scripts to do it for you"? You seem to be using php to read the information, so I assume that php is available?

webapp · 06-16-2007, 06:50 PM

I strongly recommend you to use WebAPP although its not runing on php it is written in Perl (cgi). Wehn it comes to flat file CMS, it is the best CMS open source portal script there out there.

WebAPP

WebAPP Web Automated Perl Portal.

marketingrep4u · 05-18-2008, 09:28 AM

I'm looking for something similar. I want to use the same content page over several websites. For example, I want to use the same 'Links' page on 5 different websites. Rather than update 5 static website links pages, I want to update one file that posts to each page.

I'm thinking that I might be able to use the same snippet of code on each html file to call a flat file on the server.

I don't think that a robust CMS is in order here. Rather than a CMS, should I be looking for an article manager/displayer?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Rich H.

smiffy6969 · 05-29-2008, 07:15 AM

I have a new flat file CMS called razorCMS, give it a try, it is offered under the GPLv3 licence.

razorCMS » Home

It is currently in it's first RC release and is a new system comprising of small parts of nanoCMS (most is new though especially the structure), the website explains all.

I am currently looking for some testers and users, the system is at RC but is very usable, I am looking to spend some time squashing bugs before releasing a stable version.

The system comes in one flavour, core, which is a stripped down to the max version with just enough to make it usable, no editors or anything like that. Then you add on the blade packs which add the extra functionality as you want it, hopefully this will give everyone the kind of system they want without the functionality they do not use. This should keeps things simple and fast.

My aim is to keep the core install very basic, and have everything else as add on's.

I have a dedicated forum for support and feedback, if your after a CMS without the need of a database, this might be for you.

smiffy6969