1. Requirements
PHP 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.x recommended) Web server (Apache, Nginx, or PHP’s built-in server) No database required (all content is stored as Markdown files)
2. Installation
a. Download or Clone Download the latest release or clone the repository:
bash git clone https://github.com/fearlessgeekmedia/fearlesscms.git
cd fearlesscms
b. File Permissions
Ensure the following directories are writable by the web server:
/content /admin/config /config
On Linux, you can run:
bash chmod -R 755 content admin/config config
3. Running the CMS
a. Using PHP’s Built-in Server From the project root, run:
bash php -S localhost:8000 router.php
Then visit http://localhost:8000 in your browser.
b. Using Apache or Nginx Point your web root to the project directory. Make sure .htaccess (for Apache) or equivalent rewrite rules (for Nginx) are set up to route all requests to index.php and /admin to /admin/index.php.
*Starting with version 0.0.2, you will run ./serve.sh and visit http://localhost:8080.
*
4. First Login
Go to /admin (e.g., http://localhost:8000/admin) Default credentials: Username: admin Password: changeme123 Important: For security, change your password immediately after logging in.
5. Creating Content
All content pages are Markdown files in the /content directory. To create a new page: Log in to the admin panel. Click New Page. Enter a title, filename (e.g., about.md), and initial content. Save and edit with the built-in Markdown editor.
6. Managing Users
Go to Users in the admin panel. Add, edit, or delete users as needed. Only logged-in admins can manage users.
7. Themes
Themes are in the /themes directory. Switch themes from the Themes section in the admin panel. Each theme contains its own templates and assets.
8. Menus
Menus are managed via /admin/config/menus.json. Use the admin panel to add, edit, or remove menu items. Menus can be rendered in templates using {{menu=main}} or similar tags.
9. Plugins (Optional)
Plugins can be placed in the /plugins directory. Enable or disable plugins from the admin panel.
10. Backups
Regularly back up the /content and /admin/config directories to save your pages and settings.
11. Support
For help, feature requests, or bug reports, visit the GitHub Issues page. Support development on Ko-Fi.
12. License
FearlessCMS is open-source and released under the MIT License.
Happy publishing! 🚀