A WordPress alternative called SilverStripe
Tags: php, webdev, wordpress, opensource
Published: 2022-03-31 18:06:20

Build great web experiences with a small learning curve, secure and easy customizations


I was introduced to Silverstripe in [rirev](https://rirev.com), where I started working as a web developer in 2016. I have been using SilverStripe for more than 6 years now to build websites and web apps. 
The documentation is easy and the learning curve is so smooth, you might just slip and fall for this system ♥. 

Over time it is a goto system to build websites for me, with custom designs over WordPress and it is much more secure which is something we have to look out for when using WordPress.


### What is Silverstripe?
They [say](https://www.silverstripe.org/)...
> Silverstripe CMS is the intuitive content management system and flexible framework loved by editors and developers alike. Equip your web teams to achieve outstanding results.

in technical terms, Silverstripe is an *open-source* PHP framework, which also supports a module for a robust CMS. It uses Mysql or Mariadb as a backend and can be easily deployed on any website hosting service where WordPress works.

Though WordPress is not the best comparison because even without additional plugins Silverstripe does a lot.

Silverstripe has 2 aspects a framework and then comes Silverstripe CMS which is built on the framework. I am just talking about the CMS for now.


> well, now you might ask...

### Why should I use it?
It is secure from the go. It is even used by the New Zealand government too for some of their [sites](https://trends.builtwith.com/websitelist/SilverStripe/New-Zealand). Every new version uses the latest PHP version and comes with an active community adding new features and bug fixes.

What Silverstripe promises and delivers is a great developer experience. It uses new age OOP to build all the serverside components, unlike WordPress.

**Super flexible & extensible**

Silverstripe CMS fits the outcomes you want, and doesn't force your business outcomes into an out-of-the-box solution. Customise to your needs!

**Easy-to-use**

You can be the CMS expert in no time! Get started quickly and deliver your content to your users fast.

**Robust & secure**

Don’t stay awake at night worrying! Silverstripe CMS is solid as a rock, with enterprise-level security and support, so you can rest easy!

**Open-source**

Collaboration from our global army of community members and commercially supported by Silverstripe.

{% embed https://github.com/silverstripe/silverstripe-framework %}



> alright, but what about a custom web design

### Pages in SilverStripe

It comes with an easy component like templating structure, where you can pass parameters and reuse templates. It has support for layout templates based on the defined page type. 
It supports looping and conditionals in the template for building dynamic pages and having context in the template, no need to write PHP code in the template.

> and?...

### About the CMS

It supports a file upload system to save and relate files to sections and pages. You are not restricted to only featured images, but you can create your own widgets with the DataObjects and use them to show dynamic Testimonials, carousel and a lot more.

It is also easy to use SCSS with the design and be able to minify and merge all styles, including third party styles and javascript if you want to.

Great support for static caching pages, that gives the performance of a static site, where you can decide when the cache will refresh.

> what about the administrator?

### CMS Admin
It comes with a user login and a great role management system inbuilt, where you can assign admin, editor, content manager and make your own groups and roles. 
The admin panel is built on React and GraphQL, working seamlessly with the CMS.


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