Grav CMS

beginner

Modern flat-file CMS with no database required.

Overview

Grav is a modern flat-file Content Management System built on PHP that stores content in Markdown files instead of a database. Developed by RocketTheme, Grav emerged as a response to the complexity and security vulnerabilities of traditional database-driven CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal. By eliminating the database layer entirely, Grav offers faster performance, simpler backups, and Git-friendly version control for content management. The LinuxServer.io Grav image provides a containerized environment with proper file permissions and timezone handling, running on Apache with PHP 8.x support. This flat-file architecture makes Grav exceptionally portable and eliminates common database-related issues like connection failures, corruption, or migration complexity. Content creators and developers benefit from Grav's Twig templating engine, extensive plugin ecosystem through GPM (Grav Package Manager), and the ability to edit content directly in Markdown files or through the optional Admin plugin interface.

Key Features

Flat-file architecture with Markdown content storage eliminating database dependencies
Twig templating engine with flexible theme customization and inheritance
GPM (Grav Package Manager) for one-click plugin and theme installation
Built-in Markdown Extra support with custom shortcodes and macros
Multi-language content support with automatic language detection
YAML-based configuration with environment-specific overrides
Responsive Admin Panel plugin for content management through web interface
Git-friendly content workflow enabling version control for pages and media

Common Use Cases

1Developer portfolios and documentation sites requiring version-controlled content
2Small business websites needing fast loading times without database overhead
3Marketing agencies managing multiple client sites with simplified deployment
4Technical blogs and knowledge bases leveraging Markdown writing workflows
5Prototype and staging environments where database setup adds complexity
6Educational institutions creating course materials with collaborative editing
7Personal blogs and creative portfolios prioritizing simplicity and performance

Prerequisites

Docker Engine 20.10+ and Docker Compose V2 for container orchestration
Minimum 512MB RAM allocated for PHP processes and file caching
Port 8080 available on host system for web interface access
Basic understanding of Markdown syntax for content creation
Familiarity with YAML configuration files for Grav settings
Knowledge of Twig templating for theme customization (optional)

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  grav: 
3    image: linuxserver/grav:latest
4    container_name: grav
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    environment: 
7      PUID: 1000
8      PGID: 1000
9      TZ: UTC
10    volumes: 
11      - grav_config:/config
12    ports: 
13      - "8080:80"
14
15volumes: 
16  grav_config:

.env Template

.env

1# No database required - flat-file CMS

Usage Notes

1Docs: https://learn.getgrav.org/
2Access at http://localhost:8080
3Install Admin plugin: bin/gpm install admin, then /admin
4Content stored as Markdown files in user/pages/
5Flat-file: no database, easy backups, Git-friendly
6Twig templating, extensive plugin ecosystem

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  grav:
5    image: linuxserver/grav:latest
6    container_name: grav
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    environment:
9      PUID: 1000
10      PGID: 1000
11      TZ: UTC
12    volumes:
13      - grav_config:/config
14    ports:
15      - "8080:80"
16
17volumes:
18  grav_config:
19EOF
20
21# 2. Create the .env file
22cat > .env << 'EOF'
23# No database required - flat-file CMS
24EOF
25
26# 3. Start the services
27docker compose up -d
28
29# 4. View logs
30docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/grav-cms/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Permission denied errors accessing /config: Ensure PUID/PGID match host user ownership of mounted volumes
Admin plugin not found after installation: Restart container after GPM install to reload plugin cache
Pages not displaying after creation: Check YAML frontmatter syntax in Markdown files for parsing errors
Slow performance on large sites: Enable Grav caching in system.yaml and consider Redis cache plugin
Theme changes not appearing: Clear Grav cache through Admin panel or delete /config/cache directory
GPM install failing with network errors: Verify container has internet access and GPM repository is accessible

Community Notes

Loading notes...

Download Recipe Kit

Get all files in a ready-to-deploy package

Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

Components

grav

Related Recipes

Ad Space

Shortcuts: C CopyF FavoriteD Download