# Publii — Privacy-First Static CMS for Desktop

> A desktop-based static site CMS that generates fast, secure websites you can host anywhere, with a visual editor and built-in themes requiring no server-side code.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Publii — Privacy-First Static CMS for Desktop

## Quick Use
```bash
# Download from https://getpublii.com/download
# Install the desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux
# Create a new site, pick a theme, write content
# Click Sync to deploy to GitHub Pages, S3, Netlify, or SFTP
```

## Introduction
Publii is a desktop content management system that generates static websites. Unlike traditional CMS platforms that require a database and server-side runtime, Publii stores everything locally on your machine and outputs plain HTML files. This approach delivers fast, secure sites that are cheap to host and easy to maintain.

## What Publii Does
- Provides a visual WYSIWYG and block editor for creating posts and pages
- Generates static HTML output optimized for performance and SEO
- Supports one-click deployment to GitHub Pages, Amazon S3, Netlify, SFTP, and more
- Includes a library of responsive themes with customization options
- Manages media, tags, authors, and menus through an intuitive desktop interface

## Architecture Overview
Publii is built with Electron for cross-platform desktop support. Content is stored locally as JSON files alongside media assets. When you build or sync, a rendering engine processes templates written in Handlebars, applies theme layouts, and produces a complete static website. The output can be uploaded to any hosting target using built-in deployment integrations.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Download and install the desktop application from the official website
- Create a new site project and select a theme from the built-in gallery
- Configure deployment settings to point at your hosting provider (S3, GitHub Pages, SFTP)
- Customize SEO settings, social sharing metadata, and analytics integration in the app
- Optionally create or modify themes using Handlebars templates and CSS

## Key Features
- No database, no server runtime, and no security patches to manage
- Built-in SEO tools with Open Graph, Twitter Cards, and structured data support
- Multiple deployment targets configurable per site
- Offline-first workflow with full local backup of all content
- AMP support and responsive image generation for fast page loads

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **WordPress** — requires a server, database, and ongoing maintenance; Publii is zero-maintenance static output
- **Hugo** — CLI-based for developers; Publii provides a GUI for non-technical users
- **Ghost** — headless CMS needing a Node.js server; Publii runs entirely on the desktop
- **Jekyll** — developer-oriented with Markdown and terminal workflow; Publii offers visual editing
- **Webflow** — SaaS with vendor lock-in; Publii keeps all content local and portable

## FAQ
**Q: Can multiple people collaborate on a Publii site?**
A: Publii is designed for single-user workflows. Team collaboration requires sharing the project directory through file sync or version control.

**Q: What hosting does Publii support out of the box?**
A: Built-in deployment supports GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, Amazon S3, Netlify, Google Cloud, SFTP/FTP, and manual file upload.

**Q: Is Publii truly free?**
A: The core application and several themes are free and open source under the GPL. Some premium themes are available for purchase.

**Q: Can I use a custom domain with Publii?**
A: Yes, custom domains are configured at the hosting provider level. Publii generates the site files and the hosting service handles DNS and TLS.

## Sources
- https://github.com/GetPublii/Publii
- https://getpublii.com

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-8a85328c
Author: Script Depot