# Sylius — Headless E-Commerce Framework on Symfony

> An open-source headless e-commerce platform built on Symfony and API Platform, designed for developers who need a customizable and API-first commerce solution.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Sylius — Headless E-Commerce Framework on Symfony

## Quick Use
```bash
composer create-project sylius/sylius-standard my-shop
cd my-shop
bin/console sylius:install
symfony server:start
```

## Introduction
Sylius is an open-source e-commerce framework built on top of Symfony and API Platform. Unlike monolithic e-commerce solutions, Sylius is designed as a set of decoupled components that developers can assemble and customize. Its API-first approach makes it suitable for headless commerce and complex custom storefronts.

## What Sylius Does
- Provides a modular commerce backend with products, orders, promotions, and inventory
- Exposes a full REST and JSON-LD API via API Platform for headless deployments
- Ships with a Twig-based storefront that can be replaced with any frontend framework
- Supports multi-channel selling with separate configurations per channel
- Handles complex pricing rules, promotions, and tax calculations

## Architecture Overview
Sylius is composed of independent Symfony bundles (Catalog, Order, Payment, Shipping, Promotion, etc.) wired together in a standard Symfony application. It uses Doctrine ORM with MySQL or PostgreSQL. The API layer is built with API Platform, providing automatic OpenAPI documentation. The admin panel uses Twig with a grid system for CRUD operations. Every component can be replaced or extended via Symfony's dependency injection.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Requires PHP 8.2+, Symfony CLI, MySQL or PostgreSQL, and Node.js for frontend assets
- Create a project with Composer using the Sylius Standard edition
- Run `sylius:install` to set up the database and load fixtures
- Configure channels, locales, and currencies in the admin panel
- Use Symfony Messenger for async order processing and notifications

## Key Features
- True headless commerce with API Platform and OpenAPI specs
- Component-based architecture allows replacing any part of the system
- Advanced promotion engine with catalog and cart rule types
- Multi-channel, multi-locale, and multi-currency by design
- Built-in admin panel with resource management grids

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **PrestaShop** — Monolithic PHP; easier to start, less flexible for custom builds
- **Bagisto** — Laravel-based; similar scope but different framework ecosystem
- **Spree** — Ruby-based headless; comparable architecture in a different language
- **Saleor** — Python/GraphQL; GraphQL-first vs. REST/JSON-LD approach
- **Medusa** — Node.js headless; newer project, growing plugin system

## FAQ
**Q: Is Sylius free for commercial use?**
A: Yes. Sylius is MIT-licensed, allowing unrestricted commercial use.

**Q: Do I need Symfony experience?**
A: Symfony knowledge is strongly recommended. Sylius follows Symfony conventions closely, so familiarity with bundles, services, and Doctrine is important.

**Q: Can Sylius handle B2B commerce?**
A: Yes. The multi-channel and customer group features support B2B pricing, catalogs, and checkout flows.

**Q: How does Sylius compare to Magento?**
A: Sylius is lighter, more developer-friendly, and PHP/Symfony-native. Magento is heavier with more out-of-the-box features but a steeper learning curve.

## Sources
- https://github.com/Sylius/Sylius
- https://docs.sylius.com

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/e67e5074-4236-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: Script Depot