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Deploying a CMS Made Simple App

CMS Made Simple is an open-source content management system built with PHP and the Smarty templating engine. It keeps content, functionality, and design completely separated, providing a flexible and user-friendly platform for managing websites without requiring coding knowledge from content editors. Whether you’re building a corporate website, blog, portfolio site, or community platform, CMS Made Simple offers an intuitive interface for content management combined with powerful extensibility for developers.

The platform is designed for three key audiences: editors who need simple, straightforward tools to manage content; designers who want complete freedom to create custom designs; and developers who need a modular, extensible platform with a comprehensive API. With a large ecosystem of third-party modules and plugins, CMS Made Simple can be extended to support blogging, newsletters, e-commerce, member areas, content syndication, and many other features. The GPL-v3 license ensures it remains open-source and community-driven, with an active forum and Slack community providing support.

Key Features

  • User-Friendly Admin Interface: Intuitive web-based interface for managing pages, content, and settings without technical knowledge
  • Smarty Templating Engine: Powerful separation of content, logic, and presentation for maximum design flexibility
  • No Design Restrictions: Any design created with HTML and CSS can be implemented as a CMS Made Simple theme
  • Modular Architecture: Extensible plugin and module system for adding custom functionality
  • Page Hierarchy: Organize content into parent-child page relationships for intuitive site structure
  • Content Versions: Track and restore previous versions of pages and content with version history
  • Permission System: Role-based access control for editors, administrators, and content managers
  • SEO Friendly: Built-in support for metadata, URL aliases, and search engine optimization features
  • Multi-language Support: Create and manage multi-language websites with translation management
  • Content Tagging: Tag and categorize content for improved organization and discoverability
  • User Management: Create editor accounts with granular permissions and access control
  • Extensible API: Comprehensive API for developing custom modules and plugins
  • Third-Party Modules: Large ecosystem of community modules for blogs, newsletters, galleries, and more
  • Flexible Content Types: Create custom content types beyond standard pages
  • URL Routing: Customize URL structure with friendly URLs and aliases
  • Search Functionality: Built-in search capability with full-text indexing
  • Media Management: Upload and manage images, documents, and other media files
  • Template Caching: Performance optimization through template and output caching
  • Backup and Restore: Export and backup site content for disaster recovery
  • Security Features: Input validation, XSS protection, and CSRF token protection

Prerequisites

To deploy CMS Made Simple on Klutch.sh, ensure you have the following:

  • An active Klutch.sh account with access to the dashboard at klutch.sh/app
  • A GitHub repository for version control
  • PHP 7.4+ runtime environment (provided by Klutch.sh Docker image)
  • MySQL or PostgreSQL database for content storage
  • Basic understanding of web servers and hosting concepts
  • Access to manage persistent storage for uploaded media files
  • Familiarity with Docker and containerization

Important Considerations

Deployment Steps

  1. Create the Dockerfile

    Create a Dockerfile in the root directory of your repository:

    FROM php:8.1-apache
    

    # Enable required PHP extensions
    RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
        libmysqlclient-dev \
        libpq-dev \
        zlib1g-dev \
        libpng-dev \
        libjpeg-dev \
        && docker-php-ext-install \
        mysqli \
        pdo_mysql \
        pdo_pgsql \
        gd \
        && apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
    

    # Enable Apache modules
    RUN a2enmod rewrite
    RUN a2enmod headers
    

    # Set working directory
    WORKDIR /var/www/html
    

    # Copy CMS Made Simple source
    COPY . .
    

    # Create necessary directories for uploads and cache
    RUN mkdir -p /var/www/html/uploads && \
        mkdir -p /var/www/html/tmp
    

    # Set proper permissions
    RUN chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html && \
        chmod -R 755 /var/www/html && \
        chmod -R 775 /var/www/html/uploads && \
        chmod -R 775 /var/www/html/tmp
    

    # Create Apache configuration
    RUN cat > /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf << 'EOF'
    <VirtualHost *:80>
        ServerName localhost
        DocumentRoot /var/www/html
    

        <Directory /var/www/html>
            Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks
            AllowOverride All
            Require all granted
        </Directory>
    

        ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
        CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
    </VirtualHost>
    EOF
    

    # Expose HTTP port
    EXPOSE 80
    

    # Health check
    HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --start-period=10s --retries=3 \
        CMD curl -f http://localhost/ || exit 1
    

    # Start Apache
    CMD ["apache2-foreground"]

    This Dockerfile sets up a PHP environment with Apache and all necessary extensions for CMS Made Simple.

  2. Create Installation Script

    Create an entrypoint.sh file to handle initialization:

    #!/bin/bash
    set -e
    

    echo "Preparing CMS Made Simple environment..."
    

    # Check if CMS Made Simple is already installed
    if [ ! -f "/var/www/html/config.php" ]; then
        echo "CMS Made Simple appears to be uninitialized."
        echo "Please complete the installation through the web interface."
    else
        echo "CMS Made Simple installation found, starting application."
    fi
    

    # Ensure proper permissions
    chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html
    chmod -R 775 /var/www/html/uploads
    chmod -R 775 /var/www/html/tmp
    

    # Start Apache
    exec apache2-foreground

    You can update the Dockerfile CMD to use this script if custom initialization is needed.

  3. Create Environment Configuration File

    Create an .env.example file with configuration variables:

    # CMS Made Simple Configuration
    CMS_SITE_NAME=My Website
    CMS_ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@example.com
    

    # Database Configuration
    DB_TYPE=mysql
    DB_HOST=database-host
    DB_PORT=3306
    DB_NAME=cmsmadesimple
    DB_USER=cms_user
    DB_PASSWORD=secure-password
    

    # Application Settings
    APP_DEBUG=false
    APP_ENV=production
    

    # Timezone
    APP_TIMEZONE=UTC
    

    # URL Configuration
    APP_URL=https://example-app.klutch.sh
    

    # Admin Settings (set during installation)
    CMS_ADMIN_USERNAME=admin
    CMS_ADMIN_PASSWORD=secure-admin-password
    

    # Security Settings
    SESSION_LIFETIME=1440
    COOKIE_SECURE=true
    COOKIE_HTTPONLY=true
    

    # Upload Settings
    MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE=50  # In MB
    ALLOWED_UPLOAD_TYPES=jpg,jpeg,png,gif,pdf,doc,docx,xls,xlsx
    

    # Email Configuration (optional)
    MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
    MAIL_HOST=smtp.example.com
    MAIL_PORT=587
    MAIL_USERNAME=notifications@example.com
    MAIL_PASSWORD=smtp-password
    MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=noreply@example.com

  4. Create a .gitignore File

    Create a .gitignore file to exclude sensitive files:

    # Environment variables
    .env
    .env.local
    .env.*.local
    

    # CMS Made Simple configuration
    config.php
    config-local.php
    

    # Uploaded files and cache
    /uploads/
    /tmp/
    /tmp_cms/
    

    # IDE and editor files
    .vscode/
    .idea/
    *.swp
    *.swo
    *~
    

    # OS files
    .DS_Store
    Thumbs.db
    

    # PHP
    .php-cs-fixer.cache
    

    # Logs
    *.log
    logs/
    

    # Node (if using frontend tooling)
    node_modules/
    npm-debug.log
    

    # Composer
    vendor/
    composer.lock

  5. Prepare Database

    Before deploying CMS Made Simple, you need to create a database:

    Option A: Deploy MySQL on Klutch.sh

    1. Go to klutch.sh/app
    2. Click Create App and select the MySQL Docker image
    3. Set up the database:
      • Database Name: cmsmadesimple
      • Root Password: Secure password
      • Database User: cms_user
      • Database Password: Secure password
    4. Configure HTTP traffic on port 3306 for local connections, or use internal networking
    5. Note the database connection details

    Option B: Use External Database Service

    • Use your hosting provider’s managed MySQL or PostgreSQL service
    • Note the connection credentials for configuration

  6. Push to GitHub

    Initialize and push your repository:

    Terminal window
    git init
    git add Dockerfile entrypoint.sh .env.example .gitignore
    git commit -m "Initial CMS Made Simple deployment setup"
    git branch -M main
    git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPOSITORY.git
    git push -u origin main

    Replace YOUR_USERNAME and YOUR_REPOSITORY with your actual GitHub credentials.

  7. Deploy on Klutch.sh

    1. Log in to your Klutch.sh dashboard at klutch.sh/app
    2. Click Create App and select GitHub
    3. Connect your GitHub account and select your CMS Made Simple repository
    4. Configure deployment settings:
      • App Name: cms-website (or your preferred name)
      • Branch: Select main
    5. Add environment variables:
      • DB_HOST: Your database host
      • DB_NAME: cmsmadesimple
      • DB_USER: cms_user
      • DB_PASSWORD: Your database password
      • APP_URL: Your deployment URL
      • Other variables from .env.example
    6. Click Deploy and wait for deployment to complete

    Klutch.sh automatically detects the Dockerfile and uses it for building and deploying your CMS Made Simple instance.

  8. Attach Persistent Storage

    After deployment, attach a persistent volume for uploaded files:

    1. Navigate to your deployed CMS Made Simple app
    2. Go to Storage or Volumes section
    3. Click Add Persistent Volume
    4. Configure the volume:
      • Mount Path: /var/www/html/uploads
      • Size: 50GB (adjust based on expected media)
    5. Click Add Volume and restart the container

    This ensures all uploaded media files persist across container updates and restarts.

  9. Configure Network Traffic

    Set up HTTP traffic for your CMS Made Simple website:

    1. In your app settings, navigate to Network section
    2. Set Traffic Type to HTTP
    3. Internal port should be set to 80 (Apache default)
    4. Your CMS Made Simple site will be accessible at https://example-app.klutch.sh

Initial Setup and Configuration

After your CMS Made Simple deployment is running, follow these steps to complete the setup:

Access the Installation Wizard

  1. Open your browser and navigate to https://example-app.klutch.sh
  2. You should see the CMS Made Simple installation wizard
  3. Follow the installation steps to configure your site

Complete the Installation

  1. Welcome Screen: Review the installation requirements
  2. Database Configuration: Enter your database credentials:
    • Database Type: MySQL or PostgreSQL
    • Database Host: Your database hostname
    • Database Name: cmsmadesimple
    • Database User: cms_user
    • Database Password: Your password
    • Click Test Connection to verify
  3. Administrator Account: Create your admin user:
    • Username: Administrator login
    • Password: Strong admin password
    • Email: Admin email address
  4. Site Configuration:
    • Site Name: Your website title
    • Site URL: Your deployment URL
    • Time Zone: Select appropriate timezone
  5. Finish Installation: Click Complete Installation

Log In to Admin Panel

  1. After installation, navigate to https://example-app.klutch.sh/admin
  2. Log in with your administrator credentials
  3. You’re now in the CMS Made Simple admin panel

Create Your First Page

  1. Go to Pages in the admin menu
  2. Click Create New Page
  3. Enter:
    • Page Title: Your page name
    • Content: Page content (HTML allowed)
    • URL Name: Unique identifier for the URL
  4. Click Save

Configure Basic Settings

  1. Go to Settings → Global Settings
  2. Configure:
    • Site Name: Your website title
    • Site Description: Meta description for SEO
    • Time Zone: Server timezone
    • Default Editor: WYSIWYG editor or HTML
  3. Go to Settings → Users to manage administrator and editor accounts
  4. Go to Modules to enable additional features

Environment Variables

Basic Configuration

DB_HOST=database-host
DB_NAME=cmsmadesimple
DB_USER=cms_user
DB_PASSWORD=password
APP_URL=https://example-app.klutch.sh
CMS_SITE_NAME=My Website

These variables control the database connection and basic site settings for your CMS Made Simple deployment.

Production Configuration

For production deployments, use these environment variables with Nixpacks customization:

# Advanced Production Configuration


# Database Configuration with Connection Pooling
DB_TYPE=mysql
DB_HOST=database.example.com
DB_PORT=3306
DB_NAME=cmsmadesimple
DB_USER=cms_user
DB_PASSWORD=very-secure-password
DB_CHARSET=utf8mb4
DB_COLLATION=utf8mb4_unicode_ci


# Application Environment
APP_ENV=production
APP_DEBUG=false
APP_URL=https://data.example.com


# Site Configuration
CMS_SITE_NAME=Corporate Website
CMS_ADMIN_EMAIL=admin@example.com
CMS_SITE_DESCRIPTION=Your website description


# Session Settings
SESSION_LIFETIME=1440
SESSION_DOMAIN=example.com
COOKIE_SECURE=true
COOKIE_HTTPONLY=true
COOKIE_SAMESITE=Strict


# Security
ENABLE_2FA=true
FORCE_HTTPS=true
SECURITY_KEY=your-secret-key-minimum-32-chars


# Upload Configuration
MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE=100  # In MB
ALLOWED_UPLOAD_TYPES=jpg,jpeg,png,gif,pdf,doc,docx,xls,xlsx,zip
UPLOAD_DIRECTORY=/var/www/html/uploads


# Cache Configuration
CACHE_DRIVER=file
CACHE_TTL=3600


# Logging
APP_LOG_LEVEL=info
ERROR_LOG_EMAIL=errors@example.com


# Email Configuration
MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.example.com
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=notifications@example.com
MAIL_PASSWORD=smtp-password
MAIL_FROM_NAME=Website Notifications
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=noreply@example.com


# Apache Configuration
APACHE_LOG_LEVEL=warn
APACHE_TIMEOUT=300
APACHE_MAX_REQUESTS=1000


# PHP Configuration
PHP_MEMORY_LIMIT=256M
PHP_UPLOAD_MAX_FILESIZE=100M
PHP_POST_MAX_SIZE=100M
PHP_EXECUTION_TIMEOUT=300


# SEO Settings
ENABLE_PRETTY_URLS=true
URL_ALIAS_PREFIX=/page/


# Language Settings
DEFAULT_LANGUAGE=en
SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES=en,es,fr,de


# Backup and Recovery
ENABLE_AUTOMATED_BACKUPS=true
BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS=30
BACKUP_STORAGE_PATH=/var/lib/cmsms-backups

To apply these variables:

  1. Go to your app settings in the Klutch.sh dashboard
  2. Navigate to Environment Variables
  3. Add or update each variable
  4. Click Save and redeploy if necessary

Code Examples

Bash: Automated Backup Script

This script creates regular backups of your CMS Made Simple database and uploads:

#!/bin/bash


# CMS Made Simple Automated Backup Script


set -e


# Configuration
CMS_DIR="/var/www/html"
BACKUP_DIR="/var/backups/cmsms"
DB_HOST="${DB_HOST:-localhost}"
DB_NAME="${DB_NAME:-cmsmadesimple}"
DB_USER="${DB_USER:-cms_user}"
DB_PASSWORD="${DB_PASSWORD}"
BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS=30
TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)


echo "Starting CMS Made Simple backup at $(date)..."


# Create backup directory if it doesn't exist
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"


# Backup database
BACKUP_FILE="$BACKUP_DIR/cmsms_database_${TIMESTAMP}.sql.gz"
echo "Backing up database to $BACKUP_FILE..."


mysqldump \
    -h "$DB_HOST" \
    -u "$DB_USER" \
    -p"$DB_PASSWORD" \
    "$DB_NAME" | gzip > "$BACKUP_FILE"


chmod 600 "$BACKUP_FILE"
echo "Database backup completed: $BACKUP_FILE"


# Backup uploads directory
UPLOADS_BACKUP="$BACKUP_DIR/cmsms_uploads_${TIMESTAMP}.tar.gz"
echo "Backing up uploads to $UPLOADS_BACKUP..."


tar -czf "$UPLOADS_BACKUP" -C "$CMS_DIR" uploads/


chmod 600 "$UPLOADS_BACKUP"
echo "Uploads backup completed: $UPLOADS_BACKUP"


# Backup configuration files
CONFIG_BACKUP="$BACKUP_DIR/cmsms_config_${TIMESTAMP}.tar.gz"
echo "Backing up configuration to $CONFIG_BACKUP..."


tar -czf "$CONFIG_BACKUP" \
    -C "$CMS_DIR" \
    config.php \
    2>/dev/null || true


chmod 600 "$CONFIG_BACKUP"
echo "Configuration backup completed: $CONFIG_BACKUP"


# Clean up old backups
echo "Cleaning up backups older than $BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS days..."
find "$BACKUP_DIR" -type f -mtime +$BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS -delete


echo "CMS Made Simple backup completed successfully at $(date)"

PHP: Custom CMS Made Simple Module

This example shows how to create a simple custom module in CMS Made Simple:

modules/ModuleExampleModule/ModuleExampleModule.php
<?php
// Custom CMS Made Simple Module Example


class ModuleExampleModule extends CMSModule {


    public $module_name = 'Example Module';
    public $module_version = '1.0';
    public $author = 'Your Name';
    public $description = 'Example CMS Made Simple Module';


    /**
     * Display the module in the admin panel
     */
    public function GetAdminSection() {
        ob_start();
        ?>
        <div class="form">
            <h3>Example Module Settings</h3>
            <form method="POST">
                <div class="form-group">
                    <label for="example_setting">Example Setting:</label>
                    <input type="text"
                           id="example_setting"
                           name="example_setting"
                           value="<?php echo $this->GetPreference('example_setting'); ?>" />
                </div>
                <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Save Settings" />
            </form>
        </div>
        <?php
        return ob_get_clean();
    }


    /**
     * Process admin form submissions
     */
    public function ProcessAdminSection(&$parms) {
        if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
            $this->SetPreference('example_setting', $_POST['example_setting']);
            echo '<div class="success">Settings saved successfully.</div>';
        }
    }


    /**
     * Template tag for displaying module content
     * Usage: {Example_Module field='content'}
     */
    public function SmartTag(&$params) {
        $field = isset($params['field']) ? $params['field'] : 'content';


        switch ($field) {
            case 'content':
                return $this->GetPreference('example_setting');
            case 'info':
                return 'Example Module v' . $this->module_version;
            default:
                return 'Unknown field: ' . $field;
        }
    }


    /**
     * Get content for the front end
     */
    public function GetContent(&$params) {
        return '<div class="example-module">' .
               $this->GetPreference('example_setting') .
               '</div>';
    }


    /**
     * Initialize module hooks
     */
    public function InstallPostModule() {
        // Create any necessary database tables
        $db = cmsms()->GetDb();


        // Example: Create preferences table if needed
        $this->SetPreference('example_setting', 'Hello World');


        return true;
    }
}


// Register the module
if (!function_exists('GetModuleInfo')) {
    function GetModuleInfo($gCMS) {
        $mod = new ModuleExampleModule();
        return array(
            'name' => $mod->module_name,
            'version' => $mod->module_version,
            'installed' => true,
            'help' => 'This is an example CMS Made Simple module.'
        );
    }
}
?>

HTML/Smarty: Custom CMS Made Simple Template

This example shows how to create a custom CMS Made Simple theme template:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>{$page_title} - {cms_config_var key='sitename'}</title>
    <meta name="description" content="{$page_description}">
    {cms_meta}
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="{cms_template_dir}/css/style.css">
</head>
<body>
    <!-- Header -->
    <header class="site-header">
        <div class="container">
            <h1>{cms_config_var key='sitename'}</h1>
            <p class="tagline">{cms_config_var key='sitedescription'}</p>
        </div>
    </header>


    <!-- Navigation -->
    <nav class="main-navigation">
        <ul>
            {cms_breadcrumbs}
            {cms_menu depth='1'}
        </ul>
    </nav>


    <!-- Main Content -->
    <main class="main-content">
        <div class="container">
            <article class="page-content">
                <h1>{$page_title}</h1>


                {if isset($editbutton)}
                    <div class="edit-button">
                        {$editbutton}
                    </div>
                {/if}


                <div class="page-body">
                    {$content}
                </div>


                {if isset($page_keywords)}
                    <footer class="page-footer">
                        <p class="keywords">
                            <strong>Tags:</strong> {$page_keywords}
                        </p>
                    </footer>
                {/if}
            </article>


            <!-- Sidebar -->
            <aside class="sidebar">
                <section class="widget">
                    <h3>Recent Pages</h3>
                    <ul>
                        {cms_menu depth='2'}
                    </ul>
                </section>
            </aside>
        </div>
    </main>


    <!-- Footer -->
    <footer class="site-footer">
        <div class="container">
            <p>&copy; {$year} {cms_config_var key='sitename'}. All rights reserved.</p>
            <p>Powered by <a href="https://www.cmsmadesimple.org" target="_blank">CMS Made Simple</a></p>
        </div>
    </footer>


    <script src="{cms_template_dir}/js/main.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Best Practices

Content Management

  • Organized Page Structure: Create a logical page hierarchy with parent pages and child pages
  • Consistent Naming: Use descriptive, consistent names for pages and files
  • SEO Optimization: Fill in page titles, descriptions, and keywords for search engines
  • URL Aliases: Create friendly URLs with meaningful slugs instead of numeric IDs
  • Template Selection: Choose appropriate templates for different page types
  • Media Organization: Organize uploaded files into logical folders
  • Content Versioning: Take advantage of version history before major edits

Security and Performance

  • Regular Backups: Schedule automatic backups of database and uploads
  • Access Control: Limit editor permissions based on roles and responsibilities
  • Keep Updated: Update CMS Made Simple and modules regularly for security patches
  • SSL/HTTPS: Ensure your site uses HTTPS for secure communication
  • Strong Passwords: Use strong passwords for administrator and editor accounts
  • Cache Optimization: Enable caching to improve site performance
  • Database Optimization: Regular database maintenance and optimization

User and Editor Management

  • Clear Permissions: Define clear permission levels for different user roles
  • Editor Training: Provide documentation and training for content editors
  • Approval Workflow: Implement review and approval processes for content
  • Audit Logging: Monitor and track changes made by different editors
  • Account Security: Enforce strong passwords and regular password updates

Module and Extension Management

  • Quality Modules: Use trusted modules from the community directory
  • Test First: Test modules in development before deploying to production
  • Module Updates: Keep modules updated with latest versions and patches
  • Avoid Conflicts: Test module compatibility before installing multiple modules
  • Documentation: Keep documentation of installed modules and configurations

Troubleshooting

Issue: White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Solution: Check Apache error logs in the container. Enable debug mode by setting APP_DEBUG=true in environment variables. Check PHP error logs for fatal errors. Verify database connection with correct credentials and host accessibility.

Issue: Database Connection Failed

Solution: Verify database credentials and hostname are correct. Ensure database server is running and accessible from the CMS Made Simple container. Check firewall rules and network policies. Test the connection manually using MySQL client tools if needed.

Issue: Uploaded Files Lost After Restart

Solution: Confirm persistent volume is properly mounted at /var/www/html/uploads. Verify volume size is sufficient. Check that the volume persists in Klutch.sh settings and is attached to the container.

Issue: Slow Performance or Timeouts

Solution: Enable caching in CMS Made Simple settings. Optimize database queries. Increase PHP execution timeout via PHP_EXECUTION_TIMEOUT environment variable. Monitor resource usage and consider upgrading instance size. Archive old content to reduce database size.

Issue: Permission Denied for File Upload

Solution: Verify that the /var/www/html/uploads directory has write permissions for the www-data user. Check persistent volume is writable. Ensure Apache is running with correct user permissions.

Updating CMS Made Simple

To update to a newer version:

  1. Go to your Klutch.sh app dashboard
  2. Navigate to Deployments
  3. Pull the latest CMS Made Simple release from GitHub:
    Terminal window
    git pull origin main
  4. Commit any updates to your repository
  5. Push to GitHub
  6. Klutch.sh automatically redeploys with the new version
  7. Visit the admin panel to run any necessary database upgrades
  8. Test your site functionality

Always back up your database and uploads before updating.

Use Cases

Corporate Website

Deploy CMS Made Simple for corporate websites with multiple pages, team profiles, news sections, and event calendars managed by non-technical staff.

Blogging Platform

Create a multi-author blogging platform with categories, tags, comments, and scheduled publishing using CMS Made Simple’s flexible content management.

Community Portal

Build community websites with member areas, forums, event management, and resource libraries for local organizations and associations.

Portfolio Website

Design portfolio sites showcasing projects and work with flexible page layouts and media galleries managed through the admin interface.

Local Business Website

Create websites for local businesses with service pages, contact information, appointment booking, and customer testimonials.

Educational Platform

Deploy educational websites with course information, resource libraries, news, and event management for schools and training organizations.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

CMS Made Simple empowers organizations to manage websites without requiring technical expertise while providing developers with a flexible, extensible platform for custom development. By deploying CMS Made Simple on Klutch.sh, you gain a scalable content management solution backed by a mature, proven platform used by businesses, organizations, and communities worldwide.

The combination of CMS Made Simple’s intuitive interface for content editors, design freedom for template designers, and extensive API for developers makes it an ideal choice for sites requiring flexible content management. Whether you’re building a corporate website, blogging platform, community portal, or business site, CMS Made Simple provides the tools and flexibility needed for effective content management.

Start with the deployment steps outlined in this guide, configure your database and persistent storage, and gradually expand your website with pages, media, and custom modules. Leverage the active community forum for support, explore the module directory for extending functionality, and utilize the comprehensive documentation for implementing custom features and designs.