Deploying SilverStripe

Introduction

SilverStripe is a powerful open-source content management system and PHP framework used by governments, enterprises, and developers worldwide. It combines an intuitive drag-and-drop page editor with a robust MVC framework, making it suitable for both simple websites and complex web applications.

Originally developed in New Zealand, SilverStripe has grown into a mature platform trusted by organizations including the New Zealand government, major universities, and international brands. Its dual nature as both a CMS and a development framework provides flexibility for projects of any scale.

Key features of SilverStripe include:

Intuitive CMS Interface: A clean, modern admin interface that content editors love
Drag-and-Drop Editing: Visual page building with elemental content blocks
MVC Framework: Full-featured PHP framework for custom development
GraphQL API: Built-in headless CMS capabilities for modern frontends
Version Control: Content versioning with draft and published states
Multi-Site Support: Manage multiple websites from a single installation
User Permissions: Granular access control for content and admin sections
Asset Management: Powerful file and image management system
Form Builder: Visual form creation with validation and submissions tracking
SEO Tools: Built-in meta tag management and URL handling
Subsites Module: Create and manage related websites easily
Active Community: Strong ecosystem of modules and community support
Enterprise Ready: Used by major organizations for mission-critical sites

This guide walks through deploying SilverStripe on Klutch.sh using Docker, configuring the database, and setting up your CMS for production use.

Why Deploy SilverStripe on Klutch.sh

Deploying SilverStripe on Klutch.sh provides several advantages:

Simplified Deployment: Klutch.sh automatically detects your Dockerfile and builds SilverStripe without complex server configuration.

Persistent Storage: Attach persistent volumes for assets, uploads, and cached files that survive redeployments.

HTTPS by Default: Klutch.sh provides automatic SSL certificates for secure content management.

GitHub Integration: Connect your repository for automatic deployments when you push changes.

Scalable Resources: Allocate CPU and memory based on your site’s traffic and complexity.

Environment Variable Management: Securely store database credentials and configuration.

Custom Domains: Assign your own domain for your SilverStripe installation.

Always-On Availability: Your website remains accessible 24/7 without managing infrastructure.

Prerequisites

Before deploying SilverStripe on Klutch.sh, ensure you have:

A Klutch.sh account
A GitHub account with a repository for your SilverStripe project
A MySQL or PostgreSQL database
Basic familiarity with Docker, PHP, and Composer
(Optional) A custom domain for your website

Deploying SilverStripe on Klutch.sh

Create a GitHub Repository

Create a new GitHub repository for your SilverStripe project. You can start with a fresh installation or an existing SilverStripe site.

Create Your Dockerfile

Create a Dockerfile in your repository:

FROM php:8.2-apache

RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
    libpng-dev \
    libjpeg-dev \
    libfreetype6-dev \
    libzip-dev \
    libicu-dev \
    unzip \
    git \
    && docker-php-ext-configure gd --with-freetype --with-jpeg \
    && docker-php-ext-install gd pdo pdo_mysql zip intl opcache

RUN a2enmod rewrite

COPY --from=composer:latest /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer

WORKDIR /var/www/html

COPY . .

RUN composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader

RUN chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html \
    && chmod -R 755 /var/www/html

ENV SS_DATABASE_CLASS="MySQLDatabase"
ENV SS_DATABASE_SERVER=${SS_DATABASE_SERVER}
ENV SS_DATABASE_NAME=${SS_DATABASE_NAME}
ENV SS_DATABASE_USERNAME=${SS_DATABASE_USERNAME}
ENV SS_DATABASE_PASSWORD=${SS_DATABASE_PASSWORD}
ENV SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME=${SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME}
ENV SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_PASSWORD=${SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_PASSWORD}
ENV SS_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE="live"

EXPOSE 80

CMD ["apache2-foreground"]

Create Apache Configuration

Create a .htaccess file if not already present in your project root:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/resources
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteRule .* index.php [L]
</IfModule>

Push Your Repository to GitHub

Commit and push all files to your GitHub repository.

Create a Database

Set up a MySQL or PostgreSQL database for SilverStripe. Note down the connection details.

Create a New Project on Klutch.sh

Navigate to the Klutch.sh dashboard and create a new project.

Create a New App

Within your project, create a new app and connect your GitHub repository.

Configure Environment Variables

Add the following environment variables:

Variable	Value
`SS_DATABASE_SERVER`	Your database host
`SS_DATABASE_NAME`	Your database name
`SS_DATABASE_USERNAME`	Your database username
`SS_DATABASE_PASSWORD`	Your database password
`SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_USERNAME`	Initial admin username
`SS_DEFAULT_ADMIN_PASSWORD`	Initial admin password

Configure HTTP Settings

Set the traffic type to HTTP and configure the internal port to 80.

Attach Persistent Storage

Add persistent volumes:

Mount Path	Recommended Size	Purpose
`/var/www/html/public/assets`	10 GB+	Uploaded files and images
`/var/www/html/silverstripe-cache`	1 GB	Application cache

Deploy Your Application

Click Deploy to start the build process.

Run Database Build

After the first deployment, access the dev/build URL to initialize the database: https://your-app.klutch.sh/dev/build

Access Your CMS

Navigate to https://your-app.klutch.sh/admin and log in with your admin credentials.

Configuring SilverStripe

After deployment, configure your site through the CMS:

Site Settings: Configure your site name, tagline, and contact information
Theme: Apply and customize your chosen theme
Pages: Create your site structure and content
Users: Set up additional CMS users with appropriate permissions

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Deploying SilverStripe on Klutch.sh gives you a powerful, flexible CMS with automatic builds and persistent storage. Whether you’re building a simple brochure site or a complex web application, SilverStripe’s combination of intuitive editing and powerful development capabilities provides the tools you need.

With Klutch.sh handling infrastructure, you can focus on creating great content and building custom functionality for your specific needs.