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An open-source PHP CMS with a REST API and MCP server

Manage content in the dashboard, through the REST API, or with AI assistants over MCP, each with only the permissions you grant. Deploy by uploading the release archive; the installer sets up the rest.

MIT licensed PHP 8.1+ and MySQL or MariaDB Version 1.3.0 Source on GitHub

content/apps/hello/src/App.php
<?php
namespace Acme\Hello;

final class App extends \App\Core\App
{
    public function boot(): void
    {
        // A dashboard widget
        $this->registerWidget('stats', [
            'title'    => 'Site Stats',
            'surfaces' => ['dashboard'],
            'render'   => fn() => '<p>Hello 👋</p>',
        ]);

        // Hook into content
        $this->addFilter('post.content', fn($html) =>
            $html . '<hr>Thanks for reading!');
    }
}

One PHP class and a short app.json make a complete app. Write it yourself, or describe it to an AI with the Basehim AI context.

Running a site, or building on Basehim?

Install it in about five minutes

Choose where to run it. The web installer then sets up the database, the tables and your admin account.

  1. 1

    Download Basehim

    One zip of about 2 MB that contains the complete application.

    Download Basehim
  2. 2

    Upload it and create a database

    In your control panel's File Manager, upload the zip to your website's folder (usually public_html), extract it, and move everything out of the basehim folder. Then create an empty MySQL database.

  3. 3

    Open your site

    The installer opens by itself. Enter the database details, your site's name and your account. Four short screens and you're signed in.

PHP
8.1 or later
Extensions
pdo_mysql, mbstring, openssl, fileinfo; gd, curl and zip recommended
Database
MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+
Web server
Apache or LiteSpeed with mod_rewrite, or nginx

Full system requirements. Every step with screenshots, and what to do if something goes wrong: How to install Basehim on your hosting

What's in it

A REST API for everything

Posts, pages, media, comments, categories, tags, menus, users and settings, as JSON. Anything you can do in the dashboard, a script or another system can do too.

An MCP server for AI agents

Connect Claude or another MCP client to your site. You approve each permission it asks for: an assistant allowed to draft posts cannot see your users or change settings.

Apps you can write in an afternoon

An app is one PHP class and an app.json. If an app breaks, Basehim switches it off and keeps your site up.

Themes in plain PHP

PHP templates and a stylesheet. Menus, widget areas and Customizer options are declared in theme.json.

A marketplace in the dashboard

Install themes and apps from inside the admin. Every download is checked against its checksum before it is installed.

Deployment and updates

Runs on any server with PHP 8.1 and MySQL or MariaDB, including managed hosting with cPanel or Plesk, at the domain root or in a subfolder. New versions install from the Updates screen.

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Try Basehim on your own hosting

Free and MIT licensed. Download it now, or read the Guide first to see what installing involves.