Cecil
Cecil is a free command-line PHP application for generating static websites from Markdown content, media, and Twig templates.
What Cecil is
Cecil is a free command-line PHP application for generating static websites from Markdown content, media, and Twig templates. Content is kept in Markdown files with front matter, and themes provide room to customize a site's design. Cecil can create pagination, sitemaps, redirects, robots.txt, taxonomies, RSS, and SEO metadata including Open Graph tags, Twitter cards, and structured data. It can also produce responsive WebP and AVIF images and compress them. Multilingual content and template translation are supported, alongside a local preview server. The generated site is static HTML; Cecil's maker says visits do not require a database or server-side script execution. Installation is documented for macOS, Windows, and Linux, but PHP 8.2 or later is required. Deployment recipes cover services such as Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, and GitLab Pages. Cecil is distributed under the EUPL-1.2 license and maintained by Arnaud Ligny; its first functional version was published in September 2013.
Good
- Free software under the EUPL-1.2 license.
- Generates static sites from Markdown and Twig.
- Supports multilingual content and template translation.
- Creates responsive WebP and AVIF images.
- Provides recipes for several deployment platforms.
Watch out
- Requires PHP 8.2 or later.
- Cloudflare Pages and Render no longer support PHP.
- Use requires a command-line application.
Who it suits
Cecil suits creators who prioritize website performance while wanting flexibility over design. It is aimed at people comfortable working with a command-line PHP tool and Markdown content.
Verdict
Cecil offers a Markdown- and Twig-based route to static sites, with built-in content generation and image handling. Its PHP requirement and the stated platform limitations are important to consider when choosing a deployment setup.
Plans and prices
From Cecil's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free software | Free | No cost or usage limits are stated; Cecil is distributed under the EUPL-1.2 license |
The facts
Each one read from Cecil's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Content
- Content is stored in Markdown flat files with front matter.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Content sources
- markdownchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Deployment
- The maker documents deployment recipes for platforms including Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, and GitLab Pages.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Deployment integrations
- The documentation provides deployment recipes for Netlify, Vercel, statichost, GitHub Pages, GitLab CI, and Surge.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Generated content
- It can automatically generate pagination, sitemaps, redirects, robots.txt, taxonomies, and RSS.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Image optimization
- Cecil automatically generates responsive images in WebP and AVIF formats and compresses them.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Images
- Cecil can automatically generate responsive images in WebP and AVIF formats and compress them to reduce load time.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Incremental builds
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Installation
- Cecil can be downloaded as a PHAR file and installed globally through Homebrew on macOS, Scoop on Windows, PHIVE, or a manual Linux command.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Intended users
- Cecil is designed for creators who prioritize website performance while retaining design flexibility.checked 3 Oct 2001
- License
- Cecil is free software distributed under the EUPL-1.2 license.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Localization
- Cecil supports multilingual content localization and template translation.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Local preview server
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Maintainer and history
- Cecil is maintained by web and eCommerce consultant Arnaud Ligny, and its first functional version was published in September 2013.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Maintenance
- Cecil is maintained by Arnaud Ligny, described as a Web and eCommerce consultant.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Multilingual support
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Product
- Cecil is a command-line PHP application that combines Markdown pages, media, and Twig templates to generate static websites.checked 2 Oct 2001
- Requirements
- PHP 8.2 or later is required.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Security
- The maker says generated static HTML has no database or server-side script execution during visits, avoiding vulnerabilities related to dynamic PHP on the final site.checked 3 Oct 2001
- SEO
- Cecil provides SEO helpers for Open Graph meta tags, structured data, Twitter cards, and other metadata.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Starter kits
- Cecil offers starter kits including a publishing blog, a Linktree alternative, a self-hosted photo stream, and a documentation site.checked 2 Oct 2001
The company
- Founded
- 2013checked 28 Sep 2001
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Platform limitation
- The documentation says Cloudflare Pages and Render no longer support PHP.checked 3 Oct 2001
The full review of Cecil
Cecil is a command-line static-site generator for people comfortable building websites from files and PHP. It suits creators who want control over presentation and a performance-focused published site; those seeking a hosted, point-and-click editor should look elsewhere.
Overview
Cecil turns Markdown pages with front matter, media, and Twig templates into static websites. Themes allow design customization while keeping content in flat files. Because the generated site has no database or server-side script execution for visitors, it avoids the operational moving parts and dynamic-PHP vulnerabilities associated with those setups. The trade-off is a build workflow that requires command-line use rather than a hosted editing interface.
For publishing, Cecil can generate pagination, sitemaps, redirects, robots.txt, taxonomies, and RSS. Incremental builds and a local preview server support iterative work, while localization and template translation help with multilingual sites.
Key features
Image handling is a practical strength: Cecil can create responsive WebP and AVIF images and compress them, helping reduce page weight without making image preparation entirely manual. SEO helpers generate Open Graph metadata, Twitter cards, and structured data. Starter kits for a blog, a Linktree alternative, a self-hosted photo stream, and a documentation site give users starting structures, but the content-and-build workflow remains file-based.
Deployment recipes cover Netlify, Vercel, statichost, GitHub Pages, GitLab CI, and Surge. That range gives users several static-hosting routes, but deployment compatibility matters: Cloudflare Pages and Render no longer support PHP, so they are not suitable targets for Cecil's documented PHP workflow.
Pricing
Cecil is free software under the EUPL-1.2 license. Its Free software plan costs nothing, and no usage limits are stated. There is no paid tier or free trial to weigh; the main cost is adopting a PHP command-line tool and maintaining the site-building workflow yourself.
Platforms
Cecil supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, with installation instructions for Linux via PHAR, macOS via Homebrew, and Windows via Scoop. It can also be installed through PHIVE or manually. PHP 8.2 or later is required, so an otherwise supported operating system is not enough if the required PHP runtime is unavailable or unsuitable for the deployment setup.
Who it's for
Cecil is a strong fit for creators who prioritize performance and want design flexibility, structured publishing features, and localized content while keeping source material in Markdown. Developers who prefer file-based content and can work with PHP should find its automated outputs useful. It is a weaker fit for people who want visual editing or a workflow that avoids runtime requirements during site generation.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Static output avoids a database and server-side execution for site visitors, reducing hosting complexity and exposure to dynamic-PHP vulnerabilities.
- Built-in generation for common publishing structures, SEO metadata, and responsive compressed images reduces repetitive site work.
- Free software with no stated usage limits and support for the three major desktop operating systems.
- Multilingual content and template translation make it useful beyond single-language sites.
Cons
- Building requires PHP 8.2 or later and command-line use, which rules out users seeking a hosted editing experience.
- Cloudflare Pages and Render no longer support PHP, narrowing deployment choices for users targeting those platforms.
Alternatives
Static site generators is the broader category to explore if Cecil's PHP-based approach is not the right fit.
Choose Gatsby if its open-source framework and web, API, or self-hosted platform options better match your setup; its Free plan also has a 300-credit monthly limit. Eleventy is another free, self-hosted static-site generator, with support for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Nanoc is a free project for users who want a static-site generator across those same desktop operating systems.
Hugo is a free-to-use, open-source option for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Bridgetown is another free option, with API, self-hosted, and desktop platform support. Metalsmith is free software under MIT/(L)GPL licenses for readers who want that licensing and its API and desktop platform options. Publii is a free alternative for Windows, macOS, or Linux users. Lume is free and built for Deno, with self-hosted and web platforms.
Verdict
Choose Cecil if you want a free, flexible Markdown-and-Twig publishing system that automates common site structures and image optimization while producing static output. Its central drawback is the PHP 8.2+ command-line requirement, compounded by deployment targets that do not support PHP; if that conflicts with your workflow, a different static-site generator is the better choice.
Getting started
- Visit https://cecil.app/ for the project and installation instructions.
- Ensure PHP 8.2 or later is available.
- Install Cecil using Homebrew on macOS, Scoop on Windows, or the documented Linux PHAR route.
- Create site content in Markdown files and use Twig templates or a starter kit.
- Preview locally, then follow a documented deployment recipe for a supported service.
Questions
Is Cecil free?
Yes. It is free software distributed under the EUPL-1.2 license.
What does Cecil use to build a site?
It combines Markdown pages, media and Twig templates to generate static websites.
Which platforms have documented installation routes?
Installation is documented for macOS, Windows and Linux. PHP 8.2 or later is required.
Does Cecil support multilingual sites?
Yes. It supports multilingual content localization and template translation.
Where can a Cecil site be deployed?
The maker provides deployment recipes for services including Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages and GitLab Pages. The documentation says Cloudflare Pages and Render no longer support PHP.
Alternatives to Cecil
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Gatsby
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