Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.
Bolt CMS was built specifically for web developers who use Claude Code, Codex and open source agentic AI models.
A CMS that gets out of your way
Bolt CMS is a minimalist, file-based content management system. No database routing, no complex build pipelines — just PHP and Markdown files mapped directly to URLs.
File-based routing
Drop a file in the pages directory and it becomes a URL. No route tables, no configuration files — the filesystem is the router.
Zero-build styling
Style everything inline with Paradigm CSS. No Sass compilation, no PostCSS config, no CSS build pipeline to maintain.
Composable layouts
Mix and match headers, footers, and layouts per page. Each page declares what it needs — no global template inheritance to wrestle with.
Block system
PHP partials that bundle their own markup, scoped CSS, and JavaScript. Call bolt_block() with props and get an isolated, reusable component back.
API composition
Files under api/ map to routes by path. A get.php handles GET, post.php handles POST. Chain segments for nesting; _init.php bootstraps the whole tree.
BOLT_DB — flat-file store
Connectionless key/value store: public snapshots live in version-controlled JSON; private records write outside the webroot as PHP arrays. Zero database setup.
BOLT_SQL — relational layer
Static PDO/MySQL class with JSON-spec schema sync. Define your schema in a JSON file, sync it to the database, and read/write with typed CRUD helpers.
Everything included, nothing hidden
Bolt ships with the features you need to build real content sites, without the features you don't.
Markdown support
Write content in Markdown files that are automatically parsed and rendered within your chosen layout.
API routing
A URL under /api/ maps to a method-named handler file, with path parameters, shared bootstraps, and a uniform JSON response.
Extensions
Package pages, blocks, and API routes under extensions/ and drop them in. No registry to edit; core always resolves first.
Flat-file data store
BOLT_DB, a connectionless flat-file store for read-heavy JSON snapshots and secured private records — no database required.
Blocks
Self-contained partials that bundle their own scoped CSS, markup, and JavaScript — each instance isolated so two can share a page.
Dark/light tokens
CSS custom properties for dark and light themes with a zone-based system that applies per-section theming.
Design philosophy
Five principles that guide every decision in Bolt.
The filesystem is the router
No routing tables, no configuration files. A file at pages/about/index.php serves /about. That's it.
Convention over configuration
Sensible defaults mean you write less boilerplate. Layouts, headers, and footers follow naming conventions that just work.
Composition, not abstraction
Build pages by including partials and choosing layouts. No inheritance chains, no abstract base templates, no magic.
Zero-build styling
Paradigm CSS renders inline css="" attributes at load. No preprocessors, no custom CSS build, no purging step. Style directly in your markup.
Progressive enhancement
Pages render as plain HTML and work without JavaScript. Where you want interactivity, layer it on with a block or a little script — the content never depends on it.
When to use Bolt
Bolt is purpose-built for content sites that value simplicity over features. Here's where it shines.
Marketing sites
Company websites, product pages, and brand presence sites that need fast load times and easy updates.
Documentation
Technical docs, knowledge bases, and help centers. Markdown files with automatic navigation and search.
Landing pages
Campaign pages, product launches, and event sites. Spin up a page in seconds with the canvas layout.
Content-heavy sites
Blogs, articles, and editorial sites where content is king and the CMS should stay invisible.
Why not a traditional CMS?
WordPress and complex CMS platforms solve problems you might not have. Bolt gives you exactly what you need for content sites.
- Complex database-driven routing tables
- Plugin conflicts and version incompatibilities
- Build pipelines and compilation steps
- Database-dependent content storage
- Template engines (Twig, Blade, Handlebars)
- Admin panels you rarely use
- Simple files mapped directly to URLs
- No plugins to conflict or break
- Zero build step — edit and refresh
- Content lives in version-controlled files
- Plain PHP — no template language to learn
- FTP or git push to deploy
Start building with Bolt
Drop in your files, pick a layout, and ship. No setup wizards, no configuration ceremonies.