october

October is a content management system that gives you a clean, minimal backend for managing website content without locking you into rigid structures. It runs on Laravel and uses a file-based approach for themes and configuration, which means you can track everything in Git and deploy with confidence. The platform separates the frontend theme from the backend logic, so designers and developers can work independently.

October ships with a flexible page and layout system, a media manager, and a built-in theme engine that uses Twig for templates. It also includes a plugin system for extending functionality with eCommerce, forums, or analytics. The backend interface is clean and focused on content editing rather than overwhelming menu options. You can host it on any PHP 7.2+ server with MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite.

The project is maintained by the original team behind the CMS and follows an open core model. The core is free and open source under the MIT license, with premium plugins available from the marketplace. It is a solid choice for developers who want to build custom sites for clients without fighting a heavy framework or paying monthly SaaS fees.