About GetSimple CMS
Learn more about GetSimple CMS, our mission and the team behind the project.
Simplicity
GetSimple is designed to be as simple as possible for both developers and end-users. Its intuitive interface allows users to manage content without any technical knowledge, while developers can easily extend its functionality through plugins and themes.
Flexibility
GetSimple is highly flexible, allowing users to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex business sites. Its modular architecture enables developers to customize and extend the CMS to meet specific requirements.
Community
GetSimple has a vibrant and active community of users and developers who contribute to its growth and improvement. The community provides support, shares knowledge, and develops plugins and themes to enhance the CMS's capabilities.
Performance
GetSimple is optimized for performance, ensuring fast load times and efficient resource usage. Its lightweight design minimizes server load, making it suitable for hosting on a wide range of environments.
Key Features
XML Based
We don't use mySQL to store our information, but instead depend the simplicity of XML. By utilizing XML, we are able stay away from introducing an extra layer of slowness and complexity associated with connecting to a mySQL database. Because GetSimple was built specifically for the small-site market, we feel this is the absolutely best option for data storage.
You can "Undo" Almost Everything
This feature was based off an eye-opening AListApart article explaining how warning messages never work as planned. Because of this, we've included "undo" into almost every action you can take on the site, giving you peace-of-mind for when you make those inevitable stupid mistakes.
Plugins & Themes
GetSimple comes with a powerful plugin and theme architecture that allows developers to easily extend and customize the CMS. With a wide range of plugins and themes available, users can enhance their websites with additional functionality and unique designs.
Multi-Language Support
GetSimple supports multiple languages, making it accessible to users around the world. The CMS includes built-in language packs and allows users to easily add new languages through community-contributed translations.
SEO Friendly
GetSimple is designed with SEO best practices in mind, helping users improve their website's visibility in search engine results. The CMS includes features such as customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemap generation to enhance SEO performance.
Easy to Learn UI
The top priority when designing our user-interface was to make it the best in it's class. We had the luxury of trying and testing all the competing management systems before designing ours, so we took the best out of each one - then refined it.
Regular Updates
GetSimple is actively maintained and updated to ensure compatibility with the latest web technologies and security standards. Regular updates provide users with new features, improvements, and bug fixes to enhance their experience with the CMS.
Robust Security
Security is a top priority for GetSimple, with built-in features to protect websites from common threats. The CMS includes measures such as user authentication, data validation, and regular security audits to ensure the safety of user data.
Designed for the Small-Site Market
This is one of the reasons GetSimple uses XML rather than a robust database such as mySQL. For most small businesses, their only real need is to be able to easily update their site without the need of a ton of extraneous rarely used features. GetSimple's goal is to manage small websites efficiently and effectively.
Our Mission
Our mission at GetSimple is to provide a simple, efficient, and user-friendly content management system that empowers individuals and small businesses to create and manage their online presence with ease. We strive to deliver a lightweight solution that prioritizes usability, flexibility, and performance, while fostering a supportive community of users and developers.
- Target Market - The market I intend to cater to is the small 1 to 15 page brochure site for the average small business owner. This person needs a simple web presence -- that's it. I believe there is very few CMSs out there that do this small group of website owners justice. Our targeted small business owner doesn't need e-commerce, a blog or a comment system. This business owners only requirement is to have a dead-simple way to manage his/her website's content.
- Skillset Needed - This website owner should not need to know HTML, and the UI should be as straightforward (even if that means losing some sexiness) as humanly possible. He or she should not have to think twice about how to go in and update their 'Contact Us' page with a new phone number.
- Aesthetics - Our admin panel & UI should be better designed than any other comparable CMS out there. This may be more selfish than anything, but what designer wants his/her client to log into the admin panel and see a cluttered mess of cheap, non-intuitive icons that give no value to what that client needs to do?
- Designer's POV - I created GetSimple because I would sometimes dread taking on small business clients. I did this for the sheer fact that it would take me forever to 1) install Wordpress if they wanted to be able to edit or 2) create 10+ flat HTML files. Now all I need to do is create one HTML template file and copy it along with the GetSimple installation up to a host. I can have that site done in a day - AND - give the client a kick-ass way to update their phone number. I need this little application to have the power to handle what I need to do as a designer, all without sacrificing the other bullet points above.
Meet the Team
GetSimple is developed and maintained by a dedicated team of developers and contributors who are passionate about creating a simple and effective CMS. The team is committed to continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that GetSimple remains a top choice for users seeking a lightweight and user-friendly content management solution.
John Stray
Project Revival Leader
John has been a web developer and designer for over 20 years. He loves open source software and believes in giving back to the community. John has his own web hosting company and uses GetSimple for many of his clients' websites. When he discovered that GetSimple development had stalled, he decided to step up and lead the revival of this beloved CMS.
Chris Cagle
Founder & Original Developer
Chris is 35 year old true-and-blue Pittsburgher (USA) and a father of three that has been on the web since the creation of Geocities. If he's not spending time with his family, he's online, much to the chagrin of his wife. He created the original GetSimple out of his need for a CMS as powerful as WordPress, yet not nearly as cumbersome to use. He also loves Pittsburgh sports more than anyone should.
Shawn Alverson
Original Lead Developer
Shawn, aka shawn_a is a 30 something who lives in the USA. He is a full time IT manager at a higher-ed institution and mainly works with electronic access, security, payment systems and oracle DB administration. His hobbies include small electronics, programming, gardening, cat collecting, and listening to experimental music.
Mike Swan
Developer
Mike, aka n00dles101, is a 41 year old who lives in Dublin, Ireland with his beautiful wife Joan and 2 children Zach and Jacob. He works full time in IS/IT and when not working he can usually be found behind his laptop programming and designing websites. He's been interested in computers since he got a Sinclair ZX81 for Christmas when he was 13. He enjoys reading, photography and listening to music.
Mike Henken
Developer
Mike is a 21 year old web developer living in sunny SW Florida. His love for technology has initiated the development of many practical web applications and websites. When he isn't busy programming on his W7 tablet, you can find him relaxing with his wife and 2 year old son or playing halo/battletfield. He has been interested in computers since his first atari and Windows 3.1 when he was 5.
Matthew Phillips
Marketing & Media
Matt is a 18 year old American guy living in the United States. When he's not in school or working he enjoys building, fixing, and programming computers. He's been working with computers and programming miscellaneous web applications since he was 13 years old. He enjoys reading books, and spending time with his friends and family.
Connie Müller-Gödecke
Supporter, translator, spam assassin
Working in IT for nearly 25 years, online since 18 years. She likes to travel, she learned 12 and speaks 5 languages, she kind of collects websites and is preparing mentally for the upcoming retirement, which will give her more time for her favorite pursuits: exploring open source software, content manangement systems, photography and gardening.
Tim Whittingham
Contributor, Supporter
Tim, aka Timbow is a freelance web designer from Somerset, UK. He says that using GetSimple means that every client gets a better site than they ever thought was possible. He can often be found on the forum helping people to get started with GetSimple, but not when the rugby is on.