Publii

Publii is a desktop application for building static websites. Unlike systems like WordPress or Ghost that run on a server and generate pages on demand, Publii runs entirely on your own computer. You create your content through a visual interface, and Publii generates a folder of finished HTML files that you then upload to any web host.

The app runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Because it runs locally, you can create and edit content even without an internet connection. When you are ready to publish, Publii uploads the finished files for you. It supports several upload destinations including standard web servers via HTTP/SFTP, GitHub Pages, Netlify, Amazon S3, and Google Cloud Storage.

The interface is designed to feel familiar to anyone who has used a traditional CMS like WordPress or Joomla. You write posts, configure site settings, and choose from built-in themes and options. The end result is a static site, meaning there is no database or server-side code running when visitors load pages. Static sites tend to load quickly and have fewer security exposures than server-rendered sites.

Publii is built with Electron, the same framework that packages web-based software as a native desktop app. The templating layer uses Handlebars.js. The project is open source under the GPL v3 license and accepts community contributions through GitHub. Financial support is managed via Open Collective.

The README describes the tool as filling a gap between command-line static site generators, which it notes can be difficult for beginners, and server-based CMSs that require a database and hosting running PHP or similar. Publii aims to give non-technical users the simplicity of a visual CMS while still producing a static, fast-loading output.