Freedom251 › Static site generators
Tapestry

What Tapestry is
Tapestry is a free static site generator for Windows and Linux/Unix. It builds websites from Markdown and other supported files, using front matter and the Plates native PHP template system. Its blog-aware content handling supports posts, drafts, categories, tags and scheduled publishing based on post dates. Built-in renderers process .md, .markdown, .htm, .html and .phtml files, while other files are copied to the build directory. A local preview server helps view a site during development. The default scaffold includes Laravel Elixir support for asset compilation, with packages for image optimization, JavaScript bundling and browser syncing. Plugins can extend or replace core components through Composer and service-provider registration. Tapestry builds source files into a destination directory but has no built-in deployment method; documentation describes sending generated files to a server or GitHub Pages. Installation requires PHP >= 5.6.4. The project uses the MIT License.
Who it suits
Tapestry suits developers building static sites with PHP templates and Markdown content. It is aimed at Windows or Linux/Unix users comfortable handling deployment separately.
What it does well
- Free static site generator
- Local preview server included
- Blog posts, drafts, categories and tags
- Extensible through Composer plugins
- MIT licensed
What to know first
- No built-in deployment method
- Requires PHP >= 5.6.4
- Documentation describes deployment as a separate step
Verdict
Tapestry provides a PHP-based static workflow with Markdown rendering, blog features, previews and plugin extension. You must deploy the generated files separately to a server or GitHub Pages.
Facts from Tapestry's own pages
- Assets
- The default project scaffold includes Laravel Elixir support for compiling assets, with packages for image optimization, JavaScript bundling, and browser syncing. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Blog support
- Tapestry includes blog-aware content handling, including posts, drafts, categories and scheduled publishing based on post dates. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Build and deploy
- Tapestry builds source files into a destination directory, and its documentation describes deploying generated static files to a server or GitHub Pages. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Content
- Tapestry’s default blog content type includes categories and tags for classifying posts. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Content formats
- Built-in renderers support .md, .markdown, .htm, .html and .phtml files; other files are copied to the build directory. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Content sources
- markdown · tapestry.cloud, 20 Sept 2026
- Deployment
- Tapestry has no built-in deployment method; its documentation describes deploying generated static files to a server or GitHub Pages. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Plugins can access Tapestry’s core and extend or replace components; the documentation describes installing plugins through Composer and registering a service provider. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · tapestry.cloud, 20 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation describes an asset plugin that works with gulp-rev to version static assets. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The site states that Tapestry is licensed under the MIT License. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The site credits Simon Dann as the maker and documentation maintainer. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- Installation instructions mention Windows and Linux/Unix PATH setup for the command-line tool. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- The installation instructions describe placing the executable on PATH and give commands for Windows and Linux/Unix. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Local preview server
- Yes · tapestry.cloud, 20 Sept 2026
- Pricing
- The pages opened describe Tapestry as downloadable software and do not state a price. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Tapestry is a static site generator that uses PHP Plates, front matter, and Markdown. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The installation documentation lists PHP >= 5.6.4 as a system requirement. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation invites users to report errors or contribute through the project’s GitHub repository. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported languages
- PHP · tapestry.cloud, 20 Sept 2026
- Templates
- Tapestry uses the Plates native PHP template system for building websites. · tapestry.cloud, 11 Oct 2026
Where Tapestry stands on Freedom251
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