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Important: This is a legacy deployment guide for an existing Ubuntu 18.04/PHP 7.2 requirement, a test system, or a compatibility-sensitive site. Ubuntu 18.04 left standard support on May 31, 2023; PHP 7.2 security fixes for it are associated with Ubuntu Pro/Expanded Security Maintenance. Pico’s maintainers also say development has stopped and recommend against Pico for new websites. For a new project, use a supported Ubuntu release, maintained PHP, and a maintained CMS.
Pico 2.1.4 is listed at picocms.org/download. Its current package metadata requires PHP >=7.0.8, so PHP 7.2 is compatible with that release when its extensions and server configuration are correct.
What you need before installing
- Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic), or an isolated legacy VM/container with equivalent repositories.
- SSH access and a sudo-capable account.
- A DNS record if you will use a domain name.
- Apache2 and PHP 7.2 with the
domandmbstringextensions. - A backup or snapshot before changing an existing server.
Pico is a flat-file CMS: pages live in Markdown files and no MySQL or PostgreSQL database is required. Pico’s documentation describes PHP 5.3.6+ as a baseline, while the current Packagist package requires PHP 7.0.8 or newer. See the Pico documentation and its package metadata.
Confirm the Ubuntu release and architecture
Package names are release-dependent. Check before installing:
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cat /etc/os-release
dpkg --print-architectureFor this guide, /etc/os-release should identify Ubuntu 18.04 (often with VERSION_ID="18.04"). Ubuntu 20.04 uses PHP 7.4 in its standard repositories and newer releases use later branches, so php7.2 may not be available there. Ubuntu’s release information is at ubuntu.com/18-04.
Install Apache2, PHP 7.2, and Pico’s extensions
On a matching Ubuntu 18.04 system, install Apache’s PHP module, the command-line binary, XML/DOM support, and multibyte-string support:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y apache2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2 php7.2-cli php7.2-xml php7.2-mbstring unzip curl
sudo systemctl enable --now apache2Verify the version and required modules. The patch number depends on the repository or Ubuntu Pro channel in use:
php -v
php -m | grep -E 'dom|mbstring'
systemctl status apache2 --no-pagerThe module check should include dom and mbstring, and php -v should show PHP 7.2.x. Ubuntu lists PHP 7.2 packages for 18.04 in its security notices, but availability and updates depend on your enabled support channel: USN-7645-1.
Enable Apache URL rewriting
Pico’s supplied .htaccess handles clean URLs and protects internal paths. Apache must load mod_rewrite and permit overrides for this directory:
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2Download and extract Pico 2.1.4
Use the official download page or release listing, select the currently listed Pico 2.1.4 asset, and download it to the server. Do not rely on a guessed archive filename. Create a dedicated document root:
sudo mkdir -p /var/www/picoFor a tar archive you have saved as ~/pico-release.tar.gz:
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11sudo tar -xzf ~/pico-release.tar.gz --strip-components=1 -C /var/www/picoIf you downloaded a ZIP instead:
sudo unzip ~/pico-release.zip -d /tmp/pico-extract
sudo cp -a /tmp/pico-extract/. /var/www/pico/Check that /var/www/pico contains index.php, .htaccess, config, and content. If the archive added an extra top-level directory, move that directory’s contents into the document root.
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Set ownership and safe permissions
The simplest small-server arrangement lets Apache own the tree:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/pico
sudo find /var/www/pico -type d -exec chmod 755 {} ;
sudo find /var/www/pico -type f -exec chmod 644 {} ;If deployment is performed by an administrator or CI process, keep ownership with root and grant Apache group read access:
sudo chown -R root:www-data /var/www/pico
sudo find /var/www/pico -type d -exec chmod 755 {} ;
sudo find /var/www/pico -type f -exec chmod 644 {} ;Use a shared group or deployment workflow when editors need to change content. Never “fix” permission errors with chmod -R 777; it makes the web tree writable by arbitrary processes.
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Configure a dedicated Apache virtual host
A separate host is less prone to rewrite conflicts than putting Pico beneath another application. Replace example.com with your real hostname:
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/pico.conf<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.com
ServerAdmin [email protected]
DocumentRoot /var/www/pico
<Directory /var/www/pico>
Options FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride All
Require all granted
DirectoryIndex index.php
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/pico-error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/pico-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>Enable and validate the site:
sudo a2ensite pico.conf
sudo apache2ctl configtest
sudo systemctl reload apache2The expected validation result is Syntax OK. Check which virtual host Apache selected with sudo apache2ctl -S. If you are installing under /var/www/html/pico instead, the default site can work, but its matching <Directory> block must allow the supplied .htaccess overrides. Avoid enabling AllowOverride All globally when a narrow directory block is possible.
Create the first Pico page
Create a Markdown file in Pico’s content directory:
sudo nano /var/www/pico/content/hello.md---
Title: Hello Pico
---
# Hello Pico
Pico CMS is working.The filename becomes the URL path, the YAML front matter supplies metadata, and the Markdown below it becomes the page body. With the virtual host above, open http://example.com/hello.
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Test clean URLs and internal-file protection
Test the home page and a content URL from a shell:
curl -I http://example.com/
curl -I http://example.com/helloRequests to internal directories should not produce directory listings or raw files:
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curl -I http://example.com/config/
curl -I http://example.com/vendor/
curl -I http://example.com/content/Responses will commonly be 403 Forbidden or 404 Not Found, depending on Apache rules. Pico relies heavily on its included .htaccess; do not delete or bypass it without equivalent protections. Pico’s Apache guidance and upgrade notes are at picocms.org/docs and upgrade-pico-10.
If Apache serves only index.php URLs or returns 404 for clean paths, confirm mod_rewrite, AllowOverride All, and a successful config test, then reload Apache. If Pico still does not generate rewritten links, set this in config/config.yml:
rewrite_url: trueIf Apache returns a 500 error, inspect the error log first. Pico documents removing the Options directive from its .htaccess as a hosting-compatibility workaround when that directive is rejected.
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HTTP is adequate for an initial test, not for a public login or administration workflow. On Ubuntu 18.04, package availability can vary, but a typical Apache Certbot flow is:
sudo apt install -y certbot python3-certbot-apache
sudo certbot --apache -d example.comFollow the current instructions at certbot.eff.org if those packages are unavailable. Also restrict firewall access to required ports, keep backups of content, config, themes, plugins, and Apache configuration, and isolate this legacy host from newer workloads where practical.
Troubleshoot common failures
“Unable to locate package php7.2”
Confirm the release and package policy:
cat /etc/os-release
apt-cache policy php7.2You may be on a newer Ubuntu release, have no 18.04/Pro repository enabled, or be using an image whose repositories are unavailable. Do not blindly add an unverified third-party repository. Use a matching 18.04 environment, migrate the application, or isolate PHP 7.2 in a container or VM.
Apache displays PHP source code
Check that the PHP module is loaded:
apache2ctl -M | grep php
php -v
sudo systemctl restart apache2Do not leave a site online while it is exposing source code; verify the active virtual host and PHP handler before reopening it.
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Inspect every parent directory and the Apache error log:
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namei -l /var/www/pico
sudo tail -n 50 /var/log/apache2/pico-error.logApache needs execute permission on parent directories, read access to files, and an applicable Require all granted directive.
404 on rewritten pages
Enable rewriting, confirm AllowOverride All in the Pico directory, run sudo apache2ctl configtest, reload Apache, and check rewrite_url: true in config/config.yml if Pico is not producing clean links.
500 Internal Server Error
Read the site log:
sudo tail -n 50 /var/log/apache2/pico-error.logSyntax rejected in .htaccess, especially its Options directive, is a documented possibility. Remove that directive only after confirming the error and retain the other protection and rewrite rules.
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Inspect virtual-host precedence:
sudo apache2ctl -SIf appropriate, disable the default site and reload:
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
sudo systemctl reload apache2Missing-extension errors
Verify and install the modules again:
php -m | grep -E 'dom|mbstring'
sudo apt install php7.2-xml php7.2-mbstring
sudo systemctl restart apache2Release choice: archive or Composer?
The pre-bundled release used here has the fewest moving parts and is the safer choice for a one-off PHP 7.2 legacy server. Upgrades are manual, so preserve custom content, themes, and plugins when replacing core files.
Pico’s documentation also recommends Composer for repeatable or Git-based deployments:
curl -sSL https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
php composer.phar create-project picocms/pico-composer picoComposer and dependency constraints change over time; on PHP 7.2, do not assume the newest Composer or plugin versions remain compatible. Pin versions and test upgrades, or use the verified pre-bundled archive.
Should you use Pico for a new website?
Usually no. Pico’s official repository states that development has stopped and names Grav CMS, HTMLy, Automad, and Typemill as alternatives: github.com/picocms/Pico. Use this installation when you must preserve an existing Pico site or an application tied to PHP 7.2. For new work, plan an upgrade to a supported Ubuntu/PHP stack and a maintained CMS. Ubuntu Pro can provide temporary extended maintenance for Ubuntu 18.04 (information at ubuntu.com/pro), but it does not make Pico actively maintained or remove the need to migrate.
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