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Pageel v1.0.0: The Open Source Launch

A powerful, client-side Content Management System for Markdown/MDX. No backend required, secure by default, and built for modern Git-based workflows.

P
Pageel Team
December 16, 2025
5 min read
Pageel v1.0 Launch

We are proud to announce the official open source release of Pageel CMS v1.0.0.

Pageel is a powerful, client-side Content Management System (CMS) designed for developers and content creators who love Markdown and Git. It allows you to manage content and images for your Astro, Next.js, or Hugo websites directly on GitHub, Gitea, or Gogs—without requiring a separate backend server.

Built with React 19 and TypeScript, Pageel provides a modern, Notion-inspired interface that makes managing static sites feel like using a premium SaaS product.

Why Pageel?

Most Headless CMS options require you to host a separate database or pay for a cloud service. File-based CMS solutions often lack a good UI or require complex local setups.

Pageel bridges this gap:

  1. No Backend Required: It runs entirely in your browser and talks directly to your Git repository’s API.
  2. Your Data is Yours: Content lives in your Git repo, not on our servers.
  3. Secure by Default: We use client-side AES-GCM encryption for your access tokens.
  4. Free: Since it uses your existing Git provider, there are no hosting costs for the CMS itself.

Key Features

🔐 Security First

Security isn’t an afterthought. Your Personal Access Tokens (PATs) are encrypted using the Web Crypto API (AES-GCM) before being stored in your browser’s session storage. We never see your keys, and they are wiped when you close the tab.

⚡ Git-Native Architecture

Ditch the database. Pageel implements SHA-checking directly against Git to prevent overwriting concurrent changes. If a file has changed on the remote repo while you were editing, Pageel will warn you, ensuring data integrity without needing a central backend.

🎨 Notion-Style UI

We believe internal tools shouldn’t look like… internal tools. Pageel features a clean, minimalist interface designed for focus. It supports dark mode, responsive layouts, and a distraction-free writing environment.

Powerful Modules

📝 Smart Content Management

The PostList module is your central command center:

  • Visual Grid & Data Tables: Switch between improved card views with cover previews or dense data tables.
  • Instant Search: Filter by title, author, tags, or any frontmatter field.
  • Split-Pane Editor: Edit Markdown with a live preview side-by-side.

🖼️ Dedicated Image Library

Stop manually copying file paths. The ImageList module offers:

  • Bulk Uploads: Drag and drop support.
  • Auto-Compression: Client-side image optimization to keep your repo light.
  • One-Click Copy: Get the public URL for any asset instantly.

🔄 The 3-Step Workflow

Creating quality content shouldn’t be a chore. Our PostWorkflow wizard guides you through:

  1. Assets: Upload and rename images first.
  2. Content: Write your post, auto-validate frontmatter, and link images.
  3. Publish: Commit everything in one go with custom message templates.

📋 Template & Schema Generator

Maintain consistency across your team. The TemplateGenerator allows you to define validation schemas for your frontmatter, ensuring every post has the required fields (like date, author, or tags) before it can be published.

Technical Stack

Pageel Node is built on the bleeding edge:

  • Framework: React 19
  • Language: TypeScript 5.9+
  • Build Tool: Vite 5+
  • Styling: Tailwind CSS (with Typography plugin)

Getting Started

You can run Pageel locally or deploy it to any static host (Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages).

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/pageel/pageel-cms.git

# Install dependencies
cd pageel-cms/core
npm install

# Start the dev server
npm run dev

Once running, simply generate a Personal Access Token from your Git provider (GitHub, Gitea, or Gogs) and connect your repository.

What’s New in v1.1?

We’ve moved fast! v1.1 is now in beta, bringing:

  • Multi-Collection Support: Manage Blog, Docs, and Projects independently.
  • Collection Templates: Custom frontmatter schemas for each collection.
  • Zustand Refresh: Entirely new state management for a snappier UI.

Join the Community

Pageel is open source and community-driven.

Experience the future of static site content management today with Pageel v1.0.0.

#Announcement #Open Source #CMS