I'm looking for local software that lets me build pages visually while defining my own reusable blocks or modules in PHP and JavaScript. I develop solo as a hobby and for a personal business, and I have several years of programming experience, including PHP and Sass, but no professional web-development background.
I tried a PHP page-builder project, but it appears to be abandoned and has been difficult to run on PHP 8 or newer. I've also looked at browser-based builders such as GrapesJS, although I wasn't sure whether they supported custom blocks that could execute my own PHP logic.
I enjoy building things as custom as possible, but a full CMS feels like too much overhead, while manually managing PHP files, includes, and Sass feels unnecessarily cumbersome. Ideally, I want a lightweight local setup where I can create custom components and arrange them visually, without adopting a large general-purpose CMS.
5 Answers
If the main problem is the PHP, Sass, and asset workflow rather than content management, a Vite-based PHP setup could be a good middle ground. You can keep using PHP partials or custom components while getting modern development features such as Sass support, JavaScript or TypeScript bundling, hot reload, and a cleaner build process. It avoids adopting a CMS, though it won't provide a visual drag-and-drop editor by itself.
Filament is worth investigating if you're willing to use Laravel. It provides a configurable interface for building custom panels and forms, while Laravel handles much of the PHP structure. A local environment such as Herd or Laragon can make setup easier. It does bring along additional layers like Livewire, Alpine, and possibly Tailwind, so it may feel heavier than a completely custom solution.
You could also look at October CMS or ProcessWire. Both are generally lighter and more flexible than a large, all-purpose CMS, and they may let you create custom content structures without forcing you into a huge amount of configuration.
GrapesJS may actually work for this. You can register your own components and blocks in JavaScript, then connect their actions or saved data to local PHP endpoints. The PHP side still needs to be wired up, but the editor gives you control over the visual layout and the component definitions.
Before choosing a builder, it may be worth separating the visual editing requirement from the PHP component requirement. If you're the only person editing the site, reusable PHP partials and a layout file would be much simpler to maintain. Visual builders are most useful when nontechnical users need to rearrange content, and they can introduce compatibility and maintenance problems of their own.
That's fair, but the visual workflow is the main thing I enjoy. When I work directly with files, I tend to spend too much time solving small layout problems and making changes feel more exacting than they need to be. I want the flexibility to rearrange a design without turning the project into a full CMS implementation.
Filament seems close to what I want, although it may come with more framework than I need. I'm going to see whether I can use it without getting too invested in all of the surrounding tools. I may use Bootstrap instead since I'm already familiar with it.