BuhoCMS is a free and open source local content management system for static site generators, offering a graphical interface to create, edit, and build websites without using a terminal.
What is BuhoCMS?
BuhoCMS is a desktop application that acts as a GUI layer on top of static site generators such as Hugo, Jekyll, and 11ty. It accepts an existing static site folder or creates a new site from scratch, then lets you add and edit Markdown content with a visual editor for Front matter. The app runs on Windows and Linux, with macOS planned, and is developed by iakmds under the GPLv3 license.
Key Features
- Supported SSGs — Works with Hugo, Jekyll, and 11ty (added in v0.6.0 and v0.7.0).
- Site creation/open — Create a brand-new static site or open an existing folder.
- Theme installation — Install themes for your site directly from the app.
- Markdown editor — Write posts using a Markdown toolbar and see a live preview via the flutter_markdown package.
- Front matter GUI — Edit fields with text inputs, switches, date pickers, and tag editors instead of raw YAML.
- Local server and build — Start a local preview server with one click and build the final website, opening the output folder.
- Privacy — Fully local operation with no internet connection, ads, or tracking.
- Interface and languages — Material Design with multiple light and dark color themes, responsive layout, and translations for English, German, and Chinese.
Who is BuhoCMS for?
BuhoCMS targets anyone using a static site generator who wants a graphical way to manage content. It is particularly useful for existing Hugo, Jekyll, or 11ty users who want to avoid manual Front matter edits, for beginners looking to start a static site without learning command-line tools, and for content editors who prefer a visual interface to write and preview Markdown.
What can you do with BuhoCMS?
- Bloggers — Write new posts with tags and dates using GUI fields, preview the Markdown, and build a Hugo or Jekyll site without hand-editing YAML.
- Site maintainers — Open an existing static site, switch themes, edit pages, and manage content through the app’s file system.
- Beginners — Set up a new site from scratch, choose a theme, and use the onboarding flow to learn the workflow of a static site generator.
How does BuhoCMS work?
BuhoCMS is built with Flutter and Dart, using packages like process_run to run SSG commands, file_picker to choose folders, and flutter_markdown for previews. Users can create or open a site folder, the app detects the SSG type, and all editing happens locally. The roadmap includes git integration, more SSG support, and additional themes.
FAQ
Is BuhoCMS free?
Yes, BuhoCMS is free and open source, licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3). There are no paid tiers or premium features; the app is currently distributed as a desktop application for Windows and Linux.
Which static site generators are supported?
BuhoCMS currently supports Hugo, Jekyll, and 11ty. Support for Jekyll was added in v0.6.0 and for 11ty in v0.7.0, and more generators are planned for the future.
What platforms does BuhoCMS run on?
The current releases support Windows (as an executable) and Linux (via Flatpak, AppImage, and .deb packages). macOS support is planned but not yet available, and web support is a potential future option.
Is BuhoCMS stable?
BuhoCMS is currently in alpha, so bugs may exist. The developer recommends backing up website folders before heavy use. The app has an active roadmap with many planned improvements.
