--- version: "1.0" date: "2025-01-15" author: "DWS Foldsite Team" title: "About Foldsite" description: "The philosophy and story behind Foldsite" summary: "Learn why Foldsite was created and how it empowers you to reclaim your corner of the internet with simple, file-based content management." quick_tips: - "Foldsite is part of the DWS mission to help people own their web presence" - "Your content stays as simple files and folders - no database lock-in" - "Built for people who want to focus on content, not configuration" --- # About Foldsite ## The Vision **Foldsite** exists to make creating and hosting your own website as simple as organizing files on your computer. It's part of the broader [DWS (Dubey Web Services)](https://dws.rip) mission: **"It's your Internet. Take it back."** In an era where social media platforms control your content and complex CMSs require constant maintenance, Foldsite offers a refreshing alternative: your website is just folders and files on your filesystem. ## Why Foldsite Was Created ### The Problem Modern web development has become unnecessarily complex: - **Content Management Systems** require databases, constant updates, and security patches - **Static Site Generators** force you to learn specific frameworks and build processes - **Social Media Platforms** own your content and can remove it at any time - **Blog Platforms** lock you into their ecosystem with proprietary formats ### The Solution Foldsite strips away the complexity: 1. **Your content is just files** - Markdown, images, PDFs - organize them however makes sense 2. **Your structure is your site** - Folders become URLs automatically 3. **Templates are optional** - Start with defaults, customize when you need 4. **No build step required** - Dynamic server or export to static files ## Core Principles ### 1. Content Ownership Your content lives in simple text files using standard markdown format. No proprietary databases, no vendor lock-in. Take your files anywhere - they'll work with any markdown tool. ### 2. Convention Over Configuration Foldsite uses sensible defaults based on file types and folder structure: - Markdown files become pages - Image folders become galleries - Folder names become navigation - No routing configuration needed ### 3. Progressive Enhancement Start with the simplest possible setup: ``` content/ └── index.md ``` Add complexity only when you need it: ``` content/ ├── index.md ├── blog/ │ └── post.md templates/ ├── base.html └── __file.md.html styles/ └── base.css ``` ### 4. Developer Friendly When things don't work as expected: - Clear error messages explain what went wrong - Debug mode shows template discovery process - File-based structure makes troubleshooting intuitive ## Who Foldsite Is For ### Content Creators Writers, photographers, artists who want to share their work without fighting with technology. Focus on creating, not configuring. ### Personal Website Owners People who want a simple blog, portfolio, or personal site without the overhead of WordPress or the limitations of site builders. ### Documentation Writers Technical writers and project maintainers who need clean, navigable documentation that mirrors their mental model. ### Privacy-Conscious Individuals Anyone who wants to control their web presence without relying on platforms that monetize user data. ### Hobbyist Developers Developers who appreciate simple, understandable tools and want to hack on their personal sites without complex build pipelines. ## What Foldsite Is NOT To set clear expectations: - **Not a CMS replacement** - No admin UI for non-technical users (though an optional file manager exists) - **Not optimized for huge sites** - Works best with hundreds to thousands of pages, not millions - **Not a full application framework** - It renders content, doesn't handle complex application logic - **Not trying to replace everything** - It's a focused tool for a specific use case ## The Technology Foldsite is built with: - **Python & Flask** - Proven, stable web framework - **Jinja2** - Powerful templating with familiar syntax - **Markdown** - Universal content format - **No JavaScript required** - Works with JS disabled (progressive enhancement) It can run as: - **Dynamic server** - Live rendering with Python - **Static site** - Export to HTML files - **Docker container** - Easy deployment anywhere ## The DWS Philosophy DWS (Dubey Web Services) believes the internet should be: ### Decentralized Not controlled by a handful of mega-platforms. Everyone should be able to host their own corner of the web. ### Simple Technology should serve users, not the other way around. Complexity is often unnecessary. ### Yours You should own your content, your presentation, and your digital presence. ### Open Open source tools, open standards, open community. No lock-in, no secrets. ## Use Cases ### Personal Blog Write in markdown, organize by topic or date, let Foldsite handle the rest. Built-in helpers for recent posts, tags, and related content. ### Photography Portfolio Upload images to folders, automatic EXIF extraction, thumbnail generation, and gallery views. Organize by project, date, or theme. ### Documentation Site Mirror your project structure in folders, automatic navigation and breadcrumbs, searchable content hierarchy. ### Digital Garden Non-linear, interconnected notes and thoughts. Flexible organization, easy linking between pages. ### Project Showcase Portfolio of work with custom templates per project. Mix markdown descriptions with galleries and downloads. ## The Name **Foldsite** = **Fold**er + Web**site** Your folders become your site. Simple as that. ## Community & Contribution Foldsite is open source and welcomes contributions: - **Use it** - Build your site and share what you create - **Improve it** - Submit bug fixes and features - **Extend it** - Create themes and templates - **Share it** - Tell others about the project See the [Develop Section](develop/) for contribution guidelines. ## Getting Help - **Documentation** - You're reading it! Check other sections for specific topics - **Examples** - See [Explore Foldsites](explore.md) for real-world sites - **Support** - Visit [Support](support.md) for help channels - **Source Code** - [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/DWSresearch/foldsite) ## Future Vision Foldsite aims to remain focused and simple while adding: - More template helpers for common use cases - Better performance optimization - Enhanced developer tooling - Growing library of themes and recipes - Strong community of Foldsite users The goal is never to become a monolithic CMS, but to remain a focused tool that does one thing well: turns folders into websites. ## Start Building Ready to create your own site? - [Quick Start Guide](index.md#quick-start) - [Directory Structure](directory-structure.md) - [Deployment Options](deployment/) - [Template Recipes](recipes/) **It's your internet. Take it back.**