Statamic CMS: A Complete Overview of the Laravel-Based Flat-File System

Statamic is a CMS built on Laravel that stores content in files instead of a database. This allows the entire site to be versioned with Git, simplifies deployment, and gives you full control over your data structure.

In its current version, 5.70.0, the system supports Laravel 10/11 and PHP 8.1+. The development team is also working on version 6, which is already available for alpha testing.

What is Statamic

Statamic positions itself as a "flat-first" CMS. This means it prioritizes file-based storage but offers the option to connect a traditional database when needed.

The system first appeared in 2012. Version 3 (2020) was a turning point—Statamic became a Composer package that can be installed into any Laravel project. This opened the door for integration with existing applications.

The team is led by Jack McDade (design, UX) and Jason Varga (architecture, code). Both are active members of the Laravel community with experience contributing to the Laravel Core.

Important: Statamic is not a static site generator. It is a full-featured, dynamic CMS that can generate static files if required.

Architecture and How It Works

The Flat-File Approach

Content is stored in YAML Front Matter + Markdown files. Here's an example of an entry's structure:

# content/collections/articles/my-post.md
---
title: 'My Article'
author: john-doe
date: 2024-12-15
featured_image: images/hero.jpg
---

Article text in Markdown format.

This provides three key advantages: full versioning with Git, simple deployment without database migrations, and easy transfer between environments.

The Laravel Connection

Statamic is a Composer package: statamic/cms. It leverages the full power of Laravel, including Eloquent (optional), Blade, Artisan, queues, caching, and authorization.

# Install into a new project
composer create-project statamic/statamic my-site

# Or into an existing Laravel project
composer require statamic/cms
php artisan statamic:install

The Stache — An Indexing System

Instead of SQL queries, Statamic uses the Stache—a cached index of the file system. On the first request, the system scans the files and builds an index in memory. Subsequent requests work with this cache.

For large projects (100,000+ entries), it's recommended to switch to the Eloquent Driver, which stores data in a database while preserving the same API.

Key Features

Control Panel

The Statamic Control Panel is one of the best on the market in terms of UX. It adapts to your content structure, so you only see what you need.

Main elements:

• Collections — Groups of similar content (articles, products, news).
• Globals — Data shared across the entire site (settings, contact info).
• Assets — Media files with automatic resizing via Glide.
• Forms — A built-in form system with submission storage.
• Navigation — A visual navigation editor.

Blueprints and Fieldtypes

A Blueprint is a content schema. It defines which fields are available for editing. Statamic provides 40+ fieldtypes out of the box.

# resources/blueprints/collections/articles/article.yaml
sections:
  main:
    fields:
      - handle: title
        field:
          type: text
          required: true
      - handle: content
        field:
          type: bard
          sets:
            text:
              fields:
                - handle: text
                  field:
                    type: textarea
            image:
              fields:
                - handle: image
                  field:
                    type: assets
                    max_files: 1

Bard is a special fieldtype. It's a block-based editor similar to Notion or Gutenberg but with full structural control. Each block is a set of fields that you define yourself.

Antlers — The Templating Engine

Antlers is Statamic's native templating language. It integrates seamlessly with HTML without requiring special syntax.

{{# Display a collection of articles #}}
{{ collection:articles limit="5" }}
  <article>
    <h2>{{ title }}</h2>
    <time>{{ date format="F j, Y" }}</time>
    {{ content }}
  </article>
{{ /collection:articles }}

{{# Conditionals #}}
{{ if featured_image }}
  {{ glide:featured_image width="800" height="400" }}
{{ /if }}

Alternatively, you can use Blade—Laravel's standard templating engine.

Multisite and Localization

Statamic Pro supports an unlimited number of sites in a single installation. Each site can have its own domain, language, and URL structure.

// config/statamic/sites.php
'sites' => [
    'ua' => [
        'name' => 'Україна',
        'locale' => 'uk_UA',
        'url' => 'https://example.ua/',
    ],
    'en' => [
        'name' => 'English',
        'locale' => 'en_US',
        'url' => 'https://example.com/',
    ],
],

Content is linked via an origin—the original entry from which localized versions inherit.

Comparison with Alternatives

When to Choose Statamic

Ideal for:

• Content-driven sites with custom structures (portfolios, corporate sites, media).
• Multilingual projects with 2–6 languages.
• Teams that work with a Git-based workflow (dev → staging → production).
• Laravel developers who need a CMS for an existing project.

Not the best choice for:

• Complex e-commerce (better to use Shopify or a specialized Laravel solution).
• Projects without a developer (WordPress is easier for a DIY start).
• Systems with complex business logic (better to use plain Laravel).

Practice: Quick Start

Requirements

• PHP 8.1+
• Composer
• Node.js (for asset compilation)

Installation

# Create a new project
composer create-project statamic/statamic my-site
cd my-site

# Create an administrator user
php please make:user

# Start the dev server
php artisan serve

The control panel is available at /cp.

Basic Structure

my-site/
├── content/
│   ├── collections/      # Collection content
│   ├── globals/          # Global data
│   └── navigation/       # Menus
├── resources/
│   ├── blueprints/       # Content schemas
│   ├── fieldsets/        # Reusable field groups
│   └── views/            # Templates
├── public/
│   └── assets/           # Media files
└── config/
    └── statamic/         # CMS configuration

Creating a Collection

php please make:collection articles

This will create:

• content/collections/articles/ — a directory for entries.
• resources/blueprints/collections/articles/ — the schema.
• A configuration file at content/collections/articles.yaml.

Pros and Cons

Strengths

For Developers:

• Full integration with the Laravel ecosystem.
• A Git-based workflow without compromises.
• Clean, easily extendable architecture.
• High-quality documentation with examples.

For Content Managers:

• An intuitive control panel.
• Real-time Live Preview.
• A flexible content structure.
• Built-in forms, navigation, and SEO tools.

For Businesses:

• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
• Lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) compared to WordPress + premium plugins.
• Fast loading times out of the box.
• Fewer security vulnerabilities.

Limitations

Ecosystem:

• Fewer plugins compared to WordPress (~300 vs. 60,000+).
• A smaller community, making it harder to find ready-made solutions.
• Some integrations may require custom development.

Technical:

• The flat-file approach can slow down on very large sites (100k+ entries).
• Requires Laravel experience for deep customization.
• No visual page builder on the level of Elementor.

Business:

• The Pro version is a paid product ($275).
• A smaller pool of developers on the market.
• Not suitable for a DIY approach without technical knowledge.

Tip: For projects with 50,000+ entries, use the Eloquent Driver instead of the flat-file approach.

Pricing and Licensing

Trial Mode: Pro features are available for free on local domains (localhost, *.test, *.local). A license is only required for production.

Non-profit: A 20% discount is available for non-profit organizations and educational institutions.

Conclusion

Statamic occupies a niche between simple site builders (WordPress, Squarespace) and "pure" Laravel development. It is a mature product with an active team and a clear vision.

The system is particularly attractive for agencies and Laravel developers who want to speed up the development of content-driven sites without losing control over the code. The Git-based workflow and flat-file architecture solve common problems with environment synchronization.

The main question before choosing is: is your project complex enough to justify the learning curve? For a simple blog, WordPress is still easier. For a custom corporate site with multiple languages and a specific content structure, Statamic provides tools that other systems lack.

Sources

1. Statamic GitHub Releases — Current versions and changelog
2. Statamic Documentation — Official documentation
3. Statamic Pricing — Pricing details
4. Laravel News: Statamic 5 Released — Version 5 announcement
5. endoflife.date/statamic — Version support schedule
6. Statamic Official Blog — News and updates
7. Capterra: Statamic Reviews — User reviews