Install WonderCMS on Ubuntu with Apache

This article explains installing Wonder CMS with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux.

WonderCMS is a fast, responsive, single-flat file CMS (Content Management System) built with PHP and jQuery, allowing users to create websites without needing a separate database.

Installing WonderCMS with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux allows you to create websites using WonderCMS, a fast and responsive CMS built with PHP and jQuery, without needing a separate database.

It offers features unavailable in other PHP-based CMSs like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. Additionally, WonderCMS provides native markdown WYSIWYG support, SEO-friendly features, and a flexible CSS framework without installation.

Following the steps outlined in the tutorial, you can easily install WonderCMS on Ubuntu 16.04 / 18.10 / 18.04 LTS with Apache2 and PHP 7.2 support.

For more about WonderCMS, please check its homepage.

When you’re ready to get WonderCMS working, continue with the steps below:

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use. Install it since WonderCMS needs it.

To install Apache2 HTTP on the Ubuntu server, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. You should see the Apache2 default test page, as shown below. When you see that, then Apache2 is working as expected.

http://localhost

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories for some systems. So, you will have to get it from third-party repositories if you need it.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-sqlite3 php7.2-soap php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-curl php7.2-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

Then, save the changes on the following lines below in the file. The value below is an excellent setting to apply in your environment.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, please save the file and close it.

After installing PHP and related modules, you must restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations.

To restart Apache2, run the commands below

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then, type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. Then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

Download WonderCMS’s Latest Release

Next, visit the WonderCMS site and download the latest package. Or run the commands below to download WonderCMS packages from GitHub.

After downloading, run the commands below to extract the downloaded file and move it into a new WonderCMS root directory. After that, change into the WonderCMS root directory to install the PHP-required packages.

cd /var/www/html/
sudo apt install git
sudo git clone https://github.com/robiso/wondercms.git

Then, run the commands below to set the correct permissions for WonderCMS to function correctly.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/wondercms/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/wondercms/

Configure the Apache2 WonderCMS Site

Finally, configure the Apache2 configuration file for WonderCMS. This file will control how users access WonderCMS content. Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called wonder-cms.conf.

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/wondercms.conf

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your domain name and directory root location.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin [email protected]
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/wondercms/
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/wondercms/>
          Options FollowSymlinks
          AllowOverride All
          Require all granted
     </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Save the file and exit.

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below.

Enable the WonderCMS Site and Rewrite Module

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below, then restart the Apache2 server.

sudo a2ensite wondercms.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite

Restart Apache2

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Next, open your browser and browse the server hostname or IP address. You should see the WonderCMS page. Login and change your password.

http://example.com

Enjoy!

WonderCMS is a databaseless flat file content management system. Its structure allowed you to have just the amount of functionality needed in a flat file CMS solution, adding extensions (blade packs) for additional functionality while allowing setup on simple servers with no database.