Deploy Éclair at scale

Eight technical lessons for developers and agencies: understand Éclair from the inside, host it anywhere, migrate existing sites and deliver client sites with no plugin maintenance.

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This path is for developers, integrators and web agencies. It assumes you're comfortable with PHP, the command line and a web server. Every command and class name mentioned exists in the Éclair 1.8 code.

What you'll be able to do

Master the code

Read the life of a request, flat-file storage and the main classes, then test locally.

Deploy anywhere

Configure Nginx, a VPS, a proxy, a CDN or a Docker container, while keeping 100 out of 100.

Scale up

Migrate existing sites, maintain a fleet of sites and organize agency production.

The 8 lessons for developers and agencies

  1. Éclair's architecture The front controller, the static cache served without loading the application, and storage in data/.
  2. Local development and testing PHP's built-in server, automated tests, the distribution archive and debug mode.
  3. Customize the theme templates The files in app/theme, their variables, security constraints and this academy's example.
  4. Nginx, VPS, proxy and CDN The official Nginx configuration, PHP-FPM, Cloudflare and a Docker example to adapt.
  5. Performance: staying at 100 out of 100 What Éclair already optimizes, how to measure and what not to add.
  6. Migrate from WordPress or Wix The URL inventory, content transfer, 301 redirects and the switchover.
  7. Advanced security and maintenance The security review, updates, access recovery and off-site backups.
  8. Scaling Éclair in an agency Production process, client accounts, maintenance plans and the MIT license.

Why does Éclair appeal to agencies?

An Éclair site has no database to back up and no plugins to update every week. It weighs under 1 MB, deploys by copying a folder and moves to a new address by changing one URL in the settings. For an agency, that means a fleet of fast, secure sites whose maintenance comes down to the essentials.

Questions about the Expert path

Can I modify Éclair's code freely?

Yes. Éclair is under the MIT license: you can modify and redistribute it, including for commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice. The Customize the theme templates lesson explains how to do it without losing your changes when you update.

Does Éclair work without Apache?

Yes. On Nginx, you just need to reproduce the rules of the .htaccess file. The complete configuration is in the Nginx, VPS, proxy and CDN lesson.

How do I update a fleet of Éclair sites?

For each site, replace the app and assets folders, keep data and media, then clear the cache. The Advanced security and maintenance lesson details the procedure and the backups to plan.