Flat file web software is about having a set up which doesn't use a "traditional" database. Instead it uses plain text files, other files, and/or maybe something like a json feed to store the data. What this usually means is that there is no database set up per se. And, usually it means being able to start your website by dumping everything into a folder and you're pretty much done (1 step installs).
Dumping everything into a folder and it just works (1 step installs) makes it easy for even beginners to get a website running, but also it makes your website, blog, forum, journal, or whatever, portable. Very easily portable. You need to put your website on a thumb drive and/or move it to a different domain? Done. Easy. It's just like backing up any folder.
There was a surge of flat file CMS systems and other tools in around the 2010s I believe it was? Somewhere around there. Maybe 2007 is around when I remember this surge starting. To me it feels like this surge has greatly tapered off. But, perhaps it will rise again?
Flat file software can be powerful. Depending on what you need. And I think with the right developers and brain power behind the movement it can be more scalable and secure. The sky's the limit. When I hear a developer saying, no, flat file isn't good because... really all I'm hearing is they don't want to change the way web software works. Because what I've found is most anything is possible.
Here's a couple of flat file platforms which are incredible. One is a CMS/blog, the other a forum. Yes, a flat file forum.
WonderCMS
There are others. But, WonderCMS is not only flat file, but only 5 files (currently). 🤯 You may build a basic website, or there is also a blog mode. You put the 5 files in the public folder of your web hosting's file manager and go. Here's a video from the founder:
Flatboard
This one is really mind blowing because it is not easy to make good forum software. You need users, moderation tools, and all kinds of stuff. This is a feature rich, nice looking, forum system. If you can build this flat file, it seems like, again with the right people behind the movement, you can build even more complex systems. Yet flat file, easy to install, and portable. Portable as in easier than most web software to move from host to host.
There is one downside depending on how you think about it with Flatboard. You have users, but they are anonymous. But, the user can use the same anonymous profile every time they post. You just use the same pseudo name (like a password) every time.
https://flatboard.org
This way of building things online solves the issues I mentioned here in my state of code post.
On a related note (because it makes things easier), I just got access to Github's Codespaces. Online development versus using a local set up. Interesting... maybe the state of code for average to a little above average webmasters (or code fiddlers) is looking up again...
