What is hotglue2?

Hotglue lets you build websites visually in the browser using a free-form drag-and-drop canvas. All content is saved as flat files in a content directory, so no database is required. It runs on plain PHP 8 and can be started with PHP's built-in server, any standard web server, or Docker Compose. Features include image, video, and audio uploads with automatic resizing and encoding (via GD and ffmpeg), page-level passwords, multiple authentication methods (basic, digest, or MySQL-backed), and a centered layout mode with configurable grid guides. The project is under active development with a major update in progress (version 1.9.0-RC).

Should you self-host hotglue2?

hotglue2 scores 45/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #5 of 6 in Website Builder. It has 376 GitHub stars.

There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. It is GPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in JavaScript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is webstudio (69/100, 9 119 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See hotglue2 vs webstudio side by side.

Features

Audio upload and encodingRequires ffmpeg installed
Built-in development server
Centered layout mode
Configurable grid guides
Custom favicon support
Docker Compose Deployment
Drag and drop page builder
Flat File Storage
Image upload and resizingRequires GD library installed
Multiple Authentication Methods
Page-level passwords
PHP 8 support
Video upload and encodingRequires ffmpeg installed

How to configure hotglue2

A11Y_ROW_THRESHOLD16Pixels: objects within this distance count as one reading row
Pixels: objects within this distance count as one reading row
AUDIO_BITRATE128kAudio bitrate for encoded variant
Audio bitrate for encoded variant
AUDIO_CHANNELS2Audio channels (stereo)
Audio channels (stereo)
AUDIO_ENCODE_TIMEOUT7200Give up waiting for background encode after n seconds
Give up waiting for background encode after n seconds
AUDIO_ENCODINGtrueRe-encode uploaded audio (needs ffmpeg)
Re-encode uploaded audio (needs ffmpeg)
values: true, false
AUDIO_MAX_DURATION1800Only first n seconds of upload are encoded/served
Only first n seconds of upload are encoded/served
AUDIO_SAMPLE_RATE44100Sample rate for encoded variant
Sample rate for encoded variant
AUDIO_START_ON_CLICKtrueClicking audio toggles pause/play when no native controls
Clicking audio toggles pause/play when no native controls
values: true, false
AUTH_METHODbasicAuthentication method: basic, digest, db, or none
Authentication method: basic, digest, db, or none
values: basic, digest, db, none
AUTH_PASSWORDchangemePassword for basic authentication
Password for basic authentication
AUTH_USERadminUsername for basic authentication
Username for basic authentication
BASE_URLBase URL of the installation (auto-detected if empty)
Base URL of the installation (auto-detected if empty)
CACHE_TIME0Cache time in seconds (zero to disable)
Cache time in seconds (zero to disable)
CONTENT_DIRcontentContent directory (must be writable)
Content directory (must be writable)
DB_AUTH_HOSTMySQL host for database authentication
MySQL host for database authentication
DB_AUTH_NAMEMySQL database name for database authentication
MySQL database name for database authentication
DB_AUTH_PASSWORDMySQL password for database authentication
MySQL password for database authentication
DB_AUTH_TABLEuserCake_UsersTable holding user accounts
Table holding user accounts
DB_AUTH_USERMySQL username for database authentication
MySQL username for database authentication
DEFAULT_PAGEstartDefault page to show
Default page to show
DEFAULT_TO_EDITfalseEdit pages by default
Edit pages by default
values: true, false
FAVICONimg/favicon.icoFavicon path or absolute URL
Favicon path or absolute URL
FFMPEG_BINARYffmpegPath to ffmpeg binary
Path to ffmpeg binary
HOTGLUE_VERSION1.9.0Expected API version
Expected API version
IMAGE_JPEG_QUAL90Quality for JPEG resizing (0-100)
Quality for JPEG resizing (0-100)
IMAGE_PNG_QUAL7Quality for PNG resizing (9-0)
Quality for PNG resizing (9-0)
IMAGE_RESIZE_MAX_DPR2Cap on devicePixelRatio for server-side resize
Cap on devicePixelRatio for server-side resize
IMAGE_RESIZINGtrueResize uploaded images on the server (needs GD)
Resize uploaded images on the server (needs GD)
values: true, false
IMAGE_UPLOAD_MAX_HEIGHT512Cap on-canvas size of newly-uploaded image (pixels)
Cap on-canvas size of newly-uploaded image (pixels)
IMAGE_UPLOAD_MAX_WIDTH512Cap on-canvas size of newly-uploaded image (pixels)
Cap on-canvas size of newly-uploaded image (pixels)
IMAGE_UPLOAD_RESIZE_LARGER120%Auto-resize uploaded image when larger than n% of window
Auto-resize uploaded image when larger than n% of window
IMAGE_UPLOAD_RESIZE_TO80%Target size in n% of window width or height
Target size in n% of window width or height
IMAGE_WEBP_QUAL90Quality for WebP resizing (0-100)
Quality for WebP resizing (0-100)
LOCK_TIME5000Maximum time in ms to wait for an object lock
Maximum time in ms to wait for an object lock
LOG_FILEcontent/log.txtLog file path (must be writable)
Log file path (must be writable)
LOG_LEVELerrorMinimum log level
Minimum log level
values: error, warn, info, debug
OBJECT_DEFAULT_COLORS#61b9cf #ff00ff #ffff00Default colors for new objects (space-separated)
Default colors for new objects (space-separated)
PAGE_DEFAULT_CONTAINER_WIDTH960Default centered container width in pixels
Default centered container width in pixels
PAGE_DEFAULT_GRID_X100Default grid X spacing in pixels
Default grid X spacing in pixels
PAGE_DEFAULT_GRID_Y100Default grid Y spacing in pixels
Default grid Y spacing in pixels
PAGE_GUIDES_XShow grid line after n horizontal pixels (space-separated)
Show grid line after n horizontal pixels (space-separated)
PAGE_GUIDES_YShow grid line after n vertical pixels (space-separated)
Show grid line after n vertical pixels (space-separated)
PAGE_MAX_CONTAINER_WIDTH4000Widest container width handles may drag to
Widest container width handles may drag to
PAGE_MIN_CONTAINER_WIDTH320Narrowest container width handles may drag to
Narrowest container width handles may drag to
PAGE_PASSWORD_MAX_TRIES5Page password attempts allowed per IP and page
Page password attempts allowed per IP and page
PAGE_PASSWORD_WINDOW600Time window for password attempts in seconds
Time window for password attempts in seconds
PAGES_NEED_AUTHtruePage browser needs authentication
Page browser needs authentication
values: true, false
RESERVED_PAGE_NAMEScode edit pages faviconPage names used internally and unavailable
Page names used internally and unavailable
SHORT_URLSfalseUse short URLs internally
Use short URLs internally
values: true, false
SHOW_FRONTEND_ERRORStrueShow frontend errors
Show frontend errors
values: true, false
SITE_NAMEhotglue 1.9Site name displayed in UI
Site name displayed in UI
TEXT_AUTO_BRtrueAutomatically add <br> elements for newlines
Automatically add <br> elements for newlines
values: true, false
TEXT_USE_WOFF_FONTStrueOffer WOFF webfonts (experimental)
Offer WOFF webfonts (experimental)
values: true, false
UPLOAD_MAX_SIZE536870912Cap on single uploaded file in bytes (0 to disable)
Cap on single uploaded file in bytes (0 to disable)
USE_HOTGLUE_ERRORStrueUse hotglue theming for error pages
Use hotglue theming for error pages
values: true, false
USE_MIN_FILEStrueUse minified files if possible
Use minified files if possible
values: true, false
VIDEO_DISPLAY_MAX_HEIGHT512Cap on-canvas display size of new video (pixels)
Cap on-canvas display size of new video (pixels)
VIDEO_DISPLAY_MAX_WIDTH512Cap on-canvas display size of new video (pixels)
Cap on-canvas display size of new video (pixels)
VIDEO_ENCODE_AUDIO_BITRATE64kAudio bitrate for encoded variant
Audio bitrate for encoded variant
VIDEO_ENCODE_CRF24x264 quality for encoded variant (lower = higher quality)
x264 quality for encoded variant (lower = higher quality)
VIDEO_ENCODE_TIMEOUT7200Give up waiting for background encode after n seconds
Give up waiting for background encode after n seconds
VIDEO_ENCODINGtrueRe-encode uploaded videos (needs ffmpeg)
Re-encode uploaded videos (needs ffmpeg)
values: true, false
VIDEO_MAX_DURATION60Only first n seconds of upload are encoded/served
Only first n seconds of upload are encoded/served
VIDEO_MAX_HEIGHT720Cap on short side of frame (never upscales)
Cap on short side of frame (never upscales)
VIDEO_POSTER_ATTEMPTS5Random frames to try for non-empty poster
Random frames to try for non-empty poster
VIDEO_POSTER_EMPTY_YAVG16Luma threshold for empty poster frame
Luma threshold for empty poster frame
VIDEO_POSTER_TIME1Second offset to grab poster frame
Second offset to grab poster frame
VIDEO_START_ON_CLICKtrueClicking video toggles pause/play when no native controls
Clicking video toggles pause/play when no native controls
values: true, false
VIEW_NEEDS_AUTHfalseViewing pages requires authentication
Viewing pages requires authentication
values: true, false