Choosing how to run Silex¶
Silex runs in several ways. Pick the one that matches what you are doing: testing, hosting for clients, contributing code, or running an offline desktop app (Silex Desktop is currently in early alpha).
Comparison¶
| Method | Best for | Works offline | Full SaaS (dashboard + connectors) | GrapesJS plugins | 11ty build |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, v3.silex.me | Getting started, no setup | No | Yes | Built-in | Included |
| Silex Desktop (alpha) | Offline, single user, no account | Yes | No (single-user editor) | Built-in | Included |
| Docker (build from source) | Self-hosting a full instance | Yes | Yes | Built-in | Manual |
| CapRover one-click | Quick deploy on an existing CapRover | Yes | Yes | Built-in | Manual |
| Run from source with Node.js | Self-hosting and contributing | Yes | Yes | Built-in | Manual |
Tip: if you just want to use Silex, the online instance is enough. Self-hosting is worth it for security or compliance constraints, custom plugins, or air-gapped environments.
How Silex is packaged now¶
Silex is a monorepo, and the app is a single Node.js package. There is no separate @silexlabs/silex-platform package and no global command line tool anymore. To self-host, you clone the repository and build it (with Node.js directly, or inside Docker). The build produces the editor and the server, and the default configuration is the full SaaS (multi-site dashboard, onboarding, and connectors).
The GrapesJS plugins (fonts, symbols, data source, and more) are built into the editor from source, so every install includes them.
Recommendations¶
- Use Silex without hosting it, go to v3.silex.me.
- Work offline on your own machine, use Silex Desktop.
- Self-host a full instance, use Docker or run from source with Node.js.
- Deploy on an existing CapRover, use the one-click app.
- Contribute code, run from source. See the contribute guide.
Requirements¶
All Node-based options need Node.js 20+ and pnpm (the project uses pnpm via corepack). The GitLab connector requires GitLab 16+ if you self-host GitLab.
Platform support¶
| OS | Docker | Node from source | Tested by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux (Fedora) | Yes | Yes | @lexoyo |
| macOS | community-tested | community-tested | — |
| Windows | community-tested | community-tested | — |
If you run Silex on macOS or Windows and want to claim a row, open a pull request.
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