Cockpit

Brief Overview of Cockpit

Cockpit is a self-hosted, open-source content platform designed with an API-first approach, serving as a flexible backend for modern web applications. This headless content management solution provides a straightforward way to manage structured content for websites, mobile applications, and single-page applications (SPAs). The core philosophy of the platform is to provide full control without unnecessary bloat, empowering users with complete data sovereignty and eliminating vendor lock-in. Because it is self-hosted, users can deploy it anywhere and manage their resources according to their own needs and privacy compliance requirements. Cockpit is built to integrate with any technology stack, allowing developers to craft unique digital experiences while creators and marketers manage the content that powers them. The platform's MIT-licensed core ensures transparency and allows for free use, inspection, and modification.

Cockpit Key Features for Content Creators

• API-First Architecture: Cockpit is built with an API-first and JSON content approach, enabling developers to build with their favorite tech stack—such as Next.js, React, or Vue—and deliver content to any channel without limitations.
• Self-Hosted & Open-Source: Users can self-host the platform for complete data ownership and privacy compliance. The MIT-licensed open-source core provides transparency and allows for modification, ensuring no vendor lock-in.
• Flexible Content Modeling: The platform allows for the creation of flexible, structured content models. It supports multiple field types, conditional fields for dynamic forms, and content previews to see how content will appear before publishing.
• Centralized Asset Management: A comprehensive assets manager supports cloud storage, nestable folders for organization, and automatic extraction of main colors from images. An integrated Image API facilitates the creation of thumbnails and image variations on the fly.
• Multichannel Content Hub: Cockpit functions as a central content hub, enabling teams to manage all content in one place and distribute it across multiple touchpoints and channels for consistent digital outcomes.
• Built-in Localization: The system includes features for managing content in multiple languages. The Pro addon Lokalize further enhances this by managing key-based language strings and providing auto-translation suggestions.
• Roles & Permissions: Administrators can configure fine-grained permissions for different user roles, ensuring that team members only have access to the content and features relevant to their responsibilities.
• Content Revisions: A built-in revisions system allows users to safely revert content to previous versions if needed, providing a safety net against accidental changes or errors.
• Autopilot AI Enhancements (Pro Addon): The Autopilot addon uses AI to enhance the content creation process. It can effortlessly produce diverse content, improve readability, generate custom visual content, and integrate with chatbots.
• Component-Based Layouts (Pro Addon): The Layouts addon enables the construction of pages using components. It supports grids for nested layouts and allows for the use of both core and custom components, which can be copied and pasted for efficiency.

Cockpit Target Users & Use Cases

Cockpit is designed for a technical audience that values control, flexibility, and data ownership. Its features cater to developers, marketers, and content teams who need a customizable content backend.

• Primary Creator Types: The platform is ideal for web developers, application developers, and digital marketing teams who require a decoupled content solution. It also serves content creators and project managers who need a structured system for managing cross-channel campaigns.
• Experience Level: Given its self-hosted nature and API-first design, Cockpit is best suited for users with an intermediate to advanced technical skill set. Developers will find its architecture familiar, while content managers can operate it effectively once it is configured.
• Team Size: The platform scales from solo developers to large teams, thanks to its robust Roles & Permissions system that allows for fine-grained access control.
• Specific Use Cases:
  • Powering the content for a Jamstack website built with Next.js or Svelte.
  • Serving as the content backend for a native iOS or Android mobile application.
  • Managing product information and marketing copy for an e-commerce site.
  • Distributing multilingual content for a global marketing campaign.
  • Creating a centralized content repository for an organization's various digital properties.
  • Building complex, component-based landing pages with the Layouts addon.
  • Collecting and managing form submissions from a website using the Inbox addon.
  • Implementing a full-text search on a website or app with the Detektivo addon.
• Content Types: Cockpit is designed to manage any type of structured content, from blog posts and user profiles to product catalogs and event listings. It delivers this content via a JSON API for use in any digital format.

How to Get Started with Cockpit

Setting up Cockpit involves a self-hosted installation process. The platform provides clear documentation to guide users through the initial steps.

1. Download the Software: Begin by downloading either the free Cockpit Core or the paid Cockpit Pro version from the official source.
2. Server Installation: Follow the installation documentation to set up Cockpit on a web server. This requires a server environment that meets the system requirements, such as PHP version 8.3 or higher.
3. Initial Configuration: Once installed, perform the initial configuration, which includes setting up the admin account. After setup, you can begin creating content models, defining fields, and adding content.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cockpit

• Is Cockpit free? Yes, the Cockpit Core version is completely free and open-source. A Pro version with additional addons is available for a one-time, per-project fee.

• Is Cockpit self-hosted? Yes, Cockpit is designed to be self-hosted. This gives you complete control over your data, hosting environment, and privacy compliance.

• Can I try Cockpit Pro before buying? Yes, you can test and trial all features of Cockpit Pro for free while your site is in a non-public development environment.

• What are the main system requirements? According to the release notes for version 2.11.0, Cockpit requires PHP version 8.3 or higher. Specific requirements are detailed in the official documentation.

• Does Cockpit offer discounts for non-profits? Yes, a 50% discount on Cockpit Pro is available for verified non-profits, open-source projects, and educational institutions.

• What technology stacks can I use with Cockpit? Thanks to its API-first design, Cockpit can be used with any technology stack. It provides content via a JSON API, making it compatible with frameworks like Next.js, React, Vue.js, Svelte, and backend languages like Node.js, Ruby, and PHP.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Cockpit?

Cockpit is an excellent choice for developers and organizations that prioritize data sovereignty, customization, and a lean, bloat-free workflow. Its self-hosted and open-source nature provides a level of control and transparency that is not available with many SaaS-based content platforms. The API-first architecture ensures it can integrate seamlessly into any modern development stack, making it a highly flexible solution for building custom websites, mobile apps, and other digital experiences.

The primary advantage of Cockpit is its commitment to avoiding vendor lock-in while providing a powerful set of core features and optional Pro addons for advanced functionality like AI content generation and full-text search. The main consideration is that its self-hosted model requires the technical expertise to manage installation, updates, and server maintenance. For teams with the necessary technical resources, Cockpit offers a powerful, adaptable, and cost-effective content management solution for crafting limitless digital solutions.