The Silex Manifesto
We believe the web belongs to everyone. Not to platforms. Not to investors. Not to those who can afford it.
The problem we see
No-code tools have become traps
Platform dependence. They promise freedom from code, but your site lives on their servers. Your data feeds their growth. When they raise prices or shut down — you lose everything.
VC-backed extraction. Most no-code companies need to extract value from you — subscriptions, feature limits, lock-in. Open-core is not open source. Freemium is not free.
Static sites remain out of reach. The JAMstack is brilliant — fast, secure, cheap, eco-friendly — but the toolchain is intimidating. Designers can't touch it. Clients can't edit content.
Learning means captivity. Proprietary platforms teach you their system, not the web. Your skills don't transfer.
The Four Freedoms
We embrace the principles of free/libre software
- Freedom to use — Use Silex for any purpose, without restriction.
- Freedom to study — The code is open. The formats are standard.
- Freedom to modify — Adapt it to your needs. Fork it. Extend it.
- Freedom to share — Redistribute copies to help others.
These are not features. They are rights.
Sovereignty
Your creations belong to you
Your data stays yours. Export everything, host anywhere, leave anytime. No lock-in, ever.
We don't just allow self-hosting — we encourage it. The free cloud service exists so everyone can start, not so we can capture you.
Education over extraction
A tool for learning, not for monetizing users
Everything you learn in Silex is real web knowledge: HTML, CSS, the JAMstack. Inspect any element. Edit the code. Progress toward hand-coding when you're ready.
We practice popular education: knowledge should be shared, not sold.
Our commitments
- Silex will always be free software (AGPL). Not open-core. Not source-available. Free.
- The free cloud service will remain free with all features.
- Standard formats only. HTML, CSS, and readable data.
- No tracking, no ads, no data selling.
- Transparent governance. Roadmap, finances, decisions are public.
- Donations fund the project, not marketing.
- Education first. Documentation and community support are core activities.
Community ownership
Maintained by Silex Labs, a non-profit
No investors. No shareholders. No exit strategy. No incentive to enshittify.
Every euro donated funds concrete project needs — development, templates, infrastructure. Never marketing.
Sustainability. We reject the VC-backed growth model. We build for longevity: simple architecture, standard formats, minimal dependencies. Silex has existed since 2009. We care about environmental impact — static sites are lighter than dynamic ones.
Inclusivity. The web should be built by everyone, for everyone. We promote accessibility, we welcome contributors regardless of background, experience, or location.
