silexlabs/Silex

Silex is a visual website builder that generates clean, exportable HTML and CSS without vendor lock-in.

Silex addresses the problem of no-code tools that trap users through proprietary formats, forced hosting, and subscriptions. It solves this by producing standard HTML and CSS output that can be hosted anywhere and exported at any time. The tool uses a GrapesJS-based drag-and-drop editor where designers visually compose pages while retaining access to underlying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It integrates with content sources like WordPress, Strapi, and Squidex through GraphQL APIs, and works with static site generators like 11ty for CI/CD deployment workflows.

Silex suits web agencies seeking visual workflows without scaling overhead, WordPress developers wanting to replace theme layers with a visual frontend, freelance designers who need to deliver client sites without writing code, and no-code developers who want full CSS control beyond what Wix or Squarespace offer. The project explicitly positions itself as an open-source alternative to Webflow, emphasizing that skills learned in Silex—HTML, CSS, JAMstack patterns—transfer directly to standard web development. It runs as a free online tool requiring a GitLab account, a desktop application for offline work, or self-hosted via Docker and Node.js.

The project maintains active development across multiple fronts, with ongoing work on the desktop application in alpha status and a plugin system enabling JavaScript and TypeScript extensions. The tool includes built-in SEO capabilities, an MCP server for AI integration, and self-hosting options including one-click deployment on CapRover. Development is steered by Silex Labs, a non-profit organization with transparent finances and no investor backing, maintaining the codebase under the AGPL license with all features available to all users.