--- title: 'Flat-file sites (Grav)' url: 'https://mountainairweb.com/services/flat-file-sites' markdown: 'https://mountainairweb.com/services/flat-file-sites.md' date: '2026-10-09' --- Service | Flat-file sites # A marketing site with *no database* to hack, bloat or back up. Pages are files. Every change is a git diff. Every page is also served as Markdown, so the AI agents your customers now search with can read it directly. Editors still get a visual builder with inline editing. This site is built this way. [ Talk about a flat-file build ](https://mountainairweb.com/contact) [ How this site is built ](#this-site) ![Grav CMS](https://mountainairweb.com/user/media/logos/grav-mark.svg) ### Brochure and campaign sites that must be fast and cheap to run Built for ### Teams that want content in git, reviewed like code Built for ### Companies making their site readable to AI assistants Built for databases to hack, back up or pay for. Every page is a file. 0 Append .md to any URL on this site to see what an AI agent reads. agency partners 6+ on WordPress 12 yr projects shipped 90+ referral-based work 99% daily East Coast overlap PT What’s in the kit ## Grav 2, plus the pieces that make it *usable by a marketing team.* Grav is an excellent flat-file CMS with a small community. We built the missing layer so clients get a modern editing experience and agencies get repeatable builds. ### Block-based pages - 19 content blocks (hero, features, cards, FAQ, pricing, comparison tables, forms and more) - Every block supports backgrounds, spacing, width, per-device visibility and anchors - New block types are added to the shared kit, so every site benefits ### Visual builder with inline editing - Editors click text on the page and type - Drag-to-reorder sections, global sections shared across pages - No page-builder markup: the output is clean, semantic HTML ### AI-ready by design - Every page served as Markdown at `/page.md`, or via an `Accept: text/markdown` header - Built-in MCP server so agents can read and (with permission) edit content - MawGeo structured data and an `llms.txt` on every build ### Operations that don’t need a sysadmin - Backup = copy a folder. Rollback = `git revert` - Runs on a small VPS or managed host for a fraction of WordPress hosting costs - No SQL injection surface, no plugin-update roulette Choosing a platform ## When Grav, *when WordPress* We build both, so the recommendation is based on your site, not our preference. When Grav, \*when WordPress\* | Your situation | WordPress | Flat-file (Grav) | |---|---|---| | Marketing site under ~200 pages | Yes | Yes | | Many authors with roles and workflows Grav’s permissions are simpler | Yes | Partial | | Marketo / HubSpot / 6sense embeds | Yes | Yes | | E-commerce, memberships, LMS | Yes | No | | Content reviewed in git pull requests | Partial | Yes | | Every page available as Markdown for AI WordPress needs a plugin | Partial | Yes | | Database to secure and back up | Yes | No | | Typical monthly hosting cost | Managed WP tier | Small VPS or static-class host | Not sure? Send a URL to the [free audit](https://mountainairweb.com/free-audit) and we’ll tell you which one fits and why. Proof ## You’re looking at one. mountainairweb.com runs on the kit: Grav 2.1, the MAW starter theme, the visual builder and the menu plugin. Try it: add `.md` to any URL on this site to see what an AI agent sees, for example [/services/flat-file-sites.md](https://mountainairweb.com/services/flat-file-sites.md). The same kit is used for client builds, which means a new site starts from a tested foundation instead of a blank theme. - No database, no plugin sprawl - Content and design versioned in git - Visual builder with inline editing for the client - Deployed to a managed Grav host with daily backups Questions ## Flat-file, answered. Is Grav secure? There is no database and no SQL layer, which removes the most common WordPress attack surface. The admin is a separate app that talks to an API with per-user permissions. Updates are a `git pull`. Can non-technical staff edit it? Yes. The visual builder lets editors click into text and type, reorder sections, swap images and add new sections from a library, all inside the browser. Nobody needs to touch a file unless they want to. What about forms and lead capture? Native forms with email delivery and spam protection are included. Marketo, HubSpot and other embedded forms work the same way they do on WordPress. Can we move to WordPress later? Yes. Content is Markdown with YAML front matter, the most portable format there is. We have moved sites in both directions. Who hosts it? Usually our managed Grav hosting on a hardened VPS with daily backups, or your own server if IT prefers. Hosting cost is typically a fraction of a managed WordPress plan. ## Ready to move beyond *theme limitations?* We’ll review your current setup and map out a build, migration or AI-visibility plan in a free 30-minute call. [ Start a conversation ](https://mountainairweb.com/contact) [ Request a free site audit ](https://mountainairweb.com/free-audit) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Services](https://mountainairweb.com/services.md) - Previous: [Custom WordPress](https://mountainairweb.com/services/wordpress.md) - Next: [MawGeo · AI search visibility](https://mountainairweb.com/services/mawgeo.md)