All projects share a common foundation: open, portable, and constraint-free Markdown files. Start simple with the no-signup Docsify-This web app, self-host and customize further with the Docsify Starter Kits, or go further still with a full, database-free CMS via the Cost-Free Grav Projects (free) or Grav Helios Open Reader / Grav Helios Course Hub (premium theme). Easy to start with, easy to switch between, and easy to leave if your needs change.
PUBLISH Docsify-This v2.0 (built with Docsify v5)
🔗 Docsify-This.net · 📦 GitHub repository
🏆 Open Infrastructure Finalist, 2024 Open Education Awards for Excellence
FULL CMS PREMIUM Grav Helios Open Reader
🔗 Demo · 📦 GitHub repository · ⬇️ Download
Requires PHP Web server and Grav Premium Helios Theme
FULL CMS PREMIUM Grav Helios Course Hub
🔗 Demo · 📦 GitHub repository · ⬇️ Download
Requires PHP Web server and Grav Premium Helios Theme
MIGRATE BETA Free Conversion Tools
🔗 Docsify Cartridge Converter · Grav Helios Cartridge Converter · Pressbooks Converter
Convert an existing Canvas, Moodle, or Brightspace course into Docsify or Grav Helios Course Hub, or a Pressbooks book into Grav Helios Open Reader or Grav Open Publishing Space
FULL CMS FREE Cost-Free Grav Projects: 2026 Refresh
🔗 Learn about all four · Grav Open Publishing Space · Grav Open Course Hub · Grav Open MultiCourse Hub · Grav Learn2 with Git Sync
A new Dark Mode option for all four, a cleaner 2026 Modern look for the course hubs with a tinted NavBar in each course's colour, and accessibility improvements
PLUGIN Git Page Link Plugin
🔗 Demo · 📦 GitHub repository · ⬇️ Download
Connects Grav pages to their content Git repository with almost any theme – for open authoring and OER workflows
HibbittsDesign.org creates open-source software that turns Markdown into modern, self-managed websites for educators, digital publishers, and content creators, and supports the wider Markdown publishing community – built on over 25 years of experience in software interaction design, UX consulting, and higher education.
Built with a focus on outcomes over features, these projects strive to be both enjoyable and valuable.
See what educators and users are saying about these projects.
Read more about HibbittsDesign.org projects, additional services, and more
A documentation-style platform for Markdown publishing that requires no Web server or build process, making it accessible to a broader audience.
- Docsify-This.net for content publishers, educators, creators and groups seeking a simple way to turn Markdown files into styled websites.
- Loadable configurations of popular LMS content styles for Docsify-This:
- Loadable configurations for presentation content styles with Docsify-This:
- Docsify Open Course Starter Kit for course authors and facilitators. Best for users comfortable with GitHub/Codeberg basics, or willing to learn.
- Example Open Course Starter Kit variations:
- Docsify Open MultiCourse Starter Kit for course authors and facilitators managing multiple courses
- Example Open MultiCourse Starter Kit variations:
- Docsify Open Publishing Starter Kit for open publishers and digital content creators
- Example Open Publishing Starter Kit variations:
A highly customizable Markdown publishing platform, powered by the versatile Twig template language. For digitally-savvy users comfortable with web hosting and the basics of GitHub.
Grav Helios Open Reader and Grav Helios Course Hub are the premium counterparts to the free Grav skeleton projects below, built on the paid Grav Premium Helios theme. Grav Helios Open Reader · Grav Helios Course Hub
See Free or Grav Helios? for a side-by-side comparison.
- Grav Helios Open Reader Skeleton – premium Grav Helios theme required
- Example Helios Open Reader variations:
- Grav Helios Course Hub Skeleton – premium Grav Helios theme required
- Example Helios Course Hub variations:
The four skeletons below make up the Cost-Free Grav Projects collection:
- Grav Open Publishing Space Skeleton
- Grav Open Course Hub Skeleton
- Example Open Course Hub variations:
- Grav Open MultiCourse Hub Skeleton
- Example Open MultiCourse Hub variations:
- Grav Learn2 with Git Sync Skeleton
- Git Page Link – connects Grav pages to their content Git repository for open authoring and OER workflows
To help teams and individual educators create better online experiences for their students, the Canvas LMS site for my most recent highly successful offering of SFU CMPT-363 User Interface Design (which was redesigned as an online and more scalable variation of the traditional 3rd-year face-to-face course) remains public. The source content for this course, along with the previous two offerings, is also available at the CMPT-363 Hub Standalone site built with the Docsify Open MultiCourse Starter Kit, as well as an earlier Grav CMS course hub.
I also support several related open-source projects, including Mastodon, Docsify, Docsify-Themeable and Grav CMS.
Having benefited from informational interviews early in my career, I welcome similar requests for coffee meetups in #YVR when my extensive experience in higher education instruction, the craft of interaction design, and professional consulting practices can be of value.
While all my open-source tools are freely available for anyone to use and benefit from, I also offer professional services for teams or organizations seeking personalized support. Drawing on experience from over 140 software projects spanning 25 years of professional consulting, these services help create better outcomes and experiences with open content publishing. See the Services page for details, or Contact me or send a note to paul@hibbittsdesign.org.
- Star one or more of my projects on GitHub⭐️
- Help spread the word about my projects on social media📢
Interested in financially supporting my open source work? I’d be honoured if you pledge the same funds to another open source project of your choice.
