User manual · version 2.1
Blog Lite user manual
Step-by-step guides for installing, writing with AI, managing comments and configuring every setting. 34 pages, written in plain English.
1Getting started
What is Blog Lite 2?Blog Lite 2 is a PHP blog script with an AI writing assistant, comments, a modern admin panel and no database. See what it does and how it works.
System requirementsCheck what you need to run Blog Lite 2: PHP 7.4 or newer, a few standard extensions and writable folders. No database required.
Installing Blog Lite 2Step-by-step guide to install Blog Lite 2: upload the files, set folder permissions and create your admin account. No database setup needed.
First setup and your first postCreate your Blog Lite 2 administrator account, name your blog and follow the quick checklist to publish your first post.
Folder structureA guide to the Blog Lite 2 folders and files: where the code, templates, data and uploads live, and which files are safe to edit.
The config.php fileLearn every option in Blog Lite 2 config.php: time zone, debug mode, data and upload folders, maximum upload size and AI SSL verification.
2Your blog
The blog homepageHow the Blog Lite 2 homepage works: the hero section, featured latest post, article grid, popular posts, tags and menu, and how to customise each part.
The article pageWhat readers see on a Blog Lite 2 article page: cover image, reading time, view count, share buttons, tags, comments and related posts.
Comments and replies for visitorsHow comments work in Blog Lite 2: commenting without registering, threaded replies, spam protection, moderation and the rules visitors must follow.
Search, categories and tagsHow visitors find content in Blog Lite 2: instant search in the header, category pages, tag pages and pagination, plus how to set them up.
The contact pageHow the Blog Lite 2 contact form works: what visitors enter, where messages arrive, optional email notifications and how to turn the page off.
Dark mode and mobile designBlog Lite 2 adapts to phones, tablets and desktops, and offers a dark mode that visitors can switch on or that you can set as the default.
RSS feed and sitemapBlog Lite 2 creates an RSS feed and an XML sitemap automatically. Learn their addresses and how to submit the sitemap to Google Search Console.
3Admin panel
The admin dashboardTour of the Blog Lite 2 admin panel: the sidebar, dashboard statistics, latest posts and comments, most read posts and setup tips.
Writing and publishing a postLearn the Blog Lite 2 post editor: title, visual editor, cover image, category, tags, excerpt, SEO description, draft or publish, and comments.
Writing posts with the AI writerUse the Blog Lite 2 AI writer to generate a full blog post, title, excerpt and tags from a topic, then improve, shorten or expand your text with one click.
Getting and adding an AI API keyHow to get a free Groq API key, or a DeepSeek or OpenAI key, and add it to Blog Lite 2 so the AI writer can create posts for you.
Managing your postsUse the Blog Lite 2 posts list to filter published posts and drafts, search by title, check views and comments, and edit, view or delete posts.
Managing categoriesOrganise your blog with categories in Blog Lite 2: add, rename and delete them, see how many posts each has and how they appear on the site.
The media libraryUpload JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF images in Blog Lite 2, copy image links, delete files and learn about upload limits and cover image sizes.
Moderating commentsApprove, hide or delete visitor comments in the Blog Lite 2 admin panel, understand replies and pending comments, and keep spam away.
The messages inboxRead messages sent through the Blog Lite 2 contact form, reply by email with one click, see unread messages and delete old ones.
4Settings
General settingsEvery option on the General settings tab of Blog Lite 2: blog name, tagline, hero text, author, SEO description, posts per page, date format and pretty URLs.
Appearance settingsCustomise your Blog Lite 2 blog without code: choose the accent colour, default light or dark theme, upload a logo and add social media links.
Comments and contact settingsTurn comments and the contact page on or off in Blog Lite 2, require approval for new comments and get contact messages by email.
AI writer settingsConfigure the Blog Lite 2 AI writer: enable or disable it, choose Groq, DeepSeek, OpenAI or a custom provider, set the model and manage your API key.
Account settingsChange your Blog Lite 2 administrator username and password from the Account tab, with tips for choosing a strong password and what to do if you forget it.
5Advanced and help
Pretty URLs (clean addresses)Turn on clean, SEO-friendly addresses like /post/my-title in Blog Lite 2. Setup for Apache with mod_rewrite and for Nginx, plus troubleshooting.
Customising the designChange the look of your Blog Lite 2 blog: edit templates, CSS colours and fonts, translate texts and add your own pages, even with basic PHP knowledge.
Backup, restore and moving your blogBack up Blog Lite 2 by copying two folders, restore it in minutes, move it to a new host or domain and upgrade to a new version without losing content.
The XML data filesUnderstand the XML files Blog Lite 2 uses instead of a database: posts, comments, categories, messages, views and settings, and their fields.
SecuritySecurity features of Blog Lite 2 and a checklist to keep your blog safe: login protection, spam traps, protected folders, HTTPS, updates and backups.
TroubleshootingFix common Blog Lite 2 problems: blank page, cannot save posts, upload and AI writer errors, pretty URLs, missing comments and a forgotten password.
Frequently asked questionsAnswers to common questions about Blog Lite 2: databases, hosting, the AI writer and your content, languages, number of posts, admins and customisation.