Doctave vs phpMyFAQ
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Doctave | phpMyFAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 12 · At risk | 76 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 670 | ★ 620 |
| First released | 2021 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Confluence, GitBook | Zendesk Guide, Confluence |
What are Doctave and phpMyFAQ?
Doctave
Doctave is an opinionated documentation site generator that builds fast static documentation sites from Markdown files. It includes built-in search, Mermaid diagram support, and live preview without requiring complex configuration.
- Markdown documentation
- Built-in search
- Mermaid diagrams
- Live preview server
phpMyFAQ
phpMyFAQ is a mature open-source FAQ and knowledge base system written in PHP. It supports multi-language content, categories, user permissions, and a powerful search for building help centers.
- FAQ-focused knowledge base
- Multi-language content
- Granular permissions
- Powerful search
Doctave vs phpMyFAQ: key differences
Doctave is written in Rust, while phpMyFAQ is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Doctave versus MPL-2.0 for phpMyFAQ. Doctave is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. PhpMyFAQ is the more established project (first released 2001), while Doctave arrived in 2021. PhpMyFAQ lists first-class Docker deployment; Doctave does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Doctave if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Static output only
- Limited theming
Choose phpMyFAQ if…
- Purpose-built for help centers
- Mature and stable
Watch out for
- Interface feels dated
- Less suited to free-form wikis
Frequently asked questions
Is Doctave or phpMyFAQ better?
Doctave is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider phpMyFAQ if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Doctave and phpMyFAQ free and open-source?
Yes. Doctave is licensed under MIT and phpMyFAQ under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Doctave and phpMyFAQ with Docker?
Doctave: check the project docs for container support. phpMyFAQ: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Doctave or phpMyFAQ?
Doctave has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.