Install on shared hosting

1. Get a release zip. Download tidemark-x.y.z.zip from the releases page. Dependencies are bundled. Building it yourself? Run scripts/build-release.sh x.y.z from the source repository, which writes dist/tidemark-x.y.z.zip.

2. Upload and unzip on your host with FTP or your control panel’s file manager.

3. Set the document root. Point the domain’s document root at the public/ folder.

   If your host won’t let you, leave the files in the web root as they are. The bundled root .htaccess forwards requests to public/ and blocks internal files.

4. Open /install. The page checks the server, connects your database, runs the migrations and creates your administrator account.

5. Add a site and paste its snippet into your site’s <head>.

Keep the project folder out of the web root where you can

Pointing the document root at public/ is the safest setup. It keeps .env, storage/ and your SQLite file out of reach of the web server entirely. The root .htaccess fallback blocks them on Apache; other servers need an equivalent rule.

Choosing a database

Choice	When to use it
SQLite	Single site or a few, low to moderate traffic. No setup.
MySQL / MariaDB	The default on most shared hosts. Create a database and user in your control panel, then enter them in the installer.
PostgreSQL	If your host offers it.

After installing

• Add the cron job if you use queued ingestion or retention.
• Set up backups.
• Secure your account with two-factor sign-in.
• Add teammates under People.

Other servers

Any server that can run PHP 8.3 and rewrite unknown paths to public/index.php works. The front controller rules are in public/.htaccess; for Nginx send everything that is not a file to index.php.