by Bjarke A.

A look back at 20 years of Contao

The 20-year timeline

2006

TYPOlight 1.0
  • Leo Feyer lumped all existing content management systems together, gave them a good stir, and so TYPOlight was born on 28 February 2006.
  • The first version of TYPOlight was released on 12 March 2006.
  • TYPOlight now features an online demo and a live update service.

Versions

  • 2006-03-12 TYPOlight 1.0
  • 2006-11-24 TYPOlight 2.0
  • 2006-11-28 TYPOlight 2.1

  • Rosenstolz Das grosse Leben
  • Katie Melua Piece By Piece
  • Xavier Naidoo Telegramm für X
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium
  • James Blunt Back To Bedlam

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2007

typolight.org
  • With the "Safe Mode Hack", problems with file permissions are a thing of the past.
  • Work on the wiki begins in March and the first screencasts are produced.
  • At the 2007 Packt Publishing Awards, TYPOlight came second in the "Most Promising Content Management Systems" category.
  • The project website is revamped for the first time in early summer.
  • The first articles about our CMS appear in German magazines.

Versions

  • 2007-02-28 TYPOlight 2.2
  • 2007-04-25 TYPOlight 2.3
  • 2007-06-07 TYPOlight 2.4
  • 2007-12-12 TYPOlight 2.5

  • Nelly Furtado Loose
  • Herbert Grönemeyer 12
  • Linkin Park Minutes To Midnight
  • Mario Barth Männer sind primitiv, aber glücklich!
  • Norah Jones Not Too Late

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2008

TYPOlight handbook
  • The TYPOlight logo is unveiled to the public.
  • The official TYPOlight handbook is published by Addison-Wesley.
  • The German-language website goes live.
  • The TYPOlight website wins bronze at the Biene Award.
  • The partner programme launches in the summer.
  • The first hoster includes TYPOlight in its 1Click Install programme.
  • TYPOlight gets its own extension repository.

Version

Event

  • Amy Winehouse Back To Black
  • Ich + Ich Vom selben Stern
  • Paul Potts One Chance
  • Die Ärzte Jazz ist anders
  • Udo Lindenberg Stark wie zwei

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2009

TYPOlight install tool
  • The website will be revamped again in September.
  • The second edition of the official TYPOlight handbook is now available in shops.
  • Shortly before Christmas, the first security vulnerability in the install tool is patched.

Version

Event

  • Peter Fox Stadtaffe
  • Michael Jackson King Of Pop
  • Silbermond Nichts passiert
  • Lady Gaga The Fame
  • Depeche Mode Sounds Of The Universe

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2010

contao.org
  • At the TYPOlight user meeting, it is announced that TYPOlight will be renamed Contao with the release of version 2.9.
  • The first themes are created using the new Theme Manager. At the same time, the second version of the Extension Repository is released.
  • The first Contao training centre opens its doors in Aachen.
  • Episode 173 of the Technikwürze podcast is all about Contao.

Versions

Event

  • Unheilig Grosse Freiheit
  • Peter Maffay Tattoos
  • Lady Gaga The Fame
  • Ich + Ich Gute Reise
  • Lena My Cassette Player

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2011

Contao Open Source CMS Partner
  • The partner programme has introduced a new service tier called Premium.
  • Contao is celebrating its fifth anniversary and is switching to HTML5 templates in its latest version.
  • The first Contao version with extended support (LTS) is released as version 2.11.

Version

Events

  • Adele 21
  • Udo Lindenberg MTV Unplugged
  • Herbert Grönemeyer Schiffsverkehr
  • Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans
  • Unheilig Grosse Freiheit

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2012

themes.contao.org
  • Following a vote by its members, the Contao Association Switzerland has become the Contao Association. The association is committed to promoting the Contao open-source CMS.
  • The Contao Check is being revamped and will feature new functions.
  • The release cycle is being adjusted; from now on, a new Contao version will be released every 6 months.
  • Contao 3 is released in October.
  • The official Contao Theme Store is being launched.

Versions

Events

  • Die Toten Hosen Ballast der Republik
  • Unheilig Lichter der Stadt
  • Adele 21
  • Lana Del Rey Born To Die
  • Xavier Naidoo Danke für's Zuhören

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2013

Contao on GitHub
  • A working group is being set up to investigate a switch to the open-source PHP framework Symfony.
  • Contao will be part of the major exhibition organised by CMS Garden at CeBIT.
  • Contao is featured on the TV programme ComputerClub² .
  • Contao makes the permanent switch to GitHub and cuts its last ties with SourceForge.
  • We bid farewell to the 2 series and welcome the new 3.2 with an extended support period.

versions

Events

  • Helene Fischer Farbenspiel
  • Robbie Williams Swings Both Ways
  • Andrea Berg Atlantis
  • Santiano Mit den Gezeiten
  • Andrea Berg Abenteuer

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2014

Extension Repository 2
  • Work is actively underway on a successor to the Extension Repository 2.
  • A proof of concept for merging Contao and Symfony is being developed, and a call is being held to discuss it. This call marks the start of regular calls by the Core Team, during which tickets and potential solutions will be discussed.
  • With the start of development on Contao 4, the Contao Git repositories are being restructured.
  • In the Webkraut Webworker Survey, Contao ranks third among the most popular content management systems with 23%.
  • The Core Team meets and holds a Contao/Symfony workshop. This event is funded by the Contao Association. From now on, the Core Team will meet twice a year.

versions

Events

  • Helene Fischer Farbenspiel
  • AC/DC Rock Or Bust
  • Pink Floyd The Endless River
  • Sing meinen Song Das Tauschkonzert
  • Herbert Grönemeyer Dauernd jetzt

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2015

New Contao website
  • In January, Contao breaks the magic one-million-download mark.
  • Contao 4.0, featuring Symfony and the new package management system, is unveiled. At the same time, version 3.5 is released with an extended support period.
  • With the release of Contao 4.0, the system switches to Semantic Versioning.
  • The Contao website goes live with new content and a fresh look.
  • In October, Contao wins the Screenguide CMS comparison.

Versions

Events

  • Helene Fischer & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Weihnachten
  • Adele 25
  • Sarah Connor Muttersprache
  • Helene Fischer Farbenspiel
  • Sing meinen Song Das Tauschkonzert - Volume 2

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2016

Contao Manager 1.0
  • The Contao Academy has published a comprehensive introductory course on the current LTS version of Contao.
  • Contao is celebrating its 10th anniversary and looks back.
  • Development of a graphical interface called Contao Manager to simplify the management of Contao installations has begun and is being funded by the Contao Association.
  • Contao is now looking back on its achievements in the Monthly Review and providing information on interesting developments in the Contao ecosystem.
  • The Contao logo now features a flat design and no shadow.

Versions

Events

  • Contao Agency Day in Karlsruhe
  • Contao conference in Bad Honnef
  • Contao Community Cruise in Lindau
  • Contao NRW Day in Dortmund
  • Contao camp in Nürnberg

  • Udo Lindenberg Stärker als die Zeit
  • Andrea Berg Seelenbeben
  • Metallica Hardwired... To Self-Destruct
  • Helene Fischer & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Weihnachten
  • The Rolling Stones Blue & Lonesome

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2017

Contao 4.4

Versions

Events

  • Contao Agency Day in Karlsruhe
  • Contao North Day in Hamburg
  • Contao conference in Potsdam
  • Contao Hike & Grill in Bad Feilnbach
  • Contao camp in Jever

  • Helene Fischer Helene Fischer
  • Ed Sheeran ÷
  • Die Toten Hosen Laune der Natur
  • Kollegah & Farid Bang Jung brutal gutaussehend 3
  • The Kelly Family We Got Love

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2018

Contao release plan

Version

Events

  • Helene Fischer Helene Fischer
  • Bonez MC & RAF Camora Palmen aus Plastik 2
  • Gzuz Wolke 7
  • Frei.Wild Rivalen und Rebellen
  • Ed Sheeran ÷

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2019

Contao Developer Documentation

Versions

Events

  • Rammstein Rammstein
  • Sarah Connor Herz Kraft Werke
  • Udo Lindenberg MTV Unplugged 2
  • Herbert Grönemeyer Tumult
  • Andrea Berg Mosaik

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2020

Contao TV
  • Contao 4.9, which comes with an extended support period, offers a host of new features.
  • Under the name Contao TV, various formats and programmes will be broadcast.
  • The Contao Manager is also undergoing continuous development and will be updated in preparation for an upcoming security update for Contao.
  • Contao has contributed to Composer 2.0 and is therefore jointly responsible for the performance gains.
  • We are the only content management system represented at OMT meets Tools.

Versions

Event

  • Contao Agency Day in Karlsruhe

  • AC/DC Power Up
  • Böhse Onkelz Böhse Onkelz
  • Sarah Connor Herz Kraft Werke
  • Die Ärzte Hell
  • Sing meinen Song Das Tauschkonzert - Volume 7

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2021

15 years of Contao

Versions

  • ABBA Voyage
  • Helene Fischer Rausch
  • AC/DC Power Up
  • Die Ärzte Dunkel
  • Santiano Wenn die Kälte kommt

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2022

Contao Affiliate Programme

Versions

Event

  • Rammstein Zeit
  • Helene Fischer Rausch
  • ABBA Voyage
  • Taylor Swift Midnights
  • Harry Styles Harry's House

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2023

Dark mode in the back end

Versions

Events

  • The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Album
  • Depeche Mode Memento mori
  • Metallica 72 Seasons
  • Apache 207 Gartenstadt
  • Taylor Swift 1989 (Taylor's Version)

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2024

Lucide Icons
  • We are delighted to welcome the new version 5.3 with an extended support period at a release party, whilst the previous version 4 will now only receive security-related updates.
  • An iconic release with a new icon set is being published.
  • In a new series, We are Contao, we meet people who find it hard to imagine life without Contao and who spread their enthusiasm for the best content management system far and wide every day.

Versions

Events

  • Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department
  • Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft
  • Linkin Park From Zero
  • Ayliva In Liebe
  • Ayliva Schwarzes Herz

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2025

News with a new look

Versions

Event

  • Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl
  • Linkin Park From Zero
  • Soundtrack KPop Demon Hunters
  • Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft
  • Kontra K Augen träumen Herzen sehen

The Top 100 in the German annual album charts.

2026

Contao 5.7

Version

EAn overview of current and planned releases can be found in the Contao Release Plan.

Event

Recap of the Contao Core Developers Meeting

Every year, the Contao Core development team meets twice for a short code sprint. In these retrospectives, you’ll get a glimpse behind the scenes and find out everything you need to know about the ongoing development of your favourite CMS. Enjoy diving into the world of Contao development.

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Contao Monthly Review

Let’s take a moment to look back at what we’ve achieved in the Contao monthly review.

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

We are Contao

Meet people who find it hard to imagine life without Contao and who spread the word about the best content management system every single day.

2024

2025

2026

Bjarke Ammann

About Bjarke A.

In the past, Bjarke has looked back on what we have achieved together and celebrated the highlights in his monthly reviews for Contao. Today, as netzarbeiter, he looks ahead for his customers and puts exciting personalities from the Contao community in the spotlight. He also takes care of the official Contao user manual and makes sure that Contao enthusiasts from Switzerland meet to exchange ideas. He loves culinary delights, good music and exercise in the fresh air.

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