--- title: Benni Mack—TYPO3 Project Lead and b13 CTO url: "https://b13.com/team/benni-mack" date: 2020-11-19 modified: 2026-08-17 lastUpdated: 2026-08-17 --- # Benni Mack—TYPO3 Project Lead and b13 CTO ![Bild von Benni Mack](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/c/6/csm_benni_66cce9a81f.webp) Benni Mack ============ TYPO3 Project Lead, b13 CTO Though b13 co-founder and TYPO3 CMS Core Development Lead, Benni Mack, is something of an unstructured genius, he gives us the structure we need to succeed in many areas. He’s part of coordinating the business side of our agency and winning new clients. He handles setup and maintenance of our technical infrastructure. And though he’s one of our key resources when we’re solving new problems for clients, he uses a classic “salami tactic” when he can get away with it: Any problem you bring to him, he slices into even finer pieces and gives it back to you. Watch out for leaving with more questions than you came with! Little-known facts about Benni: he was a German national semi-finalist in Olympic Greco-Roman-style wrestling and he can’t swim. Practical tasks that Benni works on include business coordination and management, backend development, server setup + maintenance, and plenty of coding. Benni uses some key terms when he thinks about his leadership role at the agency and helping clients: - “Taking the hits” - Frontline coordination of clients and client projects - ”Think” - find the best ideas on how to solve technical issues - ”Listen, Translate” - Turning client needs and requests into useful development tasks - ”Dig deep” - Analyzing hard-to-fix issues, looking for their source and solutions - ”Engage, Encourage, Unblock” - Finding the right, constructive next steps for any and all development- or ‘human’ issues that arise in the course of our activities **Expertise** - Ansible, Apple, Blackfire, Cloudflare, Database, PHP, PSRs, SQL - TYPO3, v10, Core, Custom, Extensions, Workspaces - Caching, CDN, CI-Deployment, Regular expressions, Web servers - Contribution, Community, Enablement, Sharing knowledge - Hohe Qualität, Exceptional experiences, International, Mehrsprachigkeit, Partnerschaft - Familie, Zuhören, Lernen, Weitergeben, Teamwork, Vertrauen ### Benni’s Dos and Don’ts - Always understand, build things to last, and maximize your efficiency - Always ask for the reason and the need before doing something (“understand”) - Always find a clean, future-proof solution that keeps you out of trouble in the future (“build things to last”) - Always automate (“be efficient, don’t do the same thing three times”) - Always be optimistic and see the benefits of bad situations, look for the silver lining - Always look for a long-term solution or strategy - Never give up! - Never blame others! - Never waste your time! ### Benni and TYPO3 > Using TYPO3, we have a tool that has some flaws, but almost no limits. With it, we can make our lives and our work easier. It is predictable, powerful, flexible, and transparent. I can extend and improve TYPO3 on my own. Other tools might not allow that. It’s up to me what I do with it. > I believe that the more we know, the more we should share. As Core Development Lead, it is my responsibility to share as much about TYPO3 as I can. I know a lot, so I can pass on a lot. And yet, this project is SO BIG that I am always learning how to do things easier and faster. It’s delightful how often I see solutions and uses for our project that I never would have thought of. I draw a lot of inspiration from contributing and participating in other projects and technologies, too. ### Benni on working at b13 > I am humbled and grateful that we’ve built an agency where we get the job done well while caring about each other … and having fun! We’re open to new ideas while focusing on doing one thing and doing it right. There’s a powerful feeling of being in it together with each other, and making a difference for our clients and the world. We identify their needs, we’re there to help them work better and succeed. ### Latest Articles by Benni Mack - #### One Manifest: TYPO3 Extensions No Longer Need an ext\_emconf.php 18 September 2026 | Benni Mack What’s ext\_emconf.php? What’s TER? And that does it have to do with Composer? The success story of decade-long support and upgrade paths! [ Read more: One Manifest: TYPO3 Extensions No Longer Need an ext\_emconf.php ](https://b13.com/core-insights/one-manifest-typo3-extensions-no-longer-need-an-ext-emconfphp) - ![Gavel labeled "AI" on a circuit-patterned background with yellow stars, symbolizing regulation or legislation related to artificial intelligence in the EU.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/1/0/csm_EUAIAct_Headerbild_510724b3de.webp) #### AI Content in TYPO3: Labelling Needs Accountability 02 August 2026 | Benni Mack The EU AI Act brings the origins of AI-generated content into focus. AI Label marks AI-generated and AI-edited content in TYPO3 and records who signed off the published version—for… [ Read more: AI Content in TYPO3: Labelling Needs Accountability ](https://b13.com/knowledge/ai-content-in-typo3-labelling-needs-accountability) - ![A human hand shakes a robotic hand against a purple background with heart patterns, symbolizing collaboration between humans and technology.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/2/csm_AIbotsLoveMarkdown_Headerbild_72fe5820d6.webp) #### The Internet Is No Longer Just for Humans—AI Bots Love Markdown 28 January 2026 | Benni Mack Discover why most web traffic is now automated and how TYPO3’s structured content model prepares websites for humans, editors, and AI systems. [ Read more: The Internet Is No Longer Just for Humans—AI Bots Love Markdown ](https://b13.com/knowledge/the-internet-is-no-longer-just-for-humans-ai-bots-love-markdown) - ![Several colorful web page mockups stacked together, showcasing different layouts and design elements against a purple background.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/e/3/csm_CaminoTheme_Headerbild_d082598009.webp) #### Camino—The Need for a Default Theme in TYPO3 Is Real 27 January 2026 | Benni Mack With TYPO3 v14, Camino introduces a default theme that removes friction from first installs. Why this matters—and how TYPO3 laid the groundwork. [ Read more: Camino—The Need for a Default Theme in TYPO3 Is Real ](https://b13.com/core-insights/blog/camino-the-need-for-a-default-theme-in-typo3-is-real) - ![Two interlocking gears with a power plug connecting them, accompanied by a tag labeled "v14." Background features faint gear patterns.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/0/c/csm_TYPO3v14_Headerbild_3aa3fbc907.webp) #### TYPO3 v14: It’s Just the Beginning 05 December 2025 | Benni Mack See highlights from Benni Mack’s T3CON Keynote: TYPO3 v14 offers a modernized feel and improvements in themes, upgrades, and API. [ Read more: TYPO3 v14: It’s Just the Beginning ](https://b13.com/knowledge/typo3-v14-its-just-the-beginning) - ![A hand holding a magnifying glass examines a stack of documents, with digital elements and web pages illustrated in the background, suggesting a focus on research or analysis.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/9/csm_OverlaysExplained_Headerbild_06595130e7.webp) #### The Elegant Efficiency of TYPO3 Overlays 09 May 2025 | Benni Mack This blog post explains the concept of the “overlays” mechanism in TYPO3, with some in-depth insights on how the TYPO3 Core Engine deals with this feature under the hood. [ Read more: The Elegant Efficiency of TYPO3 Overlays ](https://b13.com/knowledge/mastering-localization-and-content-staging) - ![A laptop is surrounded by multiple syringes, with a red prohibition symbol displayed on the screen, indicating a message against vaccination or medical intervention.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/f/0/csm_CrossSiteScriptingInjections_Headerbild_22d802965f.webp) #### Using the power of your CMS to block Cross-Site-Scripting injections 06 May 2025 | Benni Mack In our previous blog post, we’ve touched on most elements of Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate any kind of injection via Cross-Site-Scripting. Now, let’s dive into the… [ Read more: Using the power of your CMS to block Cross-Site-Scripting injections ](https://b13.com/knowledge/block-cross-site-scripting-injections-with-typo3) - ![A cowboy wearing a hat and a globe for a head rides a yellow horse, spotlighted against a stylized background of green hills and abstract shapes.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/1/csm_CountryDropdownViewHelper_Headerbild_3d2356e87e.webp) #### Unlocking a world of country information 21 March 2025 | Benni Mack TYPO3 simplifies working with country lists by including a comprehensive Country API out-of-the-box, sourced from authoritative UN data. Say goodbye to third-party extensions and… [ Read more: Unlocking a world of country information ](https://b13.com/knowledge/unlocking-a-world-of-country-information) - ![Two individuals with different hair colors hold framed pictures, each depicting a smaller version of themselves. The background features radial lines in warm colors, enhancing the focus on the subjects.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/3/5/csm_AvoidingDuplicateContent_Headerbild_6887956ad1.webp) #### Addressing Duplicate Content in TYPO3 11 December 2024 | Benni Mack Discover how to efficiently tackle duplicate content in TYPO3 with our expert guide. Learn about unique strategies and essential tools to boost your site’s SEO today. [ Read more: Addressing Duplicate Content in TYPO3 ](https://b13.com/knowledge/avoiding-duplicate-content-on-your-websites) - ![A hand holds a magnifying glass over a tag labeled "v12," positioned near yellow gears and an electrical plug, suggesting a focus on mechanical or electrical components.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/6/csm_TYPO3VersionRunning_Headerbild_e6499bc92b.webp) #### 3 Ways to Check Your TYPO3 Version (And What to Do Next) 24 July 2024 | Benni Mack Discover 3 easy ways to check your TYPO3 version and learn the next steps to keep your site secure and up-to-date. Stay informed with our helpful guide. [ Read more: 3 Ways to Check Your TYPO3 Version (And What to Do Next) ](https://b13.com/knowledge/3-ways-to-check-your-typo3-version-and-what-to-do-next)