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Maintaining and routinely updating websites is critical in the digital world we work and live in.
Businesses without in-house Web developers want a simple system that allows anybody to update content readily while maintaining their brand identity and messaging to potential consumers and clients.
Individuals and organizations can use a content management system, often known as a CMS, to modify, administer, and maintain existing website pages in a single interface without having specialist technical skills.
WordPress and Drupal are two examples of traditional content management systems (CMS) that combine the frontend and backend of a website into a single, controllable application codebase.
However, sometimes your developers need more than that — a system to construct Web apps while managing and accessing content via RESTful API calls.
A headless CMS lets you and your team members manage and produce content while also allowing you to access it across all of your apps through an API.
Some of the benefits of a headless CMS are as follows:
- There will be no need for legacy software development in the future.
- Managing material across several platforms is straightforward.
- Managing content from a central location across the enterprise.
- Expansion and scalability plans are in the works.
Strapi is one such headless content management system.
Let’s explore what it is, its features, how to use it, and more in this post.
What is Strapi?
Strapi is an open-source Node.js framework that’s used to construct quick and readily controllable JavaScript APIs. It simplifies the development of apps employing Jamstack technology by isolating the backend from the frontend.
Using API CMS, you can make managing the content of your application so simple that you no longer need to create sophisticated code.
It allows you complete control over the content through API calls, whose response is in JSON format.
Strapi, being a next-generation CMS, offers a variety of additional features. The key benefit of this platform is that it simply has a few basic features for managing content and users.
The remainder of your website’s components (database, display tools) are entirely up to you. It works with a lot of databases, including PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite, MySQL, and MariaDB, so you can use anything you choose.
The same can be said for the technologies you’d like to use to display your material. You’re not forced to employ a certain framework, rendering engine, or pre-made template.
Strapi Advantages
- Customizable: Every project has its own set of needs. The admin panel and API can both be easily customized.
- Open-source: Free and open-source. Hundreds of people maintain the complete codebase, which is available on GitHub.
- RESTful or GraphQL: Use REST or GraphQL to consume the API from any client (React, Vue, Angular), mobile applications, or even IoT.
- Self-hosted: For businesses, security is critical. You can safely store your data on your own servers. GDPR compliance is available.
- By design, it is extensible: You can install the authentication system, content management, custom plugins, and other features in seconds.
- Fully JavaScript: JavaScript is the only language that can do everything. JavaScript should be used everywhere, including the front end and the Headless CMS.
- Authentication and permissions: Safeguard your endpoints by granting or denying people access to your API based on their role.
Strapi Features
1. User friendly
CMS provides user-friendly capabilities for simple editing and is compatible with the installation of plugins and tools that add even more functionality for complex operations.
An API CMS offers a great user-friendly interface that any group member can use and interact with. It’s well-organized, dependable, and requires little instruction on how to use it.
2. Cross-platform
Headless CMS allows you to share material using any programming language via API calls without having to write any difficult code.
Furthermore, this sort of technology can be used in any programming language as long as the language supports RESTful APIs, such as Java, JavaScript, Python, and so on.
One of the reasons most developers favor API CMS, like Strapi, is its cross-platform technology.
3. Workflow
Developers also use API CMS to help align team user responsibilities with their workflow and to meet access control needs.
With Strapi, you can use Webhooks to communicate with your team when content has been altered and is available for editor review by restricting content access and automating workflows.
4. Modeling of content
Material modeling enables you to document all forms of content that you’ll require now and in the future to guarantee that it is effectively set for numerous channels.
Strapi API CMS material modeling allows you to provide your users with the content they need whenever they need it.
5. Scalability
API CMS also helps in developing scalable applications. Because the backend and frontend are distinct, any difficulties with the backend won’t influence the overall performance of the program.
Furthermore, the backend CMS can be quickly upgraded without impacting the frontend and vice versa. Strapi’s API CMS functionality allows you to upgrade and manage your application quickly.
Getting Started with Strapi
You must have some knowledge of REST APIs to follow along with this tutorial.
Step 1: Install Node.js & Yarn
To develop a Strapi project, you must have Node.js 14 installed on your PC. If you’re using Windows or a Mac, go to the downloads page to get Node.js.
To install Node.js 14 on Linux, open a terminal window and type the steps below.
To build Strapi project, you’ll need Yarn package manager.
To install Yarn, open a new terminal window and enter the command below.
Step 2: Create Strapi project
To show basic Strapi use, let’s develop a file management API.
On a terminal, enter the command given below. Be patient, as this command will take a while to run.
The command creates a new file-manager folder containing the project files and folders.
It also provides access to your Strapi at https://localhost:1337/admin. You must first create an administrator before you can use the newly formed Strapi.
To make one, fill out and submit the form.
Step 3: Create files collection
A Strapi collection allows you to create object templates. Create a file item (collection) with a name and description field.
- From the sidebar, select Content-Types Builder.
- Then, under Collection Types, select Create a new collection type.
- Enter “Files” as the display name and press the Continue button.
- Under Name, click the text area and input your name.
- In the advanced settings tab, double-check the required and unique fields.
- Click the Add another field button.
- Choose Rich text and enter a description in the Name field. Then press the Finish button.
- To store the collection, click Save and wait for the server to reload.
Step 4: Create type collection
Let’s add a type field to the file item. The kind of file will be indicated in this area — a document, video, audio, and so on.
We’ll build a new collection type to demonstrate how this is done.
- Create a new collection type by going to the Content-Types Builder and clicking Create a new collection type.
- Under Display name, type “Type” and then click Continue.
- Under Name, click the text area and input name.
- In the advanced settings tab, check the required field and the unique field, then click Finish.
- To save the collection, click Save.
- Add a field to this collection type by going to Content-Type Builder > Collection Types > Files and clicking Add another field to this collection type.
- Choose the Relationship field.
- Select Type from the right-hand dropdown menu. Then choose the connection that says Files have only one type.
- After that, click Finish and Save to save the collection.
Step 5: Add data to the collection and Publish
- Select Types from the left-hand menu and then Add New Types.
- Enter “document” in the Name area and press the Save button.
- Navigate to the Files menu on the left and select Add New Files.
- Under Name, enter “statement.pdf.”
- Click Save after selecting Document from the Type selection.
- You are free to add more things to your collections.
- Press the Public button.
Strapi Pricing
You can start using Strapi right away with the community plan, which is free forever.
It also offers three premium tiers which are listed below for self-hosted:
- Bronze Plan: $9 per admin user/month.
- Silver Plan: $29 per admin user/month.
- Gold Plan: Contact the Strapi team to get a custom plan.
Strapi also offers cloud services. For more details, you can have a look at the pricing section.
Pros
- Simple data modeling: It comes with a fantastic interface for modeling your data straight out of the box. That is, you don’t need to construct database tables or write queries.
- Internationalization: Many CMS continue to suffer from inadequate i18n support. Strapi isn’t like that. Strapi’s most recent release now can deliver translations to any data object. This means you can now easily deliver information to a larger audience.
- Easy customization: Strapi began as a Node.js MVC framework, and it remains that way inside. You can easily add new API endpoints as needed and build custom logic in models and controllers to support them.
- REST and GraphQL APIs: Strapi provides documented REST and GraphQL APIs right out of the box. You can obtain the Swagger/GraphQL documentation for free if you build your entities in the Strapi Admin.
Cons
- Limited database migration: Strapi handles all types of content type creation/updates in the database transparently. This means you’ll have to handle database migrations manually across numerous settings.
- Frequent updates: While this is helpful for Strapi as an ecosystem, if you plan to use Strapi for huge content repositories, frequent updates will be a turn-off. Some of these upgrades contain breaking changes, making it difficult to upgrade a production system without comprehensive end-to-end testing.
Conclusion
Strapi is a fantastic and powerful tool for creating a CMS without any legacy software development.
Because of the potential to use data across several apps, the headless method liberates you from the limits of a single technology and allows us to experiment with new ones. It offers a flood of fresh alternatives.
You don’t need to know any backend programming languages to develop it. And you can easily incorporate it into your business in a few clicks.
Strapi is also an excellent tool for frontend developers, who can use it to quickly design APIs for their frontend applications while also learning new technologies.
Play with Strapi as much as you like!
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