What is Strapi And Why You Should Use It?

Strapi is a CMS solution that allows you to be completely free of employer regulations, constraints, etc. It is an accessible Node.js headless CMS that you can run on your server and further modify with the addition of custom plugins.

Strapi a popular open-source frameless CMS inside the Jamstack ecosystem, with 36.9k stars on Github, thanks to its adaptability and scalability. It is also incredibly alluring to have total control over the app you construct, with no API limitations.

Headless CMS Strapi is written in Node.js & React.js and may be used with any database. Databases other than PostgreSQL and MongoDB may be used with it. That Strapi aims to be an alternative to WordPress is well known.

Everything from a simple website to an e-commerce app may be built with Strapi. It is possible to learn how to connect Strapi with more commonly used frameworks, such as Gattby.js and Next.js.

Performers, developers, and editors have access to an easy-to-use admin panel. The developer-friendly content type builder makes it simple to specify your API's content model. In addition, if you are an editor, you will like the simple user interface that makes it easy to create new material.

Why Use Strapi?

Open-source, Node.js - based, Headless CMS Strapi saves developers a tremendous amount of time while utilizing their preferred tools and frameworks. Editors may also use Strapi to simplify the distribution of material (such as text, graphics, video, and so on) across a variety of devices.

Advantage Of Strapi

Intuitive and Versatile

Strapi's user-friendly UI makes it a breeze to get started. In addition, plugins provide a wide range of customization options. Strapi is ready to use out of the box, but plugins allow you to customize it to meet your requirements.

You are not familiar with WordPress, are you? It's not an issue at all! You may create basic or complicated content types without writing any code using Strapi's integrated ORM. However, you may use node scripts to automate the whole process if you want more advanced functionality.

A modular and extensible framework for backend developers is provided by Strapi, which allows for the integration of Koa and AngularJS 4.

Strapi is an excellent tool for working on a more intricate project. Because of its modular design, you may make it your own and add your features to it. As a result, the system is versatile and can be used for any project.

Fast and Scalable

A modular design allows Strapi to grow and manage significant traffic. You don't have to utilize every feature or plugin; just the relevant ones to your project are required. It is also possible to increase or decrease the size of your application at any moment when using a PaaS.

Fast in performance since it only produces what the customer is asking for. Data validation is also fast because of the interface with Koa and Joi. It also offers an automated "brownfield" function that prevents developers from wasting time and effort creating unnecessary code. Rather than worrying about squandering computational resources, they may devote their efforts to creating more complicated features.

Intuitive Nodejs Server Integration

The Node.js programming language is one of the most widely used nowadays; let's face it. Strapi, which supports Express and Koa, is an excellent choice for Node.js developers. Not only does it support ES6 and ES7 for scalable and dynamic applications, but it is also the most popular Node framework.

Strapi also includes an adaptor that enables you to integrate your project with any third-party library if you choose to utilize another framework.

If that does not make enough, start constructing your application in React or Angular 2 using their adapters. This update will take effect instantly without the need to restart the strap.

It's Open-Source and Free

Strapi is open-source software that anybody may use and contribute to on GitHub at no charge. You may even fork the code and make changes or additions to it to suit your preferences and requirements.

You will not have to go far if you need an alternative since everything is right there on your dashboard. It is licensed under the MIT license, which means it may be used in any project, big or little. In addition, licensing and upgrades are not a concern. Strapi always delivers the most recent version of Node.js, so there are no compatibility concerns.

A large developer community is part of the platform's appeal as an open-source undertaking, and they work together to make it even better.

Architecture With A Big Impact

Strapi is an excellent resource for anybody interested in learning how to build APIs. Everything you need to construct an API for your front-end application can be found in this framework's well-structured design.

Each module adheres to the Node.js coding standards and may be used with any server or framework that supports them.

Strapi may handle numerous other requests: POST, GET, DELETE, PUT, and OPTIONS are just a few options available. There will be no concerns with performance while developing APIs or RESTful services as a result. Managing content offers an admin area with a robust UI that dramatically decreases development time.

Drawbacks Of Strapi

It's Not Easy To Migrate Existing Apis

A perfect 100 percent match between Strapi and your current backend system (like WordPress) will require some effort if you currently have one. Because Strapi does not support WP-CRM, you will need to deploy it yourself in the background.

This is where more conventional CMS systems like Kirby or Craft come in handy since their workflow is more similar to that of WordPress. Everything you need to manage content is pre-installed on the box, and you need an API to access it.

It may be difficult to migrate old REST APIs to Strapi, even if you are already familiar with REST APIs. That is why most customers start with Strapi rather than attempt to convert an existing system.

TypeScript Support Is Limited

Strapi does not support TypeScript out of the box, which is a huge disappointment. The lack of this functionality may hinder your experience if you are an expert user with a big or complicated project.

However, an npm repository plugin may quickly restore it. Install this package from npmjs and restart your application if you require Typescript support in strapi. Since the source code is freely accessible online, you may write your plugin for any language.

Open-Source Software Strapi Is Not

Even though Strapi is open source and free to use, it is not complete. Since Strapi is licensed under the MIT license, anybody may use it for whatever purpose they like. They may do the same if they wish to include it in a closed-source project.

Nevertheless, Strapi provides a Pro edition with additional capabilities, including support for custom plugins and priority email access to their staff. Your account may be upgraded at any time using the online interface.

Conclusion

Modern, fast APIs with real-time updates may be built using Strapi, an excellent tool for developing APIs. Free to do that under the MIT license, which is rare in today's market, is a big plus for this software package.

This solution may be ideal for those searching for a headless CMS designed for Node.js with LDAP support, Swagger integrations, and LDAP integrations.

Meanwhile, if you are seeking an API on top of current data, the strap may not be the best option. Even if you do not like it, you can still test it out for free. If you are looking for an easy-to-use and well-documented solution, this could be it.