Article summary
In a world filled with new and exciting ways to build websites, there’s an equally dynamic landscape of headless content management systems (CMS) to support them. Strapi is one such CMS, backed by a dedicated community of long-time users and a steady stream of newcomers. At first glance, it can be tough to determine whether any CMS is the right fit for your needs. So today, let’s dive into the key reasons why Strapi might — or might not — be the best choice for your content management.
Project Nature
To start, consider the nature of your project. Is this a brand-new build, full of possibilities and open doors? Or is it an older project in need of a new home, with established patterns and structured content relationships?
I find that Strapi is incredible at handling exploratory thinking. Its flexibility and intuitive setup make it great for spinning up robust data models quickly. If your project can adapt to Strapi’s workflow, it will likely be a seamless fit.
But if your project has strict requirements, Strapi can be a challenge. This is especially true for rewrites or site migrations. Strapi has its own way of handling data—what can be required, how deep relationships can go, and other built-in rules. If your project already has a high number of nuanced requirements, you may find yourself fighting an uphill battle against such variables.
Content Complexity
Another key factor is how complex your data will be. Strapi’s API is designed to return the leanest response possible, which means it trims relationships and nested content beyond a certain depth. For some projects, this isn’t an issue. But if your data is highly connected, it can become frustrating over time.
Strapi is best suited to projects where content can be queried on an individual basis. Relationships and nested components are served best if you can query 1 object layer at a time. If your project doesn’t require deeply nested objects right away, you’ll have an easier time. It’s even better if you have minimal relationships between data types since those can add complexity.
However, if your project already has a lot of nuance and interdependent content, Strapi’s limitations may start to show. Getting deeply nested data through the REST API can be tricky. You can write custom endpoints to return the depth you need, but that adds extra development time—time that could be spent actually serving your content where it needs to go. I’d stay away from Strapi if you anticipate needing large, deeply nested objects at any point.
Number of Content Managers
One of Strapi’s biggest strengths is its ability to create nuanced, customizable user roles. If multiple people need access to different parts of your application, Strapi gives you fine-grained control over permissions. You can grant access on an incredibly detailed level, making it a great choice for projects with a large team of content managers and editors.
On the other hand, if you’re the only one managing the site, this level of control might be overkill. A simpler solution could serve you just as well without the extra configuration.
Overall, Strapi is best suited for exploratory projects, simple content management, and highly collaborative teams. There are of course upsides and downsides to using any CMS, but I hope this will help you gauge whether or Strapi is right for you.