Building a Headless CMS Website: Benefits, Challenges, and Our Insights

If the question is how to build a website with headless CMS, the answer will be quite straightforward. There's no way to do it. So why are we here?

Well, although headless CMS is not a full-fledged solution, it's a great way to address any backend issues. It allows handling everything related to APIs, databases, content, and more. However, all frontend tasks and visual representation of the content still require your effort.

This post explains the use of headless CMS based on our experience with Strapi.

We at Aspirity focus on outstanding frontend development. In most of our projects, backend solutions remain on the client's side. However, this article showcases our experience working on a full-stack project.

We will explain how we dealt with APIs using headless CMS instead of designing a custom solution from scratch. Keep reading to learn our insights and conclusions based on this case study.

Before getting deeper into details, let's determine what headless CMS is and how you can benefit from it.

If you have ever built a website in WordPress, it won't be challenging to understand such a system. Simply speaking, headless CMS is a WordPress admin panel without a theme and customized interface.

And that's exactly why it's called headless. Without the front layer "head," it's just a "body" for operating data. Depending on your website's specifics, you can connect it to any kind of "head" you need.

Still don't fully understand how to build a website with headless CMS? Let's make it more clear.

As with any other ready-made solution, headless CMS is used for performing standard tasks. So when you need a custom approach to build a unique product, a CMS could be more of a hindrance than a help.

Suppose you're a front-end developer. You want to get your backend solution without diving deep into it. And here, a headless system like Strapi comes to the rescue.

The Aspirity team turned to Strapi because our client had already used it. Strapi is an open-source tool that allows us to work with MongoDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and many more. It enables building simple standard backend solutions with ease and getting ready-to-use APIs.

On top of that, these APIs can be connected to any frontend framework you opt for. You can use React, Vanilla.js, or Vue. Or even Angular, if you enjoy sophisticated kinds of entertainment.

So, if you don't want to handle the data on your own and cope with the maze of full-stack development, Strapi will help you create APIs almost painlessly.

So how to build a headless CMS website from scratch? The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. This case is no exсeption.

How to begin using Strapi headless CMS in just a few clicks?

From now on, all backend processes will run automatically, no matter which framework you use on the front. Strapi is a platform that allows building all you need very quickly and is relatively easy to use. Here is what exactly you can do from the start.

Strapi is an excellent tool for accelerating the development process without diving too deep into backend development specifics like APIs, databases, etc.

Here are the key reasons for turning to this headless CMS solution.

Now, let's explain how it works in more detail.

Here are the core Strapi components you can benefit from:

Strapi uses the ORM model that handles much work related to databases.

The Strapi system supports the following databases:

Such a wide choice makes your code free from restrictions related to database queries. In addition, ORM provides you with the basic functions of interactions with tables like Find, Create, Update, Delete, Count, Text Search, etc.

ORM allows describing models that will be created automatically, with no need to directly deal with the database, no matter which one you use.

In Strapi, the admin panel is created automatically, and it's easy to use for anyone who knows how to cope with tables. The fields are divided into specific types, and each of them goes through validation.

Also, the admin panel includes a built-in roles and permissions system we mentioned above. You can grant and configure various permissions for viewing, editing, got mode, etc. On top of that, this feature works both for admins and the app's end-users, configuring access to any URL.

Email registration works by default. The providers grant access to your app via certain logins. You can configure providers and fill in the list. Thus, registering new users through list editing is quite easy.

So, what's the difference between a traditional content management system and a headless one?

First of all, they differ in their architecture and connection between the app's front-end and back-end sides. A traditional system CMS doesn't require APIs since the front and the back are inextricably linked. In contrast, a headless CMS has an API at the heart of its structure. It makes the connections between content and its presentation layer more flexible.

Therefore, a headless system is more applicable when connecting multiple platforms, frameworks, or devices. In turn, a traditional CMS is sufficient for simple projects that do not require a dynamic and multilevel approach.

Here's how a headless architecture differs from a traditional one.

Keeping this in mind, let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of a headless content management system.

Here are the key benefits of a headless CMS.

Now, let's look at potential challenges you might face when using a headless system.

With headless sites, how to build is not the only question you should ask. It's also what technology to choose when turning to this CMS solution.

Well, as mentioned above, Strapi allows for any technology you prefer. This applies to both frontend frameworks and databases. So the choice of your app's tech stack entirely depends on your preferences, the developers' expertise, and the project's specifics.

When working on the Arctic project, our developers opted for the following tech stack.

Every website development project is unique. Those built with the help of headless CMS are no exception. Thus, the average cost is quite hard to estimate as it depends on numerous factors.

What should you consider? Your project's specifics, features, complexity, your tech partners' location, required UI/UX solutions, etc.

The only thing that distinguishes a headless CMS website is a streamlined approach to the backend. Building APIs requires less time and effort. So, if a headless CMS is suitable for your project, it might save the development team quite a lot of time. On top of that, using Strapi is entirely free.

There are three key stages of creating a digital product without the need to build the entire back-end system from scratch. Let's look at each of them and roughly estimate their price range.

We at Aspirity always make every effort to meet our clients' expectations and tailor the development process to their needs. Thus, when working on Arctic, a project management platform for a real estate development company, we decided to turn to the Strapi headless CMS solution.

Our team primarily focuses on research, UI/UX design, and frontend development. However, this time we had to deal with a full-stack project. The use of headless CMS helped us overcome all challenges and build an app with a custom frontend, capable of fulfilling its key goals.

Headless CMS solution allowed us to save many precious hours. We avoided wasting time setting up authentications, access rules, and working with data.

And most importantly, has it made the client happy?

No doubt it has. Arctic is a convenient Atlassian-like service with multiple modules and functions, including:

Building a website with headless CMS is an excellent choice for frontend-focused and non-IT companies. It will help you avoid many backend and database difficulties.

Headless systems like Strapi enable the development team to concentrate all their efforts on custom UI/UX design frontend solutions. At the same time, building APIs and connecting databases to the front side of the app can be handled with ease.

Many businesses can consider headless content management systems a decent alternative for full-fledged backend development. In addition, open-source CMS platforms like Strapi are completely free. They will provide you with a convenient admin panel, role and permission management, helpful plugins and templates, etc. Thus, you can handle basic data-related operations regardless of the tech stack you opt for.

If you need a more detailed consultation on the use of headless CMS solutions, our experts will be glad to help you out.

We at Aspirity offer multiple services, including UI/UX and web design, frontend and backend development, QA, project management, and more. Our specialists always do their best to build an efficient workflow and find solutions that will meet the needs of a particular project.

Get in touch and tell us about your business goals. Together, we can work a miracle!

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Aspirity is an offshore web development agency. We specialize in management, admin, and dashboard software.

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