Strapi CMS is a dynamic, open-source software that stands out due to its innovative Headless CMS approach. This strategy allows developers to focus on creating a user-friendly front without the stress of managing the backend.

Traditional CMSs often restrict developers with predefined templates and architectures, limiting creativity. In contrast, Strapi CMS doesn't impose such restrictions. It's not just another tool for developers, but an empowering resource that offers flexibility and adaptability to evolving business needs.

Strapi CMS lets users create custom solutions that match their needs. They can build unique and effective online experiences. Strapi CMS gives users power over their projects and provides strong and safe support.

• Free and Open Source: Strapi's open-source nature allows for transparency and community-driven development, which can lead to innovative features and rapid bug fixes. As stated, "It's Free an Open Source."
• 100% JavaScript with TypeScript Support: This ensures that developers can use the most modern coding practices and benefit from strong typing, which can reduce errors and improve maintainability. The point you've mentioned, "It's 100% Javascript and comes with Typescript support," highlights this advantage.
• Fully Customizable and Configurable: Strapi provides extensive customization options that enable developers to tailor the CMS to their specific project requirements. Your point, "It's 100% customisable and configurable," emphasizes its flexibility.
• RESTful & GraphQL API: Strapi automatically generates RESTful APIs or GraphQL queries based on your data model. This feature simplifies the process of building and consuming APIs.
• Admin Panel: It offers a customizable admin panel that non-technical users can easily navigate, making content management user-friendly.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Strapi includes built-in RBAC functionalities, allowing fine-grained permissions and ensuring secure access to content and features.
• Plugin System: With its plugin system, Strapi extends its capabilities, allowing for additional features like SEO, analytics, and third-party integrations.
• Scalability: Being headless, Strapi can handle the content backend while leaving the frontend flexible, which is ideal for scaling applications as they grow.
• Community and Ecosystem: A strong community and ecosystem mean that developers have access to a wealth of plugins, integrations, and resources for learning and troubleshooting.
• Developer Experience: Strapi focuses on providing a smooth developer experience with features like hot reloading, which speeds up the development process.
• Content Internationalization: Strapi supports multi-language content out of the box, enabling the creation of internationalized websites.
• Extensive Documentation: Comprehensive documentation helps new users get started quickly and serves as a reference for experienced developers.
• Flexibility and Freedom: Experience the freedom of flexibility on this platform. Create your digital masterpiece and customize your APIs effortlessly. This intuitive platform eliminates the hassle of complex navigation, allowing you to focus solely on creating exceptional content.
• Evolving with Technology: Strapi CMS is a helpful tool that works with Restful and GraphQL APIs, which are popular among developers. It has an easy-to-use admin panel for managing content and changing things as needed. You can pick the database you want to use, like MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite. Strapi is built on Node.js, so you can use many libraries and modules. It's good for making applications that can grow and change easily, which is why many web developers like to use it.
• Cutting Costs and Time: Oh, and did we mention that Strapi is lightning-fast? By minimizing development time, it slashes costs while providing more value. It's like enjoying your cake without any worries about saving a slice!

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Step 1: Run the installation script

To commence with Strapi, initiate the installation process through npm or yarn, followed by the creation of a new project in the subsequent steps. Here's a basic command to get started:

   npx create-strapi-app my-project --quickstart
   

This command sets up a new Strapi project with an SQLite database and starts the development server.

To run the server, in your terminal, cd into the my-project folder and run npm run develop (or yarn develop) to launch it.

After the installation wraps up, an automatic initiation occurs, seamlessly unveiling a new browser tab. If not, navigate to http://localhost:1337/admin/ .

Step 2: Register the first administrator user

After completing the installation, a new tab will automatically open in your browser.

Fill out the form to create your account. This will make you the first administrator user of the Strapi application. Welcome aboard!

You can now access the admin panel.

To summarize, we will establish a data structure for your content and subsequently input entries to be published. This will enable the consumption of your content via the API.

The Strapi admin panel is accessible at http://localhost:1337/admin/. This platform will serve as your primary workspace for content creation and updates.

If the server is not already running, in your terminal, cd into the my-project folder and run npm run develop (or yarn develop) to launch it.

Step 1: Create collection types with the Content-type Builder

The Content-Type Builder plugin assists in establishing your data structure. Initiate the development of an empty project with Strapi by using this tool.

To create a new content type:

• Decide if you're making a collection type or just a single type.
• Click on Create a new collection/single type. in the category of content you want to make.
• In the content-type creation window, write the name of the new content type in the Display name textbox.
• Go to the Advanced Settings tab, and make sure the Required field  and the Unique field options are checked.
• Click on Add another field. And choose the Rich text field.
• Type Description under the Name field, then click Finish.
• Finally, click Save and wait for Strapi to restart.

Step 2: Use the collection types to create new entries

Create an entry for the collection type

• Go to  Content Manager > Collection types - yourCollectionName in the navigation.
• Click on Create a new entry.
• In the Description field, write a few words about it.
• Click  Save.

The "your entry name" and "new entry" categories are now listed in the  Content Manager >Collection types - Category view.

Step 3: Setting Roles & Permissions

To ensure that the content is accessible through the API, follow these steps:

• Click on "General Settings" at the bottom of the main navigation.
• Under the Users & Permissions Plugin, select Roles.
• Choose the Public role.
• Scroll down to the Permissions section.
• In the Permissions tab, locate Restaurant and click on it.
• Check the boxes next to find and findOne.
• Repeat the process for Category: check the boxes next to find and findOne.
• Finally, click Save.

Step 4: Publish the content

By default, any content you create is saved as a draft. Let's publish our categories and restaurants. First, navigate to  Content Manager > Collection types - Category. From there:

• Click the Brunch entry.
• On the next screen, click Publish.
• In the Confirmation window, click Yes, publish.

Core Features

• Admin Panel: The software includes a flexible and easy-to-use dashboard that allows users to manage content according to their needs.
• API Generation: The software automatically generates RESTful or GraphQL APIs based on the structure of the content.
• Security: The software has built-in security features, including role-based access control, to ensure data protection.
• Plugins: The software offers an extendable architecture with a diverse selection of community plugins for added functionality.

Customizing the API

In your Strapi project, go to the ./api/article/controllers/article.js file. Add a new function for creating custom routes.

module.exports = {
    async findByCategory(ctx) {
      const { category } = ctx.params;
      const articles = await strapi.services.article.find({ category });
      return articles;
    },
  };

Next, create a new route for this function. In ./config/routes.json, add:

{
    "method": "GET",
    "path": "/articles/category/:category",
    "handler": "article.findByCategory"
  }

Customizing Responses

Strapi provides a Response service that allows you to customize the data returned by your API. You can modify the JSON format, apply filters, and handle errors gracefully.

Securing Your API

Strapi offers built-in security features such as authentication and CORS settings. For instance, you can set up JWT authentication to secure your endpoints.

Tools:

• Admin Panel: The admin panel is the main interface for managing content in Strapi. It allows users to create, edit, and delete content, as well as manage users, roles, and permissions.
• Content types: Content types define the structure of the content that can be created in Strapi. They allow users to specify the fields that will be available for each type of content, as well as the relationships between different content types.
• Fields: Fields are the individual elements that makeup content in Strapi. They can be of various types, such as text, number, boolean, date, and more.
• Components: Components are reusable blocks of content that can be added to pages and posts. They allow users to easily add common elements to their content, such as headers, footers, and sidebars.
• Plugins: Plugins extend the functionality of Strapi by adding new features and integrations. There are many plugins available for Strapi, including plugins for e-commerce, SEO, and social media.

Fields:

• Text: Text fields allow users to enter plain text content.
• Number: Number fields allow users to enter numeric values.
• Boolean: Boolean fields allow users to select between two options, such as true/false or yes/no.
• Date: Date fields allow users to select a date.
• Text: Time fields allow users to select a time.
• DateTime: DateTime fields allow users to select a date and time.
• Email: Email fields allow users to enter an email address.
• Password: Password fields allow users to enter a password.
• URL: URL fields allow users to enter a URL.
• File: File fields allow users to upload files.
• Image: Image fields allow users to upload images.
• Video: Video fields allow users to upload videos.
• Audio: Audio fields allow users to upload audio files.
• JSON: JSON fields allow users to enter JSON data.
• Rich text: Rich text fields allow users to enter formatted text, such as headings, bold, and italics.

One of the key things that sets Strapi apart from its competitors and gives it an upper hand is its rapidly growing community support. It's truly remarkable how much progress this software has made in such a short period and this can be attributed largely to its thriving community of tech enthusiasts.

This community is composed of global coders, each contributing unique skills to enhance Strapi. They work together to ensure Strapi's performance and functionality outshine other similar software.

These dedicated coders diligently test new solutions, debug the system, and add innovative features for improved user experience. Their hard work ensures every aspect of the software operates flawlessly, thus expanding Strapi's functionality exponentially.

Thanks to these talented individuals, Strapi isn't just improving but growing rapidly. This fast-paced development keeps Strapi ahead in tech trends and satisfies its users' dynamic needs.

With robust support fueling its growth, it's an exciting time for Strapi and its community. The future surely holds great promise for this software.

Strapi CMS is like a refreshing gust of wind to a tired marathon runner, reenergizing them and reigniting their determination. It's a game-changer in the digital landscape with groundbreaking features that can revolutionize content management for developers, managers, and students. It allows developers to explore new possibilities, provides managers with sophisticated tools for strategic planning, and gives students exposure to futuristic technology. The question remains if Strapi CMS will reshape content management as we know it. While it has the potential to drive transformative change, whether it will do so remains uncertain. For now, we watch, wait, and anticipate the journey ahead with Strapi CMS at the helm.

In conclusion, this blog has aimed to provide valuable insights and practical advice on the topic at hand. We've explored various aspects, shared expert opinions, and offered actionable steps for you to consider. Remember, knowledge is power, but applying that knowledge makes all the difference. We hope that you found this information useful and that it will assist you in making informed decisions. Keep exploring, keep learning, and don't hesitate to revisit this blog for reference. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to engaging with you in future posts.