The follow-up post took me forever

Steven Liew included in category Blog

14-04-2024 14-04-2024 469 words 3 minutes

This post took me so long because I was put off by the need to commit to Github for every post. Until now.

Contents

Having blogged only via Wordpress CMS more than a decade ago, there was no way I would be pushing my blog posts (or, code technically) into Github every time I want to put a post out. This put me off for a long time.

Until I decided to try Decap CMS.

Decap CMS

Formerly known as Netlify CMS, Decap CMS is an open source content management system that incorporates Git workflow and allows us / editors with user-friendly UI to create and publish content. Being a Headless CMS, it does not work only with Hugo, but is built to work with every other static site generators such as Jekyll, Gatsby, Hexeo, etc.

Unlike traditional CMS platforms which tightly couple the content management interface with the presentation layer, Headless CMS decouples the content management part from the frontend presentation layer, enabling seamless content delivery across a myriad of channels and devices. This means that any front-end platform or device such as websites and mobile apps can deliver content without being bound by the limitations of a tranditional CMS frontend.

In the past, my Wordpress blog could only be managed via its admin panel and it was layered between the content and my database. Today with Headless CMS, content can be easily access via its exposed API or other means. In Decap CMS’ case, my static content is stored in my GitHub repository, and the data retrieval is seamlessly integrated into my build process.

Why Decap CMS?

I like that it has a fast and user-friendly web-based UI. Its extensibility allows me to easily and quickly customise fields in the UI and tailor the platform by simply amending the configuration file. With customisable content types, taxonomies, and workflows, Decap CMS can adapt to the specific needs of businesses across industries, from e-commerce and publishing to education and beyond.

Installation was a breeze. No cap (no pun intended). All it took was three files to Decap CMS up and running. These 3 files are straightforward to configure and I got the /admin panel up and running in mere minutes.

Of course, to reach its full potential, you will have to configure it a lot more extensively depending on your requirements. Have a look at the documentation for more information.

Closing

In summary, Decap CMS is a comprehensive content management solution designed to empower businesses and organisations to create, manage, and optimise digital content effectively. With its intuitive interface, powerful features, and robust architecture, Decap CMS provides users with the tools and capabilities they need to succeed in today’s digital landscape.

It only took three files and setting up of Identity on Netlify to get this running. With this CMS, I can now easily administer my blog with a GUI coupled with automated Git workflow. Have a look at the demo site if you are interested.