Getting Started with Strapi CMS: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Strapi is a powerful headless CMS that gives developers the freedom to use their favorite tools and frameworks while making content management easy for content editors.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 14.x or higher
• npm or yarn
• Database (SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL)

Installation

Create a new Strapi project:

npx create-strapi-app@latest my-project
# or
yarn create strapi-app my-project

During installation, you'll be prompted to:

• Choose your installation type (Quickstart or Custom)
• Select your database (SQLite is great for testing)

Content Modeling

Creating Content Types

1. Navigate to Content-Type Builder
2. Click "Create new collection type"
3. Add fields:

// Example Blog Post Structure
{
  title: string,
  content: richtext,
  slug: uid,
  featured_image: media,
  category: relation,
  author: relation
}

API Endpoints

Strapi automatically generates RESTful API endpoints:

GET /api/articles      # List all articles
GET /api/articles/:id  # Get specific article
POST /api/articles    # Create article
PUT /api/articles/:id # Update article

Authentication & Permissions

1. Navigate to Settings → Roles
2. Configure permissions for:
   • Public access
   • Authenticated users
   • Custom roles

Best Practices

1. Content Structure

   • Plan your content model
   • Use components for reusable content
   • Implement proper relationships

2. Security

   • Configure CORS settings
   • Set up proper authentication
   • Regular backups

3. Performance

   • Use proper indexes
   • Implement caching
   • Optimize media assets

Conclusion

Strapi provides a flexible foundation for your headless CMS needs. Remember to:

• Keep your Strapi instance updated
• Monitor performance
• Backup your data regularly
• Document your content structure