Introduction

As Forestry.io prepares to shut down on March 23, it’s vital for developers and content creators to explore alternative Content Management Systems (CMS) that can seamlessly meet their needs. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into four compelling Forestry.io alternatives – Netlify CMS, Contentful, Strapi, and Sanity.io. These options offer unique features and strengths, ensuring that you’ll find the ideal CMS for your static website projects.

1. Netlify CMS

Netlify CMS is a popular and user-friendly headless CMS that seamlessly integrates with Git-based workflows. It’s an excellent choice for teams and developers looking for a simple and efficient way to manage content.

Key Features:

• Git Integration: Netlify CMS is designed to work with your Git repository. This means that content changes can be made directly from the repository.

• User-Friendly Interface: The user interface is intuitive and allows non-technical users to manage content easily.

• Customization: You can extend and customize the CMS using configuration files, making it highly adaptable to your project’s needs.

Pros:

• Ideal for static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, or Gatsby.
• It’s open-source and free to use.
• Provides content versioning and easy rollbacks.

Cons:

• May require some initial setup and configuration.

Example Usage:

To integrate Netlify CMS into your static site project, you can add the following configuration to your config.yml file:

backend:
  name: github
  repo: your/repo
  branch: master

media_folder: "static/assets"
public_folder: "assets"

This configuration connects Netlify CMS to your GitHub repository and specifies the location of your media and public assets.

2. Contentful

Contentful is a versatile headless CMS that provides a robust content infrastructure for web and mobile applications. It’s known for its API-first approach, making it suitable for various development scenarios.

Key Features:

• Content Modeling: Contentful allows you to define content models and create structured content types.

• Real-time Updates: It supports real-time updates and synchronization of content across devices.

• Rich Text Support: Contentful offers rich text support and the ability to handle multimedia content effectively.

Pros:

• Highly customizable content models.
• Provides a content delivery API for retrieving content.
• Scalable for large projects and enterprises.

Cons:

• Costs can be higher for larger projects.
• Some learning curve for setting up complex content models.

Example Usage

To retrieve content from Contentful using their API in a JavaScript project, you can use the following code snippet:

const contentful = require('contentful');

const client = contentful.createClient({
space: 'your_space_id',
accessToken: 'your_access_token',
});

client.getEntries({ content_type: 'blogPost' })
.then((response) => {
console.log('Fetched blog posts:', response.items);
})
.catch((error) => {
console.error('Error fetching content:', error);
});

This code sets up a Contentful client, retrieves blog post entries, and logs them to the console.

3. Strapi

Strapi is a powerful open-source headless CMS that provides developers with complete control over their content management. It’s an excellent choice for those who prefer self-hosting and want to build a tailored content management system.

Key Features:

• Custom Content Types: Strapi allows you to define custom content types with fields that match your project’s specific needs.

• GraphQL and REST APIs: It automatically generates APIs for your content, offering both GraphQL and REST endpoints.

• User Authentication: Strapi includes built-in user authentication and role-based access control.

Pros:

• Highly customizable and developer-friendly.
• Supports self-hosting, making it a cost-effective choice.
• Offers a vibrant community and extensive documentation.

Cons:

• Requires more technical knowledge for setup and configuration.
• May need additional work for scalability in large projects.

Example Usage

To set up a Strapi project and create a content type for blog posts, you would follow these steps:

1. Install Strapi using the command line:

npx create-strapi-app my-blog --quickstart

1. Create a Content Type:

   • Navigate to the Content-Types Builder in the Strapi admin panel.
   • Click “Create new collection type.”
   • Define fields like “title,” “content,” and “date” for your blog posts.

2. Use the Strapi API to fetch content:

const fetch = require('node-fetch');

fetch('http://localhost:1337/blog-posts')
.then((response) => response.json())
.then((data) => console.log('Fetched blog posts:', data))
.catch((error) => console.error('Error fetching content:', error));

This code sets up a Strapi project, defines a content type for blog posts, and retrieves blog posts via the API.

4. Sanity.io

Sanity.io is a flexible, structured content platform that is designed for modern, collaborative projects. It empowers developers and content creators to work seamlessly together.

Key Features:

• Structured Content: Sanity.io enables you to define structured content schemas.

• Real-time Collaboration: It provides real-time collaborative editing and version history for content.

• Customizable Editor: The customizable editor interface allows you to tailor the CMS to your specific content.

Pros:

• Real-time collaboration for content creators.
• A developer-friendly, customizable content schema.
• Provides a CDN for media assets.

Cons:

• Customization may require more technical expertise.
• Pricing can become costly for larger teams and projects.

Example Usage:

To fetch content from Sanity.io in a JavaScript project, you can use the following code snippet:

const client = require('@sanity/client');

const sanityClient = client({
projectId: 'your_project_id',
dataset: 'your_dataset',
useCdn: true,
});

sanityClient
.fetch('*[_type == "blogPost"]')
.then((data) => {
console.log('Fetched blog posts:', data);
})
.catch((error) => {
console.error('Error fetching content:', error);
});

This code sets up a Sanity.io client, fetches blog posts, and logs the data to the console.

Conclusion

As we bid farewell to Forestry.io, it’s evident that the world of content management is in constant flux. The four compelling alternatives we’ve explored—Netlify CMS, Contentful, Strapi, and Sanity.io—each offer unique strengths that cater to diverse project requirements. The choice of your next CMS is a pivotal decision, impacting your project’s efficiency and success. Whether you prioritize user-friendliness, customization, scalability, or real-time collaboration, there’s a CMS among these alternatives to suit your needs.

To delve deeper into each of these alternatives, their setup, and capabilities, be sure to visit their official websites and documentation:

• Netlify CMS
• Contentful
• Strapi
• Sanity.io

Make an informed choice, and may your future projects be enriched by the CMS that aligns seamlessly with your content management objectives.