I've been in web development for about 10 years, starting off mainly in front-end and now doing full stack work. I know JavaScript, Python, and Go pretty well. I'm on the hunt for a CMS that is highly customizable and flexible, especially when it comes to navigation and the overall structure. I have a vision for how I want things and I'm frustrated with most CMS options because of their rigid design patterns. I'm looking for something that turns the phrase 'headless CMS' into reality, ideally one that can manage content beyond just a website. The company I'm building this for also handles events and weddings, so being able to extend the CMS to manage those elements is critical. So far, I've tried a few options: Strapi was the closest to what I wanted, but I wasn't a fan of the limitations on the free version. Directus ended up being too opinionated for my needs. Payload felt too restricted in terms of content types; I quickly gave up on that one. Wagtail was another consideration, but I felt it wasn't a good fit at the time, though I might be up for giving it another go. I'd love to hear any other suggestions, especially since I absolutely can't stand PHP.
2 Answers
Have you considered Drupal? It’s pretty flexible once you get past the steep learning curve. You get total control over every layer, from content types to API responses, and since it’s PHP-based, it might still hit some nerves, but it packs a punch in terms of customization.
Modern Drupal has really improved! It now uses Symfony as its backbone, which makes it more user-friendly.
You should check out Umbraco. It’s an open-source CMS and has a really supportive community behind it. It might just fit the flexibility you’re looking for.
Drupal has always been a strong contender for flexibility, but it's the learning curve that can trip people up.