I'm an experienced web developer and software architect, and I'm planning to build a personal project that's really important to me. I want to create a website that combines a few static pages with a blog section for articles while also showcasing some blog articles on the static pages themselves. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the many options available, so I would love any feedback or suggestions.
Here are my main requirements:
- The static pages need to be highly customizable and should be able to be created with HTML/CSS, JSX, or Astro for aesthetic appeal since first impressions matter.
- The blog articles should be easily editable by non-technical users, similar to how the WordPress block editor works.
- I prefer solutions that are inexpensive or free and I'm okay with self-hosting.
- The site should support localization, as I already own several domain names, and I want to ensure seamless language switching.
- If there are built-in options for sitemaps, RSS feeds, and newsletters, that would also be advantageous, but I can manage those myself if needed.
- It should also have good web performance metrics.
I initially tried a static site using Astro and a Substack publication, but I found Substack really limiting in terms of content display and managing multiple languages was a hassle. I'm now considering PayloadCMS because it's highly recommended and free, but I've heard it works best with Next.js. I'm curious if I can use PayloadCMS with Astro as a headless CMS and if it's a good approach. Thanks for your help!
4 Answers
I’ve built my website with Hugo, and it’s been great for fast, simple site management. Plus, deploying on Vercel took less than 30 seconds. You might find that assists in managing both static content and a blog easily.
Astro definitely gets my vote! It's very flexible and works great for this type of project.
If you like Astro for the static pages, I'd suggest pairing it with a headless CMS for the blog. PayloadCMS can work well even with Astro; you can access its API directly. Consider Strapi or Directus too if you want something more user-friendly for editing and localization. This way, you maintain control over your static pages' aesthetics and allow non-tech users to manage the blog without breaking the bank since all these options can be self-hosted.
Thanks for the input! Will I run into deployment or integration issues using Astro instead of a direct Next.js setup with Payload? Also, I checked Strapi, but it seems they're not free. I might go with Directus since it has an open license and fits my non-commercial project, but what benefits does it have over Payload?
I forgot to mention I need a newsletter system too—does either CMS offer that, or would I need to set up something else?
I actually use Hugo for my blog (check it out at luigimorel.com). It’s efficient, and the deployment is super quick with Vercel. You might want to consider it if you're looking for a fast solution.
Awesome! Any recommended CMS that plays nicely with it?