Choosing a CMS from the vast landscape of over 150 options can be daunting. Craft CMS, launched in 2013, offers a compelling alternative. This review reflects my team's two-year experience using Craft for multiple website projects. We won't compare it to other systems; our focus is on Craft's strengths.

Craft CMS: A Brief Overview

Developed by Pixel & Tonic, Craft originated from a 2010 project called "Blocks," eventually evolving into the robust CMS we know today. Currently powering approximately 70,000 websites, Craft prioritizes developer and content manager satisfaction, earning accolades like the 2015 "Best CMS for Developers" award from CMSCritics. It's ideal for small to medium-sized businesses needing a flexible, yet not fully custom, solution.

System Requirements and Ease of Use

Craft's server requirements are modest: PHP 7.0 , MySQL 5.5 (or MariaDB/PostgreSQL equivalents), 256MB PHP memory, and 200MB disk space. Setup is straightforward, requiring minimal PHP or database expertise. This low barrier to entry accelerates development.

Simplicity and Complexity Coexist

Craft's unique strength lies in its adaptability. It handles complex projects leveraging PHP, databases, and query optimization, yet equally supports simpler sites requiring minimal coding. This flexibility is a major advantage. Field creation and setup are managed entirely within the admin panel, eliminating the need for code in many cases. Built-in features like localization and multi-site management further enhance its usability. Unlike some CMSs that impose restrictive decisions, Craft empowers users with control over front-end and back-end performance.

The Twig Templating Engine

Craft utilizes Twig as its templating engine, eliminating raw PHP within templates. This standardization improves code consistency and readability within development teams. Twig's power handles most use cases, while extensibility addresses specialized needs. For those preferring alternative technologies (e.g., static site generators), Craft 3.3's headless mode and built-in GraphQL (Pro feature) enable integration with tools like Gatsby or Gridsome. A REST API (Element API plugin) provides another content access method.

Extensibility and Plugin Ecosystem

Craft's extensibility is a key feature. Built on the Yii framework, extensions are implemented via modules (extending core functionality) and plugins (installable components). Both have full access to Craft and Yii's APIs, leveraging the Yii community and documentation. While plugin and module development is documented, practical examples from GitHub repositories often prove more helpful. A structured approach using models, views, and controllers simplifies plugin creation. The official plugin store offers a diverse range of pre-built plugins, including paid options that can be tested in development mode before purchase. Recommended plugins include ImageOptimize, Navigation, Seomatic, Redactor, and Super Table.

Author Experience: A Standout Feature

Craft excels in its author experience. The core concepts of Fields and Sections simplify content management. Built-in version control allows authors to track and revert changes, providing a safety net against accidental data loss. Seamless localization and multi-site management within a single Craft instance are significant advantages, often challenging to implement in other CMSs. These core features, built directly into Craft, avoid the inconsistencies that arise when relying on numerous plugins for essential author functionality.

Community and Support

Craft boasts a supportive community, though smaller than some established platforms. While the Stack Exchange presence is less extensive, the Discord community is highly active, including Pixel & Tonic developers and prominent plugin creators. Learning resources are relatively limited, but Craft's simplicity often renders extensive tutorials unnecessary. The annual Dot All conference provides another valuable resource. The platform's open-source nature further enhances collaboration and development.

Pricing Model

Craft's pricing is transparent: free for single-user, small websites; $299 for the first year of updates for larger projects, then $59 annually (with optional renewal). This model is reasonable, especially considering the professional-level capabilities offered. Developers often absorb the licensing cost, making it a non-issue for clients. A free trial of the Pro version is available for local development.

Conclusion

Craft CMS offers a compelling blend of power and ease of use. Its flexible framework caters to diverse project needs, providing exceptional author and developer experiences. The open-source nature, active community, and reasonable pricing make it a strong contender in the CMS market. We highly recommend trying it.

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