KeystoneJS is a content management system and framework to build server applications that interact with a database. It is based on the Express framework for Node.js and uses MongoDB for data storage. It represents a CMS alternative for web developers who want to build a data-driven website but don’t want to get into the PHP platform or large systems like WordPress.
Although WordPress can be set up by not so technical users, KeystoneJS offers the control needed for professional ones to develop new websites—although it is still considerably easier to work with KeystoneJS than manually building your website from scratch. It not only offers a platform to build websites; you can replace almost everything on it and develop more specialized systems like applications and APIs.
Key Features
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Auto-generated Admin UI: When you build something with KeystoneJS, the data models that you define are also used to automatically create an admin dashboard to manage your data. You do not have to set the database models directly; you describe your data using Lists.
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Lightweight and easy to customize: The fact that you get control over everything without having to know a huge system inside-out makes websites both lightweight and easier to customize.
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Easily extendable: KeystoneJS can be considered a library, and you are not limited to only using the functionality it provides. You can easily integrate any package from one of the largest library ecosystems: JavaScript.
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Start from scratch or use a template: If you want to start building something like a blog, you don’t have to spend time dealing with the logic of the system; KeystoneJS provides templates ready to use or to customize. If you have specific requirements you can start from scratch by making use of the tools provided by it, but without having to write everything by yourself.
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Specially built for developers: Other CMSs tend to include everything in one package so non-technical users can get started as fast as possible. However, KeystoneJS is targeted at developers who want to build a CMS but don’t want the bloat or limitations of pre-built systems.
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Compatible with third-party services: KeystoneJS offers integration with some useful third-party services like Amazon S3, Cloudinary, Mandrill out of the box. Suppose you want to store certain data on Amazon S3, it is as easy as adding
{ type: Types.S3File }as a field type when you define your data.
Use Cases
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Websites for non-technical users: If you work as a web developer for clients, you might find that the task of building a website for a non-technical person is not so easy since you also have to build an administration panel to add and update data. With KeystoneJS you don’t have to worry about doing the double amount of work; an administration panel is automatically created.
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Dynamic websites: KeystoneJS provides a useful foundation and tools to work with dynamic data on websites, useful when static websites are too little to be considered, but a traditional CMS like WordPress is too heavy or opinionated for your project.
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Performance: There is nothing like building something just for your needs; If you need a highly specialized website and performance is key, you can use KeystoneJS to build something that fits your exact needs and exploits the performance advantages of the Node.js platform, especially for concurrent services.
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Ecosystem: JavaScript has one of the richest ecosystems of third-party packages. Also if you are required (or just prefer) to use JavaScript on both the client and the server, KeystoneJS is an excellent tool.
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Tight Deadline: Do you have a project with specialized features and the deadline is very close? The way KeystoneJS handles data and the fact that the administration panel is created automatically means that you can spend more time building the actual logic of your site instead of handling implementation details.
Getting Started
There are two ways to start a KeystoneJS project:
- From scratch, importing the KeystoneJS package.
- Using the Yeoman Generator.
Continue reading %KeystoneJS: The Best Node.js Alternative to WordPress%
by James Kolce via SitePoint
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