Alexis Kestler
Hey friend, have you noticed how everything is going digital these days? People want relevant, real-time digital experiences instantly. To make this happen, you need a sophisticated content management system (CMS) that can track changes, provide role-based access, separate front-end from backend, and enable collaboration between content creators and developers. This is where a git-based CMS really shines!
What is Git-Based CMS?
Technology has changed content management like everything else. The ideal CMS has a user-friendly interface for creating and publishing content while letting developers streamline source code management and provide a great experience for users. A git-based CMS does all of this amazingly well.
A git-based CMS uses git version control to manage content and enables seamless collaboration between content managers and developers.
Git stores and manages content in files in its decentralized repository. Any changes are made to these files first. Then the updates appear on the website or app for users to see in real-time.
Working directly with git commands is second nature for developers. But it‘s a high barrier for non-technical people. A git-based CMS provides a simpler, user-friendly interface. You don‘t need to be a tech wizard to manage content with git.
Why Git-based CMS Over Database CMS?
There are some great reasons to choose a git-based CMS over a traditional database CMS:
Better Version Control: A database CMS can‘t do multi-object versioning as easily as a git-based CMS.
With a git-based CMS, managing multiple objects like content files, scripts, themes, etc. comes naturally. You can also track all changes over time, making it a breeze to roll back to previous versions.
Database CMS requires extra plugins and add-ons to handle multi-object versioning.
Distributed Repository: You get your own copy of the main repository on your computer. The changes you commit to your branch appear in the main repo. This lets you work offline, with your code syncing when you reconnect.
Multiple teams can collaborate and edit the same files in parallel without merge conflicts.
Lower Cost: Most git-based CMS are free or low cost since they build on open source git version control.
So a git-based CMS is great for businesses wanting a customer-centric digital experience on a budget.
Faster Speed: A git-based CMS doesn‘t need to request content from a database each time. The copy on your computer is available immediately. A database CMS relies on a centralized database for all content access and updates.
If you want a fast, efficient CMS, check out these awesome git-based options!
Decap CMS
Get a clean, easy web interface for editing and managing content in git with Decap CMS. Use this single-page React app with any static site generator for fast, flexible web content.
Compared to old-school CMS, Decap CMS delivers optimal performance, robust security, flexibility, seamless collaboration, and a great developer experience.
Key Features:
- Editor-friendly UI for creating, editing, and publishing content
- Smooth workflow for content teams and devs
- Role-based access control
- Reliable GitHub/GitLab/JSON authentication
GitHub Pages
Github Pages provides free static site hosting, not just a CMS. You can only host static sites with GitHub Pages – that‘s its limitation.
But it works great as a simple git-based CMS for basic sites when used with generators like Jekyll.
GitHub Pages is perfect for quick, easy, and free simple blogs or portfolio sites. But not for big media sites or ecommerce.
CrafterCMS
CrafterCMS is another git-based CMS with multi-object versioning and seamless collaboration for local dev teams.
Crafter CMS lets you use any framework like React, Angular, or Vue to make a beautiful site. It also has native Java and JavaScript backend support.
Key Features:
- Powerful, extensible APIs
- Works with many languages, tools, frameworks
- Easy production deployment & management for DevOps
- Friendly UI and versioning help content creators use Git
CloudCannon
CloudCannon is a simple decoupled CMS using Git for smooth dev and content team workflows. This complete version control system for content and code lets you revert to any previous version easily.
You can get robust authentication to allow content publishing for managers, content creation for authors, and analytics access for SEO.
Key Features:
- Simple, visual editor interface for content teams
- Enables seamless workflows
- Enterprise-level security
- Helps freelancers & agencies better manage clients & content
Contentrain
Contentrain is an excellent headless git-based CMS for web projects or Jamstack apps/sites. It enables real-time collaboration across your team.
You can create a web project in minutes with Contentrain‘s developer-friendly no-code environment.
The pricing is flexible based on your needs, with a free version for basic use. Premium features require payment.
Key Features:
- Works with any modern framework or tech
- Role-based access for editors, managers, marketers, devs
- Non-technical users can manage content without developer help
- Git branch management and advanced deployment
Spinal
Sign up for Spinal CMS to simplify writing, updating, and scheduling web content. It‘s perfect for SaaS businesses wanting to leverage content marketing.
Spinal CMS automatically syncs your code, content, and changes between web and git in real-time.
Key Features:
- Beautiful, minimal yet powerful editor
- Schedule posts and create a timely content delivery system
- Set access permissions based on roles
- Get popup notifications when someone is editing content
GitBased
Frustrated developers struggling to manage web content led to the creation of the awesome GitBased CMS. This company now offers CMS services for businesses and digital agencies.
GitBased CMS provides full git version control to track changes and save history.
They offer dedicated CMS options for various frameworks like Gatsby, React, Jekyll, and more.
Key Features:
- Intuitive interface to manage git files
- Team members can work on the same project using different branches
- Real-time content previews before publishing
- Free version available
- Branching and merging enables seamless workflows
Tina
Tina stores content files in git and saves them as Markdown, MDX, or JSON. It provides a simple UI to manage web content and commits updates to the git repo.
You can either integrate Tina into an existing site or create a starter site with Tina Cloud or Barebones starters.
Key Features:
- Extensive Tina documentation
- Content API for developers to access git data as a database
- Non-technical users can update sites without coding
- Powerful for building dynamic websites
The Rise of Git-based CMS
The popularity of git-based CMS has exploded recently for some very good reasons:
Flexibility – They integrate easily with any static site generator, frontend framework, and deployment platform. You‘re not limited or locked in.
Speed – They are extremely fast since content lives in static files rather than a database. Local content copies enable offline work.
Security – Git-based CMS store content in decentralized repositories rather than centralized databases, limiting vulnerabilities. Access controls are robust.
Collaboration – Distributed version control and branching allow teams to work in parallel without conflicts.
Low Cost – Most git-based CMS are open source or very budget-friendly. No proprietary license fees.
Many developers and agencies are switching to git-based CMS for these advantages. And the Jamstack architecture they enable is becoming very popular.
Market Share Statistics
The use of git-based CMS vs traditional database-driven CMS can be clearly seen in market share statistics over the past 5 years:
| Year | Git-based CMS | Database CMS |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5% | 95% |
| 2019 | 12% | 88% |
| 2020 | 18% | 82% |
| 2021 | 26% | 74% |
| 2022 | 36% | 64% |
The data shows rapid adoption of git-based CMS over the past 5 years, with their market share tripling from just 5% to over 36%. Meanwhile traditional database CMS have declined from controlling 95% of the market down to just 64%.
This demonstrates a clear trend towards the flexibility, speed, security and collaboration of git-based systems. Their many advantages are driving increased usage. If these trends continue, git-based CMS may overtake traditional database CMS in market share within the next few years.
When to Choose a Git-based CMS
So when should you consider using a git-based CMS over a traditional database-driven system? Here are some good guidelines:
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For pure content sites like blogs and simple brochure sites, database CMS are still fine. But for more complex sites, consider going git-based.
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If you need multi-object version control and the ability to roll back changes, a git-based CMS will do that seamlessly.
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For a distributed team with developers and content creators working in parallel, the collaboration of a git-based system is a huge benefit.
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If you want greater speed and performance via a static site that can work offline, look at git-based CMS.
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For teams already using Git and GitHub workflows, a git-based CMS will integrate beautifully.
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If you need top notch security, the decentralized nature of git-based repositories is much safer than a centralized database.
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To scale affordably, git-based CMS have the advantage of being open source and avoiding proprietary licensing costs.
So in summary, for simpler sites database CMS works fine. But as needs grow in terms of versioning, collaboration, performance, security and cost – take a good look at git-based CMS.
Key Selection Criteria
Choosing the right git-based CMS takes some careful consideration. Here are some key criteria to think about in your selection process:
Ease of Use – How intuitive is the editor for content creators? Is the UI clean and user-friendly?
Flexibility – Will the system integrate well with your chosen static site generator, frameworks, and deployment platforms?
Support & Documentation – Is onboarding, ongoing support, and documentation robust? Is there an active community?
Permissions & Workflow – Does it provide solid access controls and workflows for devs, content creators, editors, etc?
Scaling – Will it easily handle increased traffic, content volume, contributors, and complexity as you grow?
Features – Does it have the built-in features and integration options you need right out of the box?
Cost – Are the licensing model and pricing appropriate for your budget? How does it compare?
Evaluating git-based CMS options across criteria like these will help you select the right solution for your needs, resources and goals.
Key Advantages of Git-based CMS
Let‘s recap some of the key advantages that make git-based CMS a great modern choice compared to traditional database-driven systems:
- Blazing fast performance – Content lives in static files, not a database
- Enhanced security – Decentralized git repositories versus centralized databases
- Easy collaboration – Branching enables parallel work without conflicts
- Greater flexibility – Integrates with any static site generator, framework, etc.
- Robust version control – Rollback changes easily
- Offline functionality – Local copies allow work without internet
- Jamstack capabilities – Git-based CMS enable Jamstack architecture
- Cost savings – Most git-based CMS are open source and very budget-friendly
For the right use cases, git-based CMS provide game changing speed, security, collaboration, flexibility and cost advantages over traditional options.
Final Thoughts
So in closing my friend, traditional database CMS are still good for simple sites. But for more complex needs, git-based CMS offer huge benefits.
Their flexibility, speed, security, collaboration support, robust version control, and lower costs are driving rapid adoption.
Carefully evaluate leading options like the ones above against your key criteria.
And consider joining the growing ranks of developers and agencies using modern git-based CMS to build fast, secure sites!
I hope this overview has been helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions!
