Decap CMS

What is Decap CMS?

Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) is an open-source, Git-based headless CMS for static site generators, developed with JavaScript and React. It operates as a browser-embedded content editor that commits content changes directly to your Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket), making it ideal for JAMstack and static site workflows.

Decap CMS renders a clean, non-technical editorial dashboard inside any web page, allowing content editors to create and modify Markdown, YAML, and JSON files without touching Git commands. Every save action creates a real Git commit, giving content a full version history.

Who Is It For?

• JAMstack Developers: Adding a non-technical editorial interface to Next.js, Hugo, Gatsby, Astro, Eleventy, or Jekyll sites.
• Technical Writers & Editors: Managing documentation or blog content through a visual interface while maintaining Git-based version control.
• Small Teams: Collaborating on static website content without paying for a commercial CMS subscription.

Key Features

• Git-based content storage: Every save is a Git commit, providing complete content version history.
• Framework-agnostic: Works with Hugo, Next.js, Gatsby, Astro, Jekyll, Eleventy, and any static site generator.
• Editorial workflow: Draft, review, and approval states for content before publishing.
• Media library management: Upload and manage images with cloud storage providers.
• Customizable widget library: Text, Markdown, images, datetime, lists, objects, and custom widgets.

Adding Decap CMS to a Hugo Site

Add Decap CMS to your Hugo site's static directory:

Create the configuration file:

Practical Use Cases

1. Marketing Team Blog Management

A marketing team edits blog posts through the Decap CMS dashboard; changes trigger a Netlify deploy preview, and editors review the rendered article before merging.

2. Documentation Site Content Updates

A technical writer updates API documentation sections through the editorial interface; each save auto-creates a Git commit with the change message.

3. Multi-Author Site with Editorial Workflow

Multiple editors draft articles in the "In Review" state; a senior editor approves drafts and merges them to main, triggering the production static site build.

Troubleshooting and Limitations

• OAuth GitHub App Configuration: Decap CMS requires a registered GitHub OAuth App to authenticate editors; configure the OAuth provider credentials in your backend settings or use Netlify's built-in authentication.
• Large Media Files: For repositories with many images, use Git LFS or a cloud media backend (Cloudinary, Uploadcare) to prevent repository size bloat.

Official Resources

• Official Website: https://decapcms.org
• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/decaporg/decap-cms
• Documentation: https://decapcms.org/docs