Production Architecture Shootout
Directus vs Strapi: Headless Data Engine vs Headless CMS
Evaluating pure SQL database mirroring versus Node.js schema-driven headless content management.
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| Core Metric | Directus | Strapi CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Database Philosophy | Wraps any existing SQL database directly | Manages database schema via code models |
| API Output | Dynamic REST & GraphQL instantly | Configurable REST & GraphQL plugins |
| Access Control | Granular row & column permissions | Role-based permission builder |
| Extensibility | Extensions, hooks & visual displays | Custom plugin architecture |
| Best Suited For | Complex enterprise data dashboards | Content-heavy blogs & marketing sites |
◈ Technical Recommendation & Architectural Choice
Directus reflects existing databases without modifying tables; Strapi is tailored for structured content publishing.