In the early 2000s, as a university student moonlighting as an intranet developer, I found myself caught in an endless cycle of HTML updates. Little did I know that my frustration with this tedious process would lead me to build not just one, but five Content Management Systems (CMS) over the next 15 years, ultimately resulting in the creation of a leading CMS software company. Today, I'm here to share my journey and offer a counterintuitive piece of advice: don't build your own CMS. Let me explain why.
The Genesis of a CMS in a Market Void
Back in 2000, the concept of a CMS was still in its infancy. As I painstakingly updated static HTML pages for an intranet, I couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be a better way. Unaware that CMS solutions existed (often with price tags in the hundreds of thousands of dollars), I set out to create an application that would empower users to manage content themselves.
This accidental invention wasn't unique. Many web agencies were crafting custom CMS solutions for their clients, often resulting in a labyrinth of modifications and maintenance nightmares. By 2004, I had crystallized a vision: to create a single CMS that any developer could use for any website. This led to the founding of my company, Kentico Software.
The Evolution of CMS Technology
The CMS landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since those early days. From simple HTML editors to sophisticated platforms capable of managing complex digital experiences, the evolution has been nothing short of remarkable. Let's delve into some key milestones:
The Rise of Open Source
In the mid-2000s, open-source CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla gained significant traction. These systems democratized content management, making it accessible to a broader audience. WordPress, originally a blogging platform, has grown to power over 40% of all websites on the internet, according to W3Techs.
The Advent of Enterprise CMS
As businesses recognized the importance of digital presence, enterprise-grade CMS solutions emerged. Platforms like Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore, and yes, Kentico, offered robust features for large-scale deployments, including multi-site management, advanced workflows, and personalization capabilities.
The Shift to Cloud-Based Solutions
The cloud revolution didn't spare the CMS world. Cloud-based CMS platforms like Contentful and Prismic entered the market, offering scalability, reduced maintenance overhead, and global content delivery networks (CDNs) out of the box.
The Headless CMS Revolution
Perhaps the most significant shift in recent years has been the rise of headless CMS architecture. This approach decouples the content management backend from the presentation layer, allowing developers to use any technology stack for the frontend while managing content through APIs. According to a 2021 survey by Storyblok, 64% of developers prefer using a headless CMS for their projects.
Why Building a Custom CMS is No Longer Viable
Despite these advancements, I'm often surprised by the number of developers still opting to build custom CMS solutions. While I understand the impulse—born from frustration with existing systems—the landscape has changed dramatically. Let's explore why the reasons for building a custom CMS are no longer valid:
1. "Standard CMS limits my creativity"
This argument doesn't hold water in the age of headless CMS. Modern systems provide content through APIs, giving developers complete freedom over the presentation layer. You can retrieve content via REST or GraphQL APIs and display it however you like, without any interference in your HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. This flexibility extends to any framework or technology stack you prefer, be it React, Vue, Angular, or even static site generators like Gatsby or Next.js.
2. "Standard CMS interfaces are too complex"
New headless CMS products focus solely on content management, offering streamlined interfaces that prioritize user experience. Many also provide Content Management APIs, allowing you to create custom editing interfaces tailored to your specific needs. This level of customization was once a primary driver for building custom CMS solutions, but it's now achievable with off-the-shelf products.
3. "Standard CMS is too expensive"
The economics of CMS have changed dramatically. Unless you're building something extremely simple, a custom CMS will cost more in the long run when you factor in development time, ongoing maintenance, and opportunity cost. Today's market offers free open-source options and cloud-first headless CMS with consumption-based pricing that's often more cost-effective than maintaining a custom solution. For example, platforms like Strapi offer open-source headless CMS solutions that can be self-hosted, while services like Contentful provide scalable pricing based on API calls and content volume.
4. "Standard CMS is not secure"
While no system is impenetrable, widely-used CMS platforms undergo rigorous testing and have dedicated security teams constantly working to patch vulnerabilities. Cloud-first headless CMS solutions are maintained by vendors who are experts in both the code and infrastructure, often providing better security than a custom solution. For instance, Netlify's recent State of Web Development report found that 32% of developers cited improved security as a key benefit of adopting Jamstack architecture, which often utilizes headless CMS.
5. "Standard CMS doesn't fit my architecture"
Headless CMS architecture allows you to access content via API and build your application exactly as you want, without being constrained by the CMS platform. This approach enables true separation of concerns, allowing your development team to focus on creating amazing user experiences while content creators work in a system optimized for their needs. According to a survey by CMSWire, 61% of organizations are either using or planning to implement a headless or hybrid CMS approach, highlighting the growing recognition of this architectural flexibility.
6. "We have existing customers on our agency's CMS"
While it might seem daunting to migrate, continuing to maintain a proprietary CMS is a dead-end. It's time to make the bold step towards a modern, standard CMS that offers your customers more benefits and gives your developers exciting new tools to work with. The long-term benefits of standardization, including improved maintainability and scalability, far outweigh the short-term discomfort of migration.
The Hidden Costs of Building Your Own CMS
People often underestimate the complexity involved in creating a true CMS. What starts as a simple document database with an editing interface quickly grows into a complex system requiring:
- Content modeling: Defining and managing various content types and their relationships.
- Versioning: Tracking changes and allowing rollbacks to previous versions of content.
- Language variants: Supporting multilingual content and localization.
- Workflow management: Implementing approval processes and content scheduling.
- Permissions systems: Managing user roles and access controls.
- Content delivery optimization: Implementing caching strategies and CDN integration.
- Search functionality: Providing powerful search capabilities across content.
Each of these components demands significant development and ongoing maintenance, diverting resources from your core business objectives. According to a study by Forrester Research, the average cost of building and maintaining a custom CMS over three years can range from $1.5 million to $2.7 million for mid-sized enterprises. This doesn't account for the opportunity cost of not focusing on your core product or service.
Embracing Modern CMS Solutions
Instead of reinventing the wheel, consider the advantages of modern CMS solutions:
- Headless architecture: Offers flexibility and freedom in content presentation, allowing you to future-proof your content strategy.
- Specialized focus: Streamlined interfaces for efficient content management, often with customizable workflows to match your specific needs.
- Cost-effective pricing models: Especially with cloud-based solutions, you can start small and scale as your needs grow.
- Robust security: Backed by dedicated teams and extensive testing, with regular updates to address emerging threats.
- Scalability: Grow without the limitations of a custom system, leveraging cloud infrastructure for global reach.
- Community and support: Benefit from a wider ecosystem of plugins, integrations, and expertise. For instance, WordPress boasts over 59,000 plugins in its official repository.
When a Custom CMS Might Be Justified
To be fair, there are rare situations where building a custom CMS could make sense:
Content management is your core business: If you're a platform like Medium or a major media house with unique publishing needs, a custom solution might be warranted. These organizations often have highly specialized requirements that off-the-shelf solutions may not fully address.
Unique security or compliance requirements: Some organizations, particularly in heavily regulated industries like healthcare or finance, may have specific rules that standard CMS solutions can't accommodate. However, even in these cases, it's worth exploring whether existing enterprise-grade CMS platforms can be customized to meet these requirements before committing to a fully custom solution.
However, these scenarios are extremely rare, and even then, the ongoing investment must be carefully weighed against the benefits. In most cases, the flexibility and extensibility of modern CMS platforms can accommodate even the most unique requirements without the need for a ground-up custom solution.
Conclusion: Focus on Your Strengths
As someone who's been deeply involved in CMS development for over two decades, my advice is clear: unless content management is your business, don't build your own CMS. The time, resources, and ongoing commitment required to create and maintain a custom CMS are better invested in developing your core product or service.
The CMS market has matured significantly. With the advent of headless CMS and cloud-first solutions, the flexibility and power once only achievable through custom development are now readily available off-the-shelf. By choosing a modern, established CMS, you're not just saving time and money—you're future-proofing your content strategy and freeing your team to focus on what truly sets your business apart.
Remember, in the world of content management, it's often wiser to stand on the shoulders of giants than to build your own ladder from scratch. Your future self will thank you for the foresight to choose a path of innovation and efficiency over reinvention. As the digital landscape continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the ability to adapt quickly and focus on delivering value to your users will be far more valuable than owning every line of code in your CMS.
