E75: Payload, the React & TypeScript Headless CMS

Developer Benefits

James Mikrut, founder of Payload CMS, highlights the advantages of a code-first approach for developers. This strategy allows for better version control and deployment processes, as developers can directly manage code in GitHub, ensuring a clear source of truth 1. James emphasizes the developer-first philosophy, where every aspect of Payload is designed to be extensible and efficient, enhancing the developer experience 2. He states, "The performance angle shows that the simplicity, the efficiency, the fact that we designed and built this specifically to do that" 3.

   

Implementation

Traditional CMSs often present challenges for developers, such as complex interfaces and limited control, which James Mikrut aims to solve with Payload CMS. He describes the dilemma of balancing application frameworks and CMS functionalities, striving to create a solution that combines both without reinventing terminology 4. Reflecting on his experience with WordPress, James shares how the lack of a developer-first CMS led him to build Payload, a tool that meets both engineering and administrative needs 5. He recalls, "I decided, I'm going to build it. I'm going to get my co-founders together. It's me, Dan, and Elliot. We're all three technical" 5.