In the crowded space of CMS platforms, simplicity and ease of use often get sacrificed for a wide range of features. As a solo developer, I set out to solve this problem by creating something small, intuitive, and powerful: Stubby.io, a simple headless CMS designed to help you create, manage, and publish MDX content quickly.
What Makes Stubby.io Different?
From the first concept to its current iteration, my primary focus has always been streamlined content management for developers and content creators. Stubby.io stands out due to its minimalistic yet effective approach, while still providing the essential features you need to run a blog, documentation site, or static web content. Here's why Stubby.io stands apart:
1. User-Centered Design for Simplicity
Looking at the interface (as shown in the screenshots), you'll notice the UI is clean and user-friendly. There's no overwhelming list of features or cluttered menus. Everything from creating a new site to managing content is smooth and intuitive. For example, creating a new site is as easy as entering a name and description — no fuss, no unnecessary configuration.
2. Fast MDX Integration for Developers
MDX is a powerful format that combines Markdown with JSX components, and Stubby.io makes it incredibly easy to set up. Whether you're creating blogs, API documentation, or product manuals, the platform's editor provides a seamless experience for writing in MDX. You can preview your content side-by-side with the code editor, giving you a developer-friendly environment to work in.
What sets Stubby.io apart is the ease of uploading images directly into your content. You can simply drag and drop images or press Command + V to paste them directly into the editor, making the process of adding visuals to your articles quicker and more intuitive. This feature reduces friction, allowing you to focus more on writing and less on file management.
3. API First Approach for Flexibility
Stubby.io follows a headless CMS approach, meaning content is decoupled from the front-end presentation. This allows developers to pull the content into any frontend framework they prefer, be it Next.js, Nuxt.js, or even custom static site generators. Through the easy-to-use API playground (as shown in the API screenshot), you can quickly test your API requests, including fetching all pages or a specific one.
4. Instant Webhooks for Cache Invalidation
One pain point for many developers is managing cache invalidation on platforms like Next.js and Nuxt. With Stubby.io, I integrated webhooks that automatically trigger whenever you create, publish, or delete content, ensuring your website cache is revalidated instantly. This reduces manual overhead and allows you to keep content up to date effortlessly.
5. Easy Content Creation and Management
With Stubby.io, you're never far from your content. The platform offers a super-efficient file structure, visible in the side explorer, to manage folders and files. Editing content is smooth, and you can instantly preview it. Features like API key management and general site settings are tucked away neatly but remain easily accessible when you need them.
Why I Built Stubby.io
As a developer and creator, I've worked with several content management systems. While many of them offered extensive functionality, they also brought complexity, bloat, and often unnecessary learning curves. I wanted something different: a CMS that serves a specific need without getting in the way.
I built Stubby.io because:
- Simplicity Matters: Most CMS solutions are over-engineered for what many developers need. I wanted to build a CMS that anyone can pick up and start using in minutes.
- Speed & Efficiency: Content creation should be fast and seamless. Whether you're managing a small blog or large documentation site, speed should never be compromised.
- Developer-First Focus: With built-in MDX support and APIs for integration, Stubby.io allows developers to take control of their content without unnecessary distractions.
Conclusion
Stubby.io is not just another CMS; it's the CMS I needed as a solo developer to simplify my work without compromising flexibility. By stripping away the excess and focusing on the essentials, I've created a tool that empowers creators and developers to focus on what matters: the content.
If you're tired of complex CMS platforms and want something that works right out of the box, Stubby.io is for you. Give it a try, and see how it transforms the way you manage content.