No-code and headless CMS website builders like Prismic have unique strengths and limitations to weigh based on your business needs.

Headless CMS vs No Code Website Builders

A headless CMS is a content management system that separates the frontend, also called the "head" or "presentation layer," from the backend, also called the "content repository." Instead of coupling both components together, like traditional CMSs operate, headless systems deliver the content from the backend to the frontend through APIs.

Working with a headless architecture means that there is no pre-built "head" to work with. Instead, developers create multiple custom heads across different digital content delivery channels like web, mobile apps, smartwatches, AR, VR, and IoT. The headless approach provides complete control over how content is displayed.

Note that there is a slight difference between a headless CMS and a headless CMS website builder. A headless CMS website builder takes the headless innovation one step further by allowing developers to create reusable website components right within the CMS.

An example of this is Prismic’s Slices Machine and Page Builder, which allows developers and marketers to collaboratively build reusable components for the different sections of a website. With Prismic, developers can create several variations of website sections for different use cases, while marketers can access those sections—and their variations—through an interface of website building blocks and fill in the content gaps. This approach empowers builders to create on-brand experiences seamlessly.

Headless CMSs and headless website builders are a great fit for teams that include a mix of developers and marketers who are managing large-scale websites. Here are some advantages that a headless website builder provides.

With a headless CMS website builder, developers are not tied to a specific frontend technology or development stack. This means we can use preferred technologies like Next, Nuxt and Sveltekit, etc., to create the frontend. It also makes it easier to adapt to new technologies as they emerge. Also, headless architecture promotes scalability by allowing us to add new features and functionality without affecting the content layer.

Since the frontend and backend layers are decoupled, a headless website builder can deliver content more quickly and efficiently, resulting in faster load times and overall better website performance. This is especially important for businesses, as slow load times can lead to higher bounce rates and lower conversions.

With a headless approach, there is no limit to the number of channels through which we can deliver content. We can build several types of heads, including smart TVs, smartwatches, voice assistants, AR, and VR. Also, since APIs are all we need to retrieve the content stored in a headless website builder, we can stay at the edge of technological innovations and keep adapting and creating frontends as more digital channels emerge.

Headless CMS website builders make content management seamless. Marketers and content teams can edit, store, and manage content without waiting for a developer's input or worrying about how the content they create affects the website's layout or functionality. Also, any changes made to the content automatically reflect across the different frontends. This removes the hassle of manually updating the content across all available digital touchpoints.

The headless approach also comes with downsides to evaluate. Adopting a decoupled architecture requires technical expertise to build custom frontends from scratch. There are also long term considerations around maintaining greater flexibility, including potential for accumulating technical debt and ongoing developer dependency.

Developers have to build their frontend(s) from scratch because headless website builders do not provide any default frontends. While some headless solutions provide beginner templates to work with, programming knowledge is still required. This means that anyone who wants to use a headless system must know how to code or hire a developer. The technical knowledge required can include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, understanding how APIs work, and React-powered frameworks like Next.js.

While this may seem contradictory to the earlier advantage of seamless content management, there is one case where headless systems may limit content teams. The separation of frontend and backend means that, unlike traditional CMSs, content teams do not get real-time updates on how the website looks as they add the content. However, this disadvantage only exists in headless solutions that don't offer live previews. With live previews, marketers can see real-time drafts of how the content looks on the website before publishing, which improves the editing experience.

Technical talent does not come cheap, so building a website can be expensive. There is the upfront cost of building a website and integrating it with a headless CMS and the ongoing costs of updating and maintaining the website's code. Some people try to avoid paying premium fees for the best talent, but that usually doesn't end up well. Luckily, anyone who needs a website can work with seasoned experts and agencies to get the best bang for their buck.

There are a few ways technical debt creeps in when working with a headless website builder. Firstly, the frontend relies heavily on code that has to be maintained and optimized for performance. Let's not even talk about the bugs that appear out of nowhere! Technical debt also shows up in the time it takes to build the frontend from scratch. The more frontends required, the longer the development time. There is also time creep, which can occur when projects go beyond their initial scope because they were improperly planned and executed.

The flexibility of headless architectures allows developers to integrate new frameworks and technologies seamlessly as they emerge to future-proof their stack.

What is one way to future proof your stack using a headless architecture?

A no-code website builder is a software platform that lets people create websites without writing a single line of code. Instead of writing code, no-code builders provide a canvas or visual editor where users can drag and drop the elements they need to build a website.

While no-code tools are commonly used by non-developers who lack programming knowledge, some developers also use them to save time and energy because it allows them to prioritize other activities.

No-code website builders are very accessible because all anyone needs to work with them is a web browser. Also, since no coding is needed, all anyone needs is a few minutes of practice to get used to the graphical user interface these platforms provide. There has been increased demand for no-code tools because they allow anyone to build a website with ease, regardless of whether they have any technical skills or not.

No-code website builders are particularly great for non-developer teams who need to spin up a website in a short amount of time. Here are some advantages that a no-code website builder provides.

Does not require (as much) technical knowledge

A major advantage of using node-code builders is that anyone can build websites with them because they eliminate the need for coding skills. They completely changed the web development industry by abstracting away the technical aspects. This allows programmers and non-programmers to create websites without needing to write a single line of code.

Besides abstracting away the technical aspects of web development, no-code website builders are also beginner-friendly and easy to use. Their drag-and-drop interface is intuitive and streamlines both the learning and website-building process. People can see the website edits they make in real time and make necessary changes.

"No-code" means that there is no code to maintain, whether legacy code or otherwise. Instead, the no-code platform handles all code maintenance, allowing users to focus on core activities.

No-code website builders are great for rapid prototyping, and they provide faster time to market because no coding—which is often time-intensive—is involved. They also provide website templates that further shorten development time and help teams launch faster. The no-code approach is great for fast-paced startups and teams looking to build websites in hours or days instead of weeks.

Though quick and easy to get started, no-code website builders have limitations that emerge over time. Reliance on pre-built templates and drag-and-drop modules can constrain advanced customization and design flexibility. As needs grow, lack of access to code and dependence on the vendor's roadmap may present challenges adapting to new requirements.

A major downside of no-code platforms is total reliance on the platform. A custom-coded website gives us full control and ownership over your site and eliminates risks associated with third-party dependencies. However, using a no-code website builder leaves us at the provider's mercy. Our websites could be negatively impacted if the platform shuts down, suffers cyber attacks, or discontinues important features.

While no-code websites are a great starting point for building functional websites, they fall short when it comes to the websites' uniqueness. No-code platforms don't support 3D models (available in coding with Three.js), complex and fluid page transitions, and custom cursors. This is a huge disadvantage for brands who are looking to stand out from the competition by creating next-level digital experiences for their web visitors.

Two major technical debt concerns of no-code website builders are the limited features they offer and their migration restrictions. The convenience and speed of no-code platforms come at a cost. Most providers offer generic and basic features that are good enough to launch a website. However, the more specific the website needs and feature requirements are, the less compatible no-code solutions become. Also, users who want to move from one no-code platform to another would have to create their website from scratch because there is no seamless migration method.

Choosing between headless and no-code website builders: factors to consider

Deciding between headless and no-code solutions depends on weighing a variety of factors from content flexibility to skill sets. Choose based on long term goals and priorities, not what's quickest to implement.

Headless website builders rely heavily on developers, so anyone who wants to follow the headless approach needs technical experts to build their website. However, non-technical solopreneurs and teams with no developers looking to minimize development costs may consider working with a no-code website builder.

With headless website builders, there is no limitation to the digital touchpoints through which we can deliver our content. As long as the channel supports communication with APIs, they can work with a headless solution. However, no-code website builders support a limited number of channels in comparison. For example, while they support traditional channels like web, PC, and mobile, they do not support next-gen channels like wearables, smart cars, and smart home appliances. Therefore, it is important to consider the content delivery channels before choosing.

Headless website builders generally require more time because the frontend needs to be coded from scratch. On the other hand, no-code websites eliminate the need for time-consuming coding, making them a better option for projects with a short development timeline, allowing us to launch sooner rather than later.

Website complexity and project requirements

No-code website builders are great for simple and generic websites that "get the job done." However, they are unsuitable for complex websites with unique customizations, features, and integrations. Headless website builders are a better fit in such cases because they provide fine-grained control over the presentation layer.

One thing several businesses and creators learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that those who can adapt to sudden and often unexpected changes will win. It is important to consider the ease of scalability, expansion, response to sudden market demands, flexibility, and adaptability when choosing between a headless CMS website builder and a headless no-code builder.

Although there are clear differences between a headless CMS website builder and a no-code website builder, they both serve a similar purpose: helping people build functional websites.

Headless CMS website builders, like Prismic, require knowledge of web development principles and technologies. However, they provide more presentation layer control. With no-code website builders, little or no technical knowledge is required, making them a great choice for less technical solopreneurs and micro teams.

Should you take the headless approach or follow the no-code path? Whatever one you decide, keep in mind that your choice will most likely have long-term effects on your website. Consider the factors we have discussed, like the required technical knowledge, website goals, and flexibility, when making a decision.

Of course, we're biased. Prismic is the choice all growth-focused businesses. However, this is your choice; one that shouldn't be taken lightly. As the saying goes, "the devil is in the details," so you must weigh the pros and cons when choosing which to work with. I hope this guide helps you choose the best option option to meet your website-building needs.

Headless CMS vs No-code Website Builders: Know the Difference

Vercel vs Netlify: Compare the two popular Jamstack hosting platforms. Learn the differences between features, performance, pricing, and more.

Vercel vs Netlify: Compare Jamstack Hosting and Deployment

The Jamstack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markup) architecture has revolutionized how we build websites and applications. We can enjoy several benefits, including increased speed, security, and scalability, by building with this architecture.

However, the building process does not end with choosing the right architecture. We must also deploy and host our websites so anyone can access them. Two options stand out in the developer ecosystem when it comes to hosting and deploying Jamstack websites: Vercel and Netlify.

Are you currently deploying a Jamstack website or evaluating between these two platforms to know which one to work with for your next project? We have you covered. In this article, we will compare Vercel and Netlify, exploring their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and requirements.

A Jamstack hosting platform is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) cloud-based hosting solution for Jamstack websites and applications. Behind the scenes, the platform works with third-party hosting services like AWS and Google Cloud Platform to abstract the complexities and technicalities of cloud-based hosting.

Jamstack hosting platforms integrate with many popular frontend technologies such as React, Next.js, Vue.js, and Remix.

A great thing about these platforms is that they provide direct integration with version control systems (VCSs) like GitHub and Bitbucket. This means they can connect directly to a project’s repository, take its source code from that repository, build the project, and then host it.

After hosting, the platform distributes the project across its data centers and content delivery networks (CDNs), ensuring faster website loading times and a seamless user experience. The best part is that the hosting platform fully automates the building, hosting, and distribution process.

We can streamline our deployment and hosting processes by using Jamstack hosting platforms because they eliminate the need for creating and maintaining hosting infrastructure from scratch.

Understanding the Jamstack development process

The Jamstack is not a technology. Rather, it is an architectural approach for the web that decouples the frontend or web experience layer from the backend, data, and business logic. The Jamstack shifts from monolithic development patterns to modern architecture that provides a richer experience and greater performance while easing the pain points that come with legacy technology.

The Jamstack development process emphasizes pre-rendering and caching content, then serving it through a CDN to deliver fast and efficient websites. It also involves the integration of APIs for dynamic functionality.

This architecture pattern provides improved performance, greater scalability and security, richer user experience, and better Core Web Vitals (CWV). It also facilitates the separation of concerns and allows frontend and backend developers to focus on the user interface and data and business logic, respectively.

The three pillars of Jamstack development are JavaScript, APIs, and Markup.

JavaScript: JavaScript is used to enhance the user experience and add interactivity to the website. It can be used to handle dynamic content, perform client-side rendering, and interact with APIs.

APIs: APIs provide a way to connect different services and retrieve data. In the Jamstack architecture, APIs are often used to fetch data from databases or external services and integrate it into the static website.

Markup: Markup refers to the HTML, CSS, and other static files that make up the website. These files are generated during the build process and can be served directly to users.

Vercel, previously known as ZEIT, is a popular and comprehensive PaaS solution for deploying, hosting, and scaling Jamstack websites. It offers seamless integration with frameworks like Gatsby and Svelte, as well as other major static site generators.

Vercel also offers source-code support and allows integration with VCS solutions like GitHub and GitLab. We can serve websites using a free `vercel.app` domain or use a custom domain.

Besides being a well-known Jamstack hosting solution, Vercel is also the company behind Next.js, one of the leading React-powered frameworks for building server-rendered applications. The tight relationship between Vercel and Next.js has made it a popular choice for many developers in the React ecosystem. Vercel’s ease of use, speed, and ability to handle considerable amounts of traffic also contribute to its popularity.

As of this writing, over 603k websites use Vercel as their hosting provider, with over 476k still actively using Vercel.

Fast edge servers for optimal performance

Continuous integration and continuous deployment

Just like Vercel, Netlify is a powerful and user-friendly PaaS provider for building, deploying, and managing Jamstack websites. It offers comprehensive tools for developing websites, including continuous deployment, serverless functions, form handling, and user identity management.

While Netlify allows us to work with custom domains, it also provides a free netlify.app domain. It has a global CDN, which ensures fast and secure content delivery regardless of a user’s location. It follows the Jamstack architecture, which enables faster load times, enhanced user experience, and better SEO.

Netlify is one of the most prominent Jamstack hosting platforms available today. As of this writing, over 759k websites use Netlify as their hosting provider, with over 517k of those websites still actively using Netlify.

Forms submission management via Netlify Forms

Vercel and Netlify have some similarities and differences. Let’s explore them in detail.

Vercel and Netlify provide powerful and effortless integration with Git repositories and support automatic and continuous deployment workflows. This means that when we make any changes to a repository, the platforms can automatically build and deploy the changes to the live website.

Both platforms leverage a global content delivery network (CDN) to ensure fast and reliable delivery of content to users worldwide. The CDN caches static assets and serves them from the edge locations closest to the user, minimizing latency and improving overall website performance.

 Vercel and Netlify offer support for serverless functions, which allow us to run backend logic without managing servers. While both platforms offer serverless functions, Netlify supports functions written in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Go. On the other hand, Vercel supports functions written in Node.js, Go, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript.

Both platforms prioritize the developer experience and provide intuitive user interfaces, extensive documentation, and robust CLI (Command Line Interface) tools. They offer features like environment variables, build hooks, and deployment previews, which streamline the development process and make it easier to collaborate with team members.

An interesting add-on feature that Netlify offers is Netlify Identity, a built-in authentication service for managing and authenticating users. While this is not a core service, it is a 'nice-to-have'. Vercel, on the other hand, does not offer any authentication functionality.

Netlify provides built-in form handling functionality via Netlify Forms, which allows us to easily capture form submissions on your website. It provides a simple and intuitive interface to manage form submissions and can even send notifications to email addresses or integrate with third-party services. Vercel, on the other hand, does not have built-in form-handling capabilities. We would need to use external services or implement a custom solution to handle form submissions.

Vercel and Netlify offer free plans with access to a limited set of features, including 100GB of bandwidth. Regarding pricing, Vercel has an advantage over Netlify because its free tier offers 6,000 build-time minutes every month, while Netlify offers only 300 build-time minutes monthly. Vercel’s cheapest paid tier costs $20/user/month, while Netlify’s costs $19/user/month.

In conclusion, both Vercel and Netlify are excellent choices for Jamstack developers. As always, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, the platform you decide to work with ultimately depends on your specific requirements, preferences, and project needs.

Here are some things to remember when choosing between Vercel and Netlify.

If you primarily work with Next.js, Vercel might be the better option due to its deep integration with Next.js.

Netlify is a great hosting platform with additional features such as user authentication and form management.

Ensure that the pricing tier for the platform you choose has all the necessary features your application requires.

Regardless of your choice, both platforms offer powerful features and excellent developer experiences to help you build and deploy Jamstack websites efficiently.

The Next.js image Component, or next/image, enhances website performance & improves SEO. Learn about its properties & how to add it to your Next.js project.

Next.js Image Optimization Using next/image

Gone are the days when customers were satisfied with slow-loading websites that took five to ten seconds to load. These days, customers want lightning-fast load times and will not settle for less. Failure to meet this expectation can lead to churn, high bounce rates, poor SEO performance, and low search engine results page (SERP) ranking. We must ensure that customers always get the best experience.

There are different factors and aspects of a website that we must focus on to provide the best user experience and achieve optimum performance. One of these factors is the size of the images on our website. If not properly optimized, images can negatively affect website performance.

We can avoid this by ensuring that images are properly optimized. There are different manual and programmatic tools we can use to optimize images, such as online optimization tools and CDNs like Imgix and Cloudinary. Another tool we can use to optimize images is the custom image component Next.js provides.

In this article, we will explore the Next.js image component and how it helps with image optimization. We will learn how it works, its features, and how to integrate it into Next.js applications.

Data from Web Almanac shows that images account for almost 75% of a webpage’s weight, and 75% is a lot! Images are a major culprit when it comes to a webpage’s size. This may not be an issue for websites that don’t have images. However, most of them do.

We cannot simply stop using images because of their large size. Not only will that lead to a poor browsing experience, but it will also affect industries that rely heavily on them, such as the e-commerce industry.

This is where image optimization comes in. The image optimization process involves compressing and reducing the size of image files, resizing images to the appropriate dimensions, and choosing next-gen image formats that provide optimal performance, such as WebP and AVIF.

We can eliminate the negative impact that images have on websites by properly optimizing them. That way, we can have as few or as many images on our website without affecting performance. Image optimization ensures that our websites have the best Core Web Vitals (CWV), enhances website loading speed, reduces bounce rates, improves SEO, and boosts overall user engagement.

The Next.js image component, or `next/image`, is a custom component from Next.js. It is an extension of the standard HTML `img` element with additional features and optimizations. It’s basically a version of the regular `img` element on steroids. It allows us to easily and automatically optimize images in our Next.js applications.

While there are online tools that we can use to optimize images, they are not effective at scale. Neither are these manual methods efficient for websites with hundreds and thousands of images. This is where `next/image` comes in as a programmatic solution for optimizing images.

There are different advantages and benefits of working with the image component.

The component automatically compresses images for optimum performance, which improves the overall performance of a website. This helps save bandwidth by reducing image file sizes and the amount of data the browser needs to download during rendering. 

The component automatically serves images in modern image formats that are supported by the user’s browser. This ensures that only the most optimized and lightweight version of images reaches the client. Next.js serves images in modern forms because these formats preserve fidelity and quality while remaining performant.

The component supports the lazy loading and priority loading of images. Lazy loading means the images are loaded only when they enter the viewport rather than all at once when the page loads. This loading strategy helps to improve the initial page load time. Priority loading lets us specify which images should be loaded first based on their importance to the user's current view.

Optimized images lead to fast-loading websites, which in turn means that users get the best experience possible. Using `next/image` not only enhances website load times but also minimizes Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) by ensuring that images are loaded with their appropriate width and height dimensions. This further improves the overall user experience. 

Provides a richer developer experience and boosts productivity

The component abstracts the complexities of image optimization and makes it easier for us to work with images. This means we can focus on core activities, such as handling bugs and building propriety functionalities. We can rest easy knowing that we don’t have to worry about optimizing images because `next/image` has that taken care of for us.

You can follow the simple steps below to import next/image into your Next.js application.

First you will want to install Next.js by running the following command:

To complete the process, simply import the image component into the file where it's needed. That’s it!

As of this writing, the image component has sixteen properties. Here’s a brief overview of each property.

`src`: Used to specify the source of an image. The source can be an external URL or a statically imported file. Its prop type is `string`.

`width` and `height`: Defines the dimensions of an image. Their prop type is `number`.

`alt`: Used to provide alternative text for an image. This text is displayed when the image fails to load. The alt text is also important for accessibility and SEO. Its prop type is `string`.

`loader`: A custom function that generates the complete URL of an image source. For example, if the source is a partial URL such as `profile.png`, we can write a loader to resolve the full URL, say `https://imigx.location-of-image/profile.png`.

`fill`: Instead of setting the width and height of an image, we can use the `fill` prop instead. It will cause the image to fill any available space in its parent element. Its prop type is `boolean` and defaults to `position: "absolute"`.

`sizes`: Used to set up responsive sizes for images at different breakpoints. The image component will use the sizes defined to generate the appropriate `srcSet` versions of the images. This property is only needed for images that use the `fill` layout. Its prop type is `string`, and its default value is `100vw` (full-screen width).

`quality`: A range of numbers between 1 and 100 that determines the quality of the optimized image. Its prop type is `number`, and it defaults to 75.

`priority`: Next.js lazy loads all images by default. However, when an image’s `priority` is set to `true`, `next/image` preloads that image. Its prop type is `boolean`, and it defaults to `false`.

`placeholder`: Allows us to display a low-resolution version of an image as a placeholder while the actual image loads. Its prop type is `string`, and it defaults to `empty`. When set to `empty` no placeholder will be shown. However, when set to `blur`, an image blur placeholder will appear till the image finishes loading.

`style`: Allows us to pass an object of CSS styles directly to an image component. This gives us more control over the styling of images.

`onLoadingComplete`: A callback function that runs once the image has finished loading and the placeholder has been removed.

`onLoad`: A callback function that runs once the image has finished loading.

`onError`: A callback function that runs if the image does not load.

`loading`: Defines the loading strategy for an image. It is set to `lazy` by default. It can also be set to `eager`, which means the component will load the image immediately.

`blurDataURL`: Works together with the `placeholder` prop. It specifies a data URL for a blurred version of the image, which is displayed as the placeholder.

The code snippet below shows a practical application of the properties.

Data from a community survey performed by the Next.js team showed that 70% of respondents use the image component in production, and they saw improved Core Web Vitals. The image component received the following improvements with the launch of Next.js 13.

It provides enhanced image optimization, meaning images will load faster, even with poor internet connections.

The `alt` attribute is now required. This will enforce accessibility best practices for images.

It ships less client-side JavaScript, which helps reduce layout shifts and provides faster loading.

It supports native browser lazy loading. This means the component is much faster because native lazy loading doesn’t require hydration, leading to better performance.

Integrate next/image in your Next.js 13 project

Seeing code in action can often solidify concepts and help with practical application. If you’re ready to take your understanding of `next/image` a step further, this video walks through implementing the Next.js image component in a Next.js 13 project step-by-step.

Install the starter and see how to optimize images on your website with Next.js and how you can further simplify this using Prismic's image component!

Images are an integral part of the web experience. After all, a picture — or image — is worth a thousand words. Luckily, we don’t need to trade between performance and providing users with engaging content. We can use tools like `next/image` to ensure that all website images are properly optimized. 

A Guide to Next.js Image Optimization Using next/image

Learn the difference and similarities between SDKs and APIs and how to use them to build better applications.

SDK and API: A Developer's  Guide + Examples

Developers build websites and applications while chefs make food. While this may seem like an odd comparison, they have something in common: they usually don’t create every single thing they need from scratch.

Chefs commonly go to the market to buy the ingredients they need for specific recipes; they don’t create all these ingredients from scratch. Likewise, as developers, there are various features that we need to add to the website and applications we build, such as:

Imagine how hectic it would be to build one or all these features from scratch every time we need them! Luckily, we don’t have to.

Instead of building every feature from the ground up, we can leverage tools that allow us to extract the functionality that other developers or companies have built and add them to our projects. This way, we don’t have to spend valuable time creating that complex animation or setting up our own customer authenticating flow. Instead, with the help of APIs and SDKs, we can get these functionalities from others.

In this article, we will learn what APIs and SDKs are and their differences and similarities. We will also explore some use cases and applications of APIs and SDKs as well as how to know which one and when. Let’s dive in.

An Application Programming Interface, or API for short, is a technology that enables interaction between different applications, systems, and programs. They are the mechanism that acts as a bridge of communication between different components of an application. APIs are an important aspect of the web, and it would be very difficult to build software applications without them.

Let’s use an everyday analogy to better understand what APIs are. A restaurant has two important aspects: the customers and the kitchen where the cooks prepare the food. The customers don’t go to the kitchen to place their order; neither do they select the food themselves from the kitchen. Instead, there is a waiter that talks to the customers, finds out what they want (the customer’s request), and then relays that request to the kitchen. Once the order is ready, the waiter takes the food (the response) and gives it to the customer.

In this analogy, the waiter is the API, the customer is the client that makes the request, and the kitchen is the backend, server, or database that returns the response.

A Software Development Kit, or SDK for short, is a toolbox that comprises different software development tools such as libraries, APIs, compilers, debuggers, code samples, and documentation. It is a collection of software tools and resources for building, testing, and deploying applications.

Continuing with the analogy of the API we used earlier, an SDK will be the waiter, the kitchen, the chefs, the cooking equipment, the menu, the restaurant floor plan, and any other assets necessary to give customers the best restaurant experience.

SDKs are often tailored to specific programming languages, platforms, or frameworks. For example,   an authentication platform may produce framework SDKs for Next.js and Nuxt.js, as well as those for programming languages such as Flutter, Java, and Python.

An SDK can greatly simplify the development process by providing pre-built components and functionalities. Instead of building every feature from scratch, we can leverage the existing code and resources the SDK provides.

While APIs and SDKs are important tools for building software applications, they differ in terms of their purpose and function.

APIs deal with facilitating communication and the transfer of data between one or more software systems, while SDKs are a complete package of tools and resources — APIs included — for developing applications on a specific platform. In essence, SDKs are a superset of APIs, which means that APIs are one of the many tools that SDKs provide. Basically, APIs are data transfer gateways, while SDKs are focused on providing all the necessary tools we need to integrate third-party functionalities into our applications.

Also, while the same set of APIs can be used for web development and mobile development, SDKs are tailored toward specific platforms or frameworks. This means that where APIs are general purpose and can integrate with any platform, SDKs are tailor-made to specific platforms such as iOS development, Android development, and frameworks or languages such as Python, Flutter, and Next.js.

While there are different ways in which APIs and SDKs differ, they also share some similarities.

They help simplify the development process and enhance the capabilities of software applications. They provide us with easy access to third-party solutions and resources that we can use to extend the functionalities of our applications.

Also, APIs and SDKs improve efficiency and make it easier to build robust and feature-packed applications. Without them, we would have to build every feature from scratch, which is not only ineffective and slow but also expensive, as it would require tons of expert knowledge.

Use cases and applications of APIs and SDKs

There are different ways we can use APIs and SDKs in our applications, and the first is feature integration. There is no limit to the number of features we can add to our applications with SDKs and APIs. We can add features such as payment gateways, identity verification, social sharing, authentication, maps, real-time chats, and more. As long as there are APIs and SDKs that provide these and other functionalities, we can leverage them.

We can also use APIs and SDKs to fetch data from third-party providers. We can use them to access different kinds of information on the weather, currency values, dummy info, data from NASA, and more. As long as there are third-party services that provide these pieces of information through APIs and SDKs, then we can access them.

We can use APIs and SDKs to build different kinds of applications, including weather apps, e-commerce platforms, ride-sharing apps, mobile games, and chat apps.

API and SDK implementations: real-world examples

Here are some examples that show how we can work with APIs and SDKs and integrate them into our applications.

Say we want to give web visitors the option of subscribing to our mailing list or newsletter on  Mailchimp. We can use Mailchimp’s List API to make this happen. First, we create an input form where the visitor enters their email and submits. Upon submission, we pass that email address to the API, which adds it to our mailing list.

If we needed to display the latest data on crypto exchange rates in our application, we can fetch data from Coinlayer’s API, and filter the cryptocurrency rates we need to display that information.

We can use Twilio’s Messaging API to integrate messaging capabilities into our applications. It allows us to send and receive SMS messages, make voice calls, and implement chat functionality. We can integrate this API into customer support systems, notification services, and communication platforms.

We can use the OpenWeatherMap API to access weather data such as weather conditions, forecasts, historical data, and other weather-related information worldwide. Weather APIs are commonly used in mobile apps, websites, and IoT devices to provide users with accurate and up-to-date weather information.

Shopify’s e-commerce APIs allow us to build custom integrations and extensions for online stores. We can use them to integrate functionalities such as product management, inventory management, cart, and more.

A common use case for SDKs is scenarios where we must implement KYC and identity verification functionality. In such cases, we can use Dojah's SDK libraries from KYC providers to add verification widgets to our applications, whether on iOS, Android, or the web. With SDKs, we don’t need to bother ourselves with the technical details of how they work. We only need to pass in some specific parameters for proper integration.

Another example is with integrating payment processors. We can add a payment gateway to our application by leveraging Stripe’s SDK libraries. It provides web and mobile SDKs that support a range of platforms.

Facebook’s SDKs are a powerful tool for integrating Facebook functionalities into their applications. They provide a range of features, including social login, sharing capabilities, analytics, and advertising tools.

Apple’s iOS SDK is a comprehensive toolkit for developing applications for Apple's iOS platform. It includes tools, frameworks, and APIs that we can use to create immersive and feature-rich iOS applications. The SDK provides access to device hardware, user interface components, and integration with Apple's ecosystem, making it essential for iOS app development.

As with many technical questions, there are no right or wrong answers to this question. Neither is there a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, there are factors we have to consider.

One of these factors is the feature we want to add to our application. For example, APIs are the right tool for the job in cases where we only want to fetch and display some live data, such as the recent cryptocurrency rates, in our application. However, if we need to set up some authentication functionality where people can use their Facebook, GitHub, or Google profiles to create accounts, then SDKs are a better option.

Another important factor to consider is the platform we are building for. SDKs are platform-specific, and this is great for development teams that work with specific frameworks and languages because it speeds up development. SDKs also abstract a lot of the implementation details and hide a lot of the technical details, allowing us to focus on core development activities.

There are also scenarios where we use both and not one or the other. For example, we can display the current cryptocurrency rates and add the social login feature to our application. In that case, we’ll use the API and the SDK where appropriate.

The important thing is that we choose the option that is most compatible with our development process and application needs.

APIs and SDKs are indispensable tools in the digital world we live in today. From seamless integration of third-party services to the development of web and mobile applications, APIs and SDKs drive innovation and enable developers and businesses to innovate, streamline processes, and enhance user experiences.

As technology advances, more APIs and SDKs will be released that will change how and what we can build. Rapid API has a collection of APIs for developers, and this is a great resource to explore. Also, check out this great list of 13 fun and powerful APIs and applications we can build with them.

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Dive into Headless vs. Monolithic SEO. Discover best practices, similarities, and differences for headless CMS developers.

Headless SEO vs Traditional SEO: A Guide

Businesses across several industries always look for ways to improve their online presence, remain competitive, and provide customers with a seamless and unique digital experience. This desire has led to increased adoption of headless Content Management Systems (CMS).

The growing popularity of headless CMSs has several implications, one being how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) works with headless architecture. Shifting from a traditional content solution to headless architecture comes with some distinct differences in SEO.

This article will discuss Headless SEO, its importance, and how it differs from traditional monolithic SEO. We'll also include some technical SEO best practices for developers.

Headless SEO is the modern strategy for carrying out SEO activities. The headless SEO process involves separating a website's presentation layer, or front-end, from its content and delivering it to consumers through an Application Programming Interface (API).

The separation of concerns that a headless CMS provides gives developers and content teams greater customization and flexibility. It also gives both parties the freedom and granular control they need to do their best work in optimizing for search engines.

The headless SEO methodology greatly differs from traditional CMSs, where the front end and content are joined together. The headless architecture approach is widely adopted by businesses in all industries and is extremely useful for those with large and complex websites that require regular content and development updates.

What are the differences between headless SEO and traditional SEO?

While the techniques and tools of headless SEO differ from that of traditional SEO, their aim remains the same: to optimize the technical and non-technical aspects of our content and websites for search intent and attain a high SERP ranking for organic searches.

Here are some differences between headless SEO and traditional SEO.

Traditional SEO comes with content delivery restrictions, as we can only deliver content to the channels that the CMS supports. However, there are no such restrictions with headless SEO because it supports omnichannel content delivery, which is the practice of creating personalized experiences for customers across multiple digital mediums. With omnichannel delivery, we can improve SEO performance by creating tailor-made and consistent front-end experiences frontends for different digital targets, whether PCs, smartphones, smartwatches, AR/VR headsets, etc.

We know that traditional solutions limit the content delivery channels. However, beyond that, they also leave little or no room for creating unique and innovative front end experiences. This makes it difficult for teams constantly pushing the boundaries of the web to create never-before-seen websites with tools such as Three.js and GSAP.

With traditional SEO, we are locked into the CMS platform and restricted to working with the tools, integration, and features it provides. This means we are at the mercy of the platform to only use specific tools or modern development technologies if and when the platform adds them. This restriction can slow down development and efficiency. On the other hand, with headless SEO, we are not limited to or dependent on the platform. This allows us to choose our preferred tools and technologies.

Slow-loading websites are a consequence of adopting traditional SEO because it bundles the front end, back end, and content into one unit. This bundling means that the browser has to fetch more data than is necessary during page load. In contrast to this, browsers only need to fetch the front end and the content when it comes to headless SEO. Not only that, but headless SEO allows us to use frameworks and rendering methods that further improve the loading speed of the website and SEO performance.

By decoupling the front end from the back end and content, headless SEO gives us control over the front end code, allowing us to optimize it for maximum performance and speed. This helps us provide the best user experience, healthy Core Web Vitals (CWV), and high SERP rankings.

The strength and benefits of headless SEO become even more evident as websites grow larger and more complex. Headless SEO ensures that developers and content teams can work independently of each other. Marketing teams don’t need to wait for developers to build the front end, and developers don’t need to wait for the content to be ready. Both teams can work effectively, regardless of how large a website becomes.

Since headless SEO involves separating the front end and the content repository, a developer with technical knowledge has to build the front end from scratch. A developer is also required to fetch the data from the API and deliver it to the user. Hiring a developer or team of developers can increase the overhead costs of production and routine maintenance.

With traditional architecture, the CMS handles the heavy lifting of technical SEO. However, with headless SEO, the responsibility falls on us. This means that extra effort is required to configure the different aspects of technical SEO, which include:

Little or no technical expertise required

A traditional CMS eliminates the need for the technical expertise of developers either completely or to a large extent. Developers are not required since the tools for building the frontend are attached to the CMS, and this also helps reduce development costs.

While being restricted to the tools and integrations a traditional CMS provides can sometimes be a disadvantage, it can also be an advantage. With traditional CMSes, we don’t have to spend time thinking about what tools to use because we are restricted to what they offer. This prevents us from wasting precious development time weighing the pros and cons of each possible tool or integration.

Websites built with traditional CMSes often suffer from slow speeds. This occurs because browsers need to simultaneously load the code for the frontend, backend, and content when rendering the websites, leading to slow page loading times.

Nefe Emadamerho-Atori

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