Single Deployment
Content and frontend deploy together. One codebase, one deployment, one system to manage.
Why EmDash?
EmDash is an Astro-native CMS that combines traditional CMS patterns with modern web development: a content editing interface, Astro framework integration, and flexible deployment options.
What Makes EmDash Different
Section titled “What Makes EmDash Different”Astro-Native Architecture
Section titled “Astro-Native Architecture”EmDash is built specifically for Astro, not adapted from a generic CMS. Content lives in the same deployment as your site, queried through Astro’s Live Content Collections. No separate services, no API round-trips, no webhook synchronization.
Familiar Content Model
Section titled “Familiar Content Model”If you’ve used WordPress, EmDash’s concepts will feel familiar: collections (like post types), taxonomies, menus, widget areas, and a media library. The mental model transfers—the implementation uses modern tooling.
Framework Integration
Section titled “Framework Integration”EmDash is purpose-built for Astro. This tight integration enables type-safe queries, component-level caching, and integrated preview.
Core Capabilities
Section titled “Core Capabilities”Type Safety
Schema lives in the database. TypeScript types flow from database to template with full autocomplete.
Live Updates
Built on Astro’s Live Content Collections. Content changes appear instantly—no rebuilds needed.
Cloud-Portable
Runs on Cloudflare Workers with D1 and R2, and also works with Node.js, SQLite, and any S3-compatible storage.
How It Compares
Section titled “How It Compares”Different CMS approaches suit different needs:
| Aspect | Traditional CMS | Headless CMS | EmDash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Monolithic | Decoupled | Integrated with Astro |
| Content editing | Built-in admin | Built-in admin | Built-in admin |
| Frontend | Themes/templates | Bring your own | Astro components |
| Deployment | Single server | CMS + frontend | Single deployment |
| Type safety | Runtime | API types | Full TypeScript |
| Content updates | Immediate | Webhook/rebuild | Immediate (SSR) |
| Plugin model | Same-process | API extensions | Sandboxed with hooks |
Cloudflare Deployment
Section titled “Cloudflare Deployment”EmDash runs on any platform with SQLite and S3-compatible storage. It also supports Cloudflare-specific features:
- D1 — SQLite at the edge with automatic replication
- R2 — S3-compatible storage with no egress fees
- Workers — Global deployment with fast cold starts
Plugin Migration
Section titled “Plugin Migration”EmDash provides tools to help migrate WordPress plugin functionality:
- Concept mapping — WordPress hooks, filters, and APIs map to EmDash equivalents
- Migration guides — Documentation for porting specific plugin patterns
- AI-assisted porting — Documentation structured to help AI tools generate EmDash plugins from WordPress plugin code
Complex plugins still need human review, but for straightforward plugins, the migration guides reduce porting effort.
When to Use EmDash
Section titled “When to Use EmDash”EmDash is designed for:
- New Astro projects that need a CMS
- WordPress migrations where you want modern tooling
- Sites with content editors who shouldn’t touch code
- Projects deploying to Cloudflare
- Sites where type safety and developer experience matter
EmDash may not be right for:
- Non-Astro projects (it’s tightly coupled to Astro)
- E-commerce (WooCommerce-scale features are not yet available)
- Existing headless architectures you’re happy with
- Projects requiring WordPress’s specific plugin ecosystem
Get Started
Section titled “Get Started”Quick Start
Create your first site in under 5 minutes.
Migration Guide
Migrate from WordPress with content import and concept mapping.