It's a technical crush, we use Directus to manage content and data on a variety of digital projects.
As a technical partner, our team is always looking for tools that allow us to go quickly, test, validate, iterate, without imposing technical difficulties or hindering the evolution of a product.
And believe us: Directus is a good fit for this approach.
Entrepreneurs who contact us want to quickly transform an idea into an MVP, a web or mobile application, or an internal tool. Very often (or even always), they are looking for a solution to organize their data : user lists, product sheets, editorial content, multimedia resources. Managing this data without getting lost in the back-end code or reinventing the wheel is often a priority.
With Directus, we can connect a database to a readable administration interface, without imposing a rigid data schema. This frees up valuable time and makes it easy to make adjustments as you go.
It is based on a standard database (MySQL, PostgreSQL or SQLite) and provides an interface for editing content. It also generates a API REST Or GraphQL.
The front-end remains independent: you can build it with React, Vue, Angular, Flutter or any framework.
This modularity suits us: we prototype, deliver a first version, collect user feedback, and adapt the data structure if necessary. Without having to redesign everything, you can change fields, add tables, remodel the content, and the administration interface adjusts. The API tracks these changes, so you don't have to start from scratch.
This gain in flexibility results in a faster marketing.
Instead of building a complete back-end by hand, we connect the base to Directus and get a ready-to-use management interface. The front team focuses on user experience, ergonomics, performance.
Founders have access to their data without depending on developers for every update. They can modify texts, adjust values, or enrich a product database in a few clicks.
In a growing project, several stakeholders can access the administration interface: product managers, editors, external partners, testers. Directus allows you to create roles, define permissions, lock certain sections, and limit the modification of sensitive data.
In this way, mistakes or unwanted changes are avoided: the founding team remains in control, while delegating the editorial part without risk.
An MVP often starts out simple: one table for users, one table for content. Later, new entities appear (categories, promotions, tags, various statuses). Directus supports these developments, but they must be anticipated at least. TRACTR helps to choose a flexible data architecture that is neither too rigid nor too complex, in order to maintain room for evolution.
Directus is not a turnkey tool in the sense that it does not provide pre-designed templates. This may be confusing for some users, but for us, it's an asset. We build a suitable data model, without being limited by prefabricated structures. This approach is especially suitable for startups that are still exploring their product, testing uses, and refining their proposal. They can quickly adjust content without creating an irrelevant pattern.
Sometimes we compare Directus with other headless solutions like Strapi, Contentful, or Sanity. Each has its advantages. Strapi is also open source and is also still used on some projects. Directus is distinguished by its direct link to the existing database. It does not dictate its own structure, does not impose internal logic. This technical freedom makes it possible to adapt the tool to business needs, rather than the other way around.
This positioning is well suited to our projects: We like to start with an almost blank sheet of paper, configure only what the MVP needs, then add elements as we go. Ce iterative process Stick to the Lean philosophy that we defend. Saving time on the back end to focus on customer feedback, core functionalities, and market fit is still a major advantage. When a pivot is needed, it is easier to implement it with Directus than with an infrastructure that is too rigid.
We don't see Directus as a magic solution. You have to think about the structure of the data, the types of fields and the relationships between entities in advance.
On a technical level, Directus is based on Node.js, offers an intuitive administration interface, manages media, relationships, custom fields (text, number, date, media, references, etc.). You can add hooks to execute actions before or after recording data, integrate business logic, or even develop specific extensions. When the load increases, we can distribute the load, set up a CDN for the media, optimize queries, move to a more robust base. The tool tracks the growth of the project.
In addition, Directus is open source. Businesses remain in control. They can host it wherever they want, customize it, inspect it. Nothing prevents migrating to another tool if needs change. This avoids dependence on a closed solution. Startups that want to control their costs and infrastructure appreciate this point. You can start with basic hosting and then evolve into a more sophisticated environment over time.
Our developer team often combines Directus with tools No-code Or Low-code (Make, Zapier, n8n) to automate certain tasks. Data managed by Directus can trigger actions or be integrated with other services: sending notifications, updating CRM, generating reports, synchronizing with a third-party tool. This reduces development efforts and allows multiple scenarios to be tested quickly. Entrepreneurs appreciate this ability to connect bricks together without diving into complex code.
From a workflow perspective, Directus helps to work efficiently. Centralized data feeds several channels (web, mobile, internal). We don't duplicate information, we don't maintain several separate back offices. This consistency improves management and limits errors. The front team manipulates the data via a stable API, the product team can change the structure from the administration interface, and the technical team can optimize the infrastructure without questioning the whole thing.
The learning curve is reasonable:
This is ideal for accelerating prototyping: we deliver an operational MVP, with real content, in a few weeks. Feedback comes faster, we adjust the proposal better, we change the structure, while maintaining internal consistency.
Directus enhances this set by offering a flexible data management layer. Combined with a front-end generator, we obtain a functional product with limited technical debt.
The important thing is to choose the right bricks and to assemble them consistently. Our role is also to guide these choices, to avoid complicating them for no reason.
For a startup, the question of budget arises. Being Open source, Directus does not require a paid license. However, it is still necessary to plan for hosting, maintenance, backups, and updates. If the internal team does not want to manage this, TRACTR can support, advise, or even delegate this technical part.
Some opt for Directus Cloud, an official, paid, hosted offer that guarantees automatic support and updates. Others prefer to keep control of their infra.
When an application grows and attracts more users, you can scale: you can optimize the database, hide certain requests, set up a cluster deployment, use a CDN for media... Directus does not limit these optimizations.
Helping startups and innovative businesses realize their ideas quickly, without drowning in complex developments.
It provides a solid basis for managing data, while maintaining the flexibility to change, adapt, and evolve the product. This reduces risk, accelerates scale-up, and allows internal teams to better understand and control their tools.
To save you time, save on the cost of complex infrastructures, and therefore focus on the most important thing: the market, the users, the value delivered.
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If you want to know more about the use of Directus in your projects, or understand how TRACTR can help you configure an MVP, to set up an adapted architecture, to interface this tool with other bricks: contact us.
We can show you in more detail how we do it, how we work with Directus, and how we accelerate the time to market of your ideas into concrete digital products. We will help you define the structure of your data, prepare an adapted administration interface, automate flows and quickly create a functional product, ready to be tested and improved.
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