Running Strapi in development mode is one of the best ways for
developers to rapidly build, test, and iterate on modern applications
powered by customizable APIs. Whether you are building a full-scale
enterprise application, a personal project, or an MVP, Strapi's
developer-friendly architecture makes the development workflow smooth
and efficient. In this guide, you will learn how to run Strapi in
development mode, understand its core features, and follow best
practices to get the most out of your Strapi environment. If you ever
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Understanding Strapi and Its Development Workflow

Strapi is an open‑source, Node.js‑based headless CMS that enables
developers to build APIs without the hassle of manual backend coding.
With its powerful admin panel, flexible content types, and customizable
controllers, it significantly reduces development time.

Running Strapi in development mode allows developers to: - Automatically
reload updates as they code. - Access full error logs for debugging. -
Customize configurations rapidly. - Extend controllers, services, and
routes with ease.

Development mode is specifically designed to support a smooth coding
experience and encourages experimentation without affecting production
environments.

Installing Strapi: Prerequisites and Setup

Before running Strapi in development mode, you need to ensure that your
system is prepared with the required dependencies.

Required Tools

To install and run Strapi, you should have: - Node.js (LTS version
recommended, typically 18+) - npm or yarn - A supported database
such as: - SQLite (default) - MongoDB - PostgreSQL - MySQL - MariaDB

Creating a New Strapi Project

There are two main ways to create a Strapi project:

1. Using npx

npx create-strapi-app@latest my-project --quickstart

2. Using yarn

yarn create strapi-app my-project --quickstart

The --quickstart flag automatically configures Strapi with SQLite and
starts the project.

Once installation completes, Strapi launches the admin panel and your
project will be ready for development.

Running Strapi in Development Mode

Strapi ships with multiple modes---development, staging, and production.
Development mode is the default when you run Strapi without specifying a
custom environment.

Starting Strapi in Development Mode

Navigate into your project folder:

cd my-project

Then run:

npm run develop

or

yarn develop

Running this command will: - Start Strapi in development mode. -
Automatically create necessary files. - Enable hot‑reloading so your
project restarts when you change files. - Give you full access to the
Strapi admin panel.

How Development Mode Works

When Strapi runs in development mode: - It monitors your file changes
using a built‑in watcher. - It uses the default development
configuration from config/env/development. - Error outputs are
verbose for debugging. - Strapi regenerates API files and content
structures when needed.

This makes it the ideal mode during the early stages of your project.

Using the Strapi Admin Panel in Development Mode

Once your Strapi environment is running, it will display:

Admin panel: http://localhost:1337/admin
API: http://localhost:1337/api

Admin Panel Features

The admin panel is the control center of your Strapi project. You can: -
Create and manage Content Types. - Add entries using the Content
Manager. - Configure Roles & Permissions. - Customize plugins and
settings. - Generate relationships between data models.

Because development mode allows real‑time updates, any change you make
to your content types or fields immediately reflects on your API
responses.

Environment Variables for Development Mode

Strapi uses environment‑based configurations stored inside folders such
as:

config/env/development
config/env/production
config/env/staging

To customize your development environment, you can edit or create files
under:

config/env/development/server.js
config/env/development/database.js

Example Development Database Configuration

module.exports = ({ env }) => ({
  connection: {
    client: 'sqlite',
    connection: {
      filename: env('DATABASE_FILENAME', '.tmp/data.db'),
    },
    useNullAsDefault: true,
  },
});

Example Development Server Configuration

module.exports = ({ env }) => ({
  host: 'localhost',
  port: 1337,
  app: {
    keys: env.array('APP_KEYS', ['yourKey1', 'yourKey2']),
  },
});

Environment-specific configuration allows developers to test features
safely without impacting production systems.

Customizing Strapi in Development Mode

Development mode opens the door to extensive customization. Some of the
most common development‑time modifications include:

1. Extending Controllers

Strapi allows you to override and extend default logic:

module.exports = {
  async customAction(ctx) {
    ctx.send('Custom logic executed');
  },
};

2. Extending Services

module.exports = () => ({
  customServiceLogic() {
    return 'Service logic executed';
  },
});

3. Modifying Routes

module.exports = {
  routes: [
    {
      method: 'GET',
      path: '/custom',
      handler: 'custom-controller.customAction',
    },
  ],
};

4. Installing Plugins

Common plugins used in development: - GraphQL - Users & Permissions -
Email - Upload (local or cloud storage) - Internationalization (i18n)

Running Strapi in development mode ensures plugins install and integrate
properly before moving to production.

Testing API Endpoints While in Development Mode

Strapi automatically generates REST and GraphQL endpoints based on your
content types.

Testing REST API

You can test endpoints using tools like: - Postman - Insomnia - Thunder
Client - cURL

Example:

GET http://localhost:1337/api/articles

Testing GraphQL

If GraphQL plugin is installed:

http://localhost:1337/graphql

Development mode enables you to quickly test and debug responses as you
build.

Using Strapi with Frontend Frameworks in Development Mode

Because Strapi is headless, it works well with: - React - Next.js -
Vue - Nuxt.js - Angular - Svelte - Mobile apps (Flutter, React Native)

While in development mode, developers typically run Strapi on port
1337 and their frontend on another port such as 3000, setting
CORS rules accordingly.

Example CORS Settings

module.exports = {
  settings: {
    cors: {
      enabled: true,
      origin: ['http://localhost:3000'],
    },
  },
};

This ensures smooth communication between frontend and backend during
development.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting When Running Strapi in Development Mode

Even with a stable system like Strapi, developers may encounter issues
during setup or local development.

1. Port Already in Use

Error:

Error: listen EADDRINUSE: address already in use 1337

Fix:

killall node

Or change port in server.js.

2. Database Connection Errors

Ensure the database credentials match your environment settings.

3. Admin Panel Not Loading

Try:

npm run build
npm run develop

4. Missing Permissions

Set proper file permissions, especially on Linux or macOS.

5. Hot Reload Not Working

Restart the server:

npm run develop

Development mode is quite stable, and most issues resolve easily with
proper configuration.

Best Practices When Running Strapi in Development Mode

Following best practices ensures a smooth workflow and reduces future
issues.

Use Git Version Control

Always commit: - API extensions - Content type schema files -
Configurations

Avoid Hard‑Coding Secrets

Use .env files for: - API keys - Database credentials - JWT secrets

Test Content Types Carefully

Changes to models impact: - Endpoints - Relationships - Database
structure

Use Seed Data

Create development‑only seed scripts for testing.

Maintain Clean Folder Structure

Keep custom logic organized for easier scaling.

When to Switch From Development Mode to Production Mode

Development mode is perfect for building and testing, but production
mode is required when: - You deploy your application. - You need
optimized performance. - You want secure configurations.

Running Strapi in production requires:

npm run build
npm run start

You must also configure: - Production database hosting - Cloud storage
providers - HTTPS settings - Load balancing

Why Developers Prefer Strapi for API Development

Strapi remains one of the most popular headless CMS choices because it
offers: - Full customization - A powerful admin UI - Secure role‑based
access - Scalable architecture - Integration with any frontend - Rapid
development experience

Development mode contributes significantly to this convenience by
offering flexibility and real‑time testing.

Conclusion

Running Strapi in development mode is a straightforward yet essential
process for building powerful APIs and modern applications. From
hot‑reloading to environment-specific configurations and flexible
customization, Strapi empowers developers with everything they need for
a seamless workflow. Whether you're building traditional web
applications, modern headless projects, or mobile‑driven ecosystems,
Strapi makes backend development efficient and developer-friendly.

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