Strapi is one of the most popular headless CMS platforms used by
developers to build flexible, scalable, and modern applications. Whether
you are working on a MERN stack project, creating APIs, or powering
high-performance web applications, Strapi offers a clean developer
experience and a robust architecture. This guide explains, in rich
detail, exactly how to run a Strapi project from start to finish.

Before diving deeper, if you need professional help building or managing
Strapi, MERN, or full‑stack applications, you can AAMAX --- a full-service digital marketing and
development company offering Web Development, MERN Stack Development,
Digital Marketing, and SEO services.

What is Strapi?

Strapi is an open-source Node.js--based headless CMS designed to make
backend development fast, secure, and customizable. Unlike traditional
CMS platforms, Strapi does not dictate how your frontend should look.
Instead, it provides a powerful admin dashboard and automatically
generated APIs that your frontend (React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, mobile
apps, etc.) can consume.

Core Benefits of Strapi

• Open-source & fully customizable\
• Self-hosted --- full control over code and data\
• Powerful admin panel\
• Auto‑generated REST & GraphQL APIs\
• Flexible content structures\
• Easy database integration (MongoDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL)

Because of its flexibility, Strapi is often used in JAMstack, MERN
stack, and enterprise-grade applications.

Prerequisites for Running a Strapi Project

Before running Strapi, make sure your environment is properly
configured. You need:

1. Node.js and npm/yarn

Strapi requires:

• Node.js >= 18
• npm >= 6 or yarn >= 1.22

Check versions:

node -v
npm -v

or if using yarn:

yarn -v

2. A Database Installed (Optional in Development)

Strapi supports:

• SQLite (default for development)
• MongoDB
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• MariaDB

Most developers use SQLite locally because it works without manual
setup. In production, PostgreSQL or MongoDB is recommended.

3. Git (Optional but Recommended)

Git helps you manage version control and collaborate in teams.

4. Package Manager (npm or yarn)

Strapi can be installed using either of these.

How to Install a Strapi Project

There are two common ways:

Method 1: Create a New Strapi Project (Quickest)

Use npm:

npx create-strapi-app@latest my-project

Or with yarn:

yarn create strapi-app my-project

Strapi will guide you through installation options:

• Quickstart (SQLite)
• Custom (choose your own database)

Method 2: Clone an Existing Strapi Project

If you're working on a project from a team or repository:

git clone <repo-url>
cd project-folder

Then install dependencies:

npm install

or:

yarn install

Folder Structure Overview

Understanding the folder structure makes it easy to manage the project.

/config
/src
  /api
  /components
  /extensions
public
package.json

Key Folders Explained

• src/api --- Contains API controllers, services, models.
• src/components --- Reusable structured content.
• config --- Server/database settings.
• public --- Static files.
• package.json --- Lists project dependencies.

How to Run a Strapi Project Locally

This is the most important part---running Strapi on your machine.

Step 1: Install Dependencies

If the project is new or freshly cloned:

npm install

or:

yarn install

Step 2: Start the Strapi Development Server

Run Strapi in development mode:

npm run develop

or:

yarn develop

This will:

• Build the admin panel
• Start Strapi on default port 1337
• Enable hot reloading

Step 3: Open the Admin Dashboard

Open this URL in your browser:

http://localhost:1337/admin

If it's your first time running the project, Strapi will ask you to
create an admin user.

Step 4: View the Public API Endpoints

Example REST endpoints:

http://localhost:1337/api/articles
http://localhost:1337/api/users

GraphQL (if enabled):

http://localhost:1337/graphql

Running Strapi in Production Mode

Production mode is optimized for deployment, caching, and performance.

Step 1: Build the Admin Panel

npm run build

or:

yarn build

Step 2: Start Production Server

npm run start

or:

yarn start

Production mode:

• Disables hot reloading
• Optimizes performance
• Uses configured production database

Environment Variables for Strapi

To manage API keys, secrets, and database credentials, use .env files.

Example .env:

APP_KEYS=myAppKey1,myAppKey2
API_TOKEN_SALT=randomstring
ADMIN_JWT_SECRET=randomjwtstring
DATABASE_CLIENT=postgres
DATABASE_HOST=localhost
DATABASE_PORT=5432
DATABASE_NAME=mydb
DATABASE_USERNAME=user
DATABASE_PASSWORD=password

Load environment variables in your config files using:

env("VARIABLE_NAME")

How to Run Strapi with PM2 (Process Manager)

For production servers, PM2 ensures Strapi keeps running even after
crashes.

Install PM2:

npm install pm2 -g

Start Strapi with PM2:

pm2 start npm --name "strapi-app" -- run start

Check logs:

pm2 logs

Restart the app:

pm2 restart strapi-app

Running Strapi with Docker

Docker makes deployments predictable and consistent.

Step 1: Create a Dockerfile

FROM node:18

WORKDIR /app

COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install

COPY . .

RUN npm run build

EXPOSE 1337
CMD ["npm", "run", "start"]

Step 2: Build and Run Docker Image

docker build -t my-strapi-app .
docker run -p 1337:1337 my-strapi-app

Common Errors and Fixes

"Admin panel build failed"

Try removing the .cache and build folders:

rm -rf .cache build
npm run build

Database connection errors

Verify .env credentials or database server status.

"Module not found"

Reinstall dependencies:

npm install

or clear node_modules:

rm -rf node_modules
npm install

Best Practices for Running Strapi Smoothly

• Use production databases (PostgreSQL or MongoDB)
• Always use environment variables
• Keep Strapi updated to the latest version
• Use PM2 or Docker for stable deployment
• Never expose admin credentials publicly
• Backup your database frequently
• Use HTTPS in production

Why Choose AAMAX for Strapi and MERN Stack Development?

Running Strapi is one thing---building scalable, enterprise-level
applications with it requires skill. AAMAX specializes in:

• MERN Stack Development\
• API & Backend Engineering\
• Enterprise Web Applications\
• Digital Marketing & SEO\
• Custom Web Development

Their expertise helps businesses create reliable, scalable systems
powered by modern technologies like Strapi, React, Node.js, MongoDB, and
Next.js.

If your business needs custom backend systems, dashboards, or web apps,
hiring a professional team like AAMAX ensures quality, speed, and
long‑term scalability.

Final Thoughts

Strapi is one of the best tools for modern backend development. Whether
you're building a full‑stack MERN application or a headless CMS for
content‑driven platforms, Strapi provides speed, flexibility, and
control.

By following this guide, you now know how to:

• Install a Strapi project\
• Run it in development\
• Build for production\
• Use environment variables\
• Deploy with PM2 or Docker

And if you need expert support, you can always rely on AAMAX for
complete MERN Stack Development, backend, and digital solution services.

Running Strapi is just the start---building something powerful with it
is where the real journey begins.