Wagtail Overview: Python's Most Prominent CMS

Content Management Systems have become increasingly popular among web developers and website users. Python's Django framework powers several CMS solutions, with Wagtail standing out as particularly prominent. Introduced in 2015 by Torchbox, Wagtail offers developers easy implementation, quick and flexible development, as well as powerful capabilities for building modern websites.

Overview

As of March 2022, Wagtail version 2.16 supported Django 3.2 and 4.0, along with Python 3.7-3.10. The system is praised for minimal configuration requirements, compatibility with Python packages, and straightforward templating. Notable organizations using Wagtail include NASA, Oxfam, Google, and Mozilla.

The Good

Setup requires just seven lines of code. Wagtail follows Django's project structure, making it familiar to existing Django developers. The admin panel is intuitive and clear. A standout feature is StreamField, which allows customized and limitless sequences of different blocks on page, enabling flexible content arrangement with minimal code.

The Bad

Wagtail demands more programming expertise than competitors like WordPress or Django CMS. Getting from setup to a fully functional site requires substantial development experience. Additionally, the community remains smaller than WordPress, limiting available tutorials and plugins despite recent growth.

The Pretty

Websites built with Wagtail demonstrate impressive visual quality. The system integrates seamlessly with Bootstrap and other frontend frameworks. Additional features include site localization, Elasticsearch integration, intelligent image cropping, and customizable form builders.

Summary

Wagtail represents an excellent modern choice for Python-based CMS projects, balancing simplicity with powerful functionality through features like StreamField.