
Composable architecture, also known as headless architecture, has been all the rage in web development for the past few years. It's a powerful and flexible way to build websites, allowing for greater customization, faster load times, and more efficient content management. But why does it seem like there are so many different names for this architecture? Let's take a look of some of the names used to describe composable architecture and try to make sense of it all.
First, there's "headless CMS." It's a simple and straightforward name that accurately describes what's going on - the content management system (CMS) is "headless," meaning it's not tied to a specific front-end or presentation layer. But then we have "decoupled CMS," "hybrid CMS," and "API-first CMS." Wait, what? Are we talking about the same thing here? Apparently, each of these names emphasizes a slightly different aspect of composable architecture, but it can be confusing for those who are new to the concept.


Next up, we have "JAMstack," which stands for "JavaScript, APIs, and Markup." This name is catchy and has a nice ring to it, but it doesn't necessarily convey that it's a composable architecture. Some people even use "static site generator" to describe JAMstack, which can be misleading. It's important to remember that JAMstack is just one way of implementing composable architecture, and not all composable architectures are JAMstack.
Then there are the names that sound like they belong in a sci-fi movie: "microservices," "serverless," "event-driven architecture." These names are certainly attention-grabbing, but they can also be intimidating to those who are less familiar with web development. It's important to remember that these are just technical terms used to describe specific aspects of composable architecture, and that they're not as complicated as they might sound.
So why do we have so many names for composable architecture? Well, it's a complex and multi-faceted concept, and different people and companies use different terminology to describe it. Additionally, the web development industry is always evolving, and new ideas and technologies are constantly being introduced. It's natural for there to be some confusion and disagreement about what to call things.
In the end, the most important thing is that we understand what composable architecture is and how it can benefit us. Whether we call it headless CMS, decoupled CMS, JAMstack, microservices, serverless, event-driven architecture, or something else entirely, the underlying idea is the same - creating a more flexible and efficient website by breaking it down into composable, interchangeable parts. So let's embrace the many names of composable architecture, and keep exploring this exciting and innovative way of building websites.
