Forestry.io to TinaCMS Migration Guide

Forestry.io was a Git-backed headless CMS for static site generators, enabling developers and content teams to edit site content visually while committing changes directly to Git repositories.

🚀 Overview

Forestry.io solved the challenge of content management for Jamstack and static websites by providing a user-friendly interface that integrates seamlessly with Git workflows, eliminating the need for databases or complex servers.

It was built for developers using static site generators (SSGs) like Gatsby, Hugo, Jekyll, Next.js, and Eleventy, as well as marketing teams needing easy editing access without technical expertise.

The project was created to empower static site users with CMS-like functionality while preserving Git version control, CI/CD pipelines, and site performance.

✨ Key Features

Git-sync for committing content changes directly to repository branches (essential for version-controlled updates).
Preview button to review edits in a separate window before committing (helps prevent errors).
Customizable sidebar and content models for tailored editing interfaces (flexible for any site structure).
Multi-user support with role-based access and organization accounts (great for teams).
Optional: VS Code integration for developers; integrations with Vercel, Netlify (streamlined deployments).

🛠 Tech Stack

Frontend: Custom React-based UI editor
Backend: Node.js with Git provider APIs (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
Database: Git repositories as content store
Auth: OAuth via Git providers
Hosting: SaaS platform (integrated with Vercel, Netlify, etc.)

👥 Who Is This For?

This project is useful for:

Developers who want a CMS for Jamstack/SSG sites without sacrificing Git workflows
Teams looking for collaborative content editing between devs and marketers
Indie makers building blogs, portfolios, or docs sites with static generators

📸 Screenshots / Demo

Live demo: https://forestry.io (now TinaCMS migration page)
GitHub: https://github.com/forestryio

🔥 Project Status

🔴 Paused

Last updated: 2023-04-21

❓ FAQ

Is this project free?

Freemium — Personal plan free ($0/mo, up to 3 sites, 3 users/site); Starter $29/mo (org accounts, more sites). Discontinued since 2023.

Is the source code available?

No — Closed-source SaaS product.

Can I contribute?

No longer accepting contributions as it's discontinued. The team shifted to TinaCMS (open-source); migrate there and contribute at https://github.com/tinacms/tinacms.