Payload CMS

Deploy your PayloadCMS applications with zero configuration and enterprise-grade performance. Our platform is specifically optimized for PayloadCMS architecture, delivering faster builds and better runtime performance than traditional hosting solutions.

Why sherpa.sh is Perfect for PayloadCMS

Optimized Node.js Performance for PayloadCMS

We’ve fine-tuned our infrastructure specifically for PayloadCMS’s Express.js architecture to deliver optimal performance:

PayloadCMS Performance Optimizations:

• Cold Start Elimination: Pre-warmed Node.js instances across regions
• Memory Optimization: 1GB-4GB+ containers with intelligent horizontal scaling behind a loadbalancer
• Smart caching: Where we autodetect admin view and non cachable API endpoints to ensure consistent FAST performance across both the client and admin experience.
• Database Optimization: Connection pooling for MongoDB/PostgreSQL
• Admin Panel Speed: Optimized static asset delivery for Payload admin UI

Performance Benchmarks:

# API response times (95th percentile)

sherpa.sh: 120ms average globally
PayloadCMS Cloud: 280ms average
Traditional VPS: 450ms average
Other serverless: 320ms average (with cold starts)

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Quick Start Guide

Get your PayloadCMS app live in under 5 minutes with our streamlined deployment process.

Prerequisites

• PayloadCMS 2.x project
• Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket)
• Node.js 18+ locally for development
• MongoDB or PostgreSQL database

Deployment Steps

1. Connect Repository: Link your Git repository to sherpa.sh
2. Auto-Detection: We automatically detect your PayloadCMS configuration
3. Database Setup: Configure your database connection string
4. Deploy: Push to your main branch triggers automatic deployment
5. Live: Your app is available at https://your-app.sherpa.software

Follow our Quickstart Steps for more details.

What You Get Instantly

• Zero Configuration: Works with your existing payload.config.ts
• Global CDN: Admin UI and API served from 200+ edge locations
• Automatic HTTPS: SSL certificates provisioned and renewed automatically
• Database Integration: Seamless MongoDB/PostgreSQL connections with our managed databases
• File Storage: Built-in media handling without S3 complexity
• Pay-per-Use: No idle costs - only pay for actual usage

Platform Optimizations

Automatic Configuration Enhancements

When you deploy to sherpa.sh, we automatically optimize your configuration for maximum performance:

payload.config.ts Optimizations:

// Your original config is preserved, but we enhance it:
export default buildConfig({
  serverURL: process.env.PAYLOAD_PUBLIC_SERVER_URL, // Auto-configured
  admin: {
    user: Users.slug,
    bundler: webpackBundler(),
    // Static assets automatically served from global CDN
  },
  collections: [
    Users,
    Media,
  ],
  typescript: {
    outputFile: path.resolve(__dirname, 'payload-types.ts'),
  },
  graphQL: {
    schemaOutputFile: path.resolve(__dirname, 'generated-schema.graphql'),
  },
  db: mongooseAdapter({
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URI, // Auto-configured from dashboard if selected
  }),
})

Environment Variables Set Automatically:

PORT=3000                                    # Standard runtime port
DATABASE_URI=your-database-connection        # From dashboard config
PAYLOAD_PUBLIC_SERVER_URL=https://your-app.sherpa.sh
NODE_ENV=production                          # Production optimizations

Performance Enhancements

Admin Panel Optimization:

PayloadCMS admin interface loads faster with our HTTP/2 infrastructure:

• Bundle Splitting: Admin UI chunks load in parallel
• Asset Caching: Long-term caching for unchanged admin assets
• GraphQL Optimization: Intelligent query caching and optimization

File Delivery Acceleration:

• Automatic CDN Integration: S3 files served globally with <50ms load times

Advanced Features

Database Management

Seamless integration with your preferred database:

MongoDB Setup:

// In your payload.config.ts
import { mongooseAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-mongodb'

export default buildConfig({
  db: mongooseAdapter({
    url: process.env.DATABASE_URI,
    // Connection pooling and optimization handled automatically
  }),
})

PostgreSQL Setup:

// In your payload.config.ts
import { postgresAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-postgres'

export default buildConfig({
  db: postgresAdapter({
    pool: {
      connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URI,
    }
  }),
})

Optimization Features:

• WebP/AVIF conversion for modern browsers
• Responsive sizing based on device
• Automatic compression without quality loss
• Global CDN delivery for all media files

Caching Strategy

Intelligent cache headers optimized for PayloadCMS:

# Automatic cache configuration
Cache-Control: public, max-age=31536000, immutable  # Static assets (admin UI)
Cache-Control: public, max-age=3600                 # Collection data (configurable)
Cache-Control: private, no-cache                    # Admin sessions
Cache-Control: no-store                             # Draft content

Developer Experience

Local Development Compatibility

Your local development workflow remains unchanged:

# Development (unchanged)
npm run dev

# Build locally (unchanged)
npm run build

# Deploy to sherpa.sh
git push origin main  # Triggers automatic deployment

Build Process Insights

Monitor your builds in real-time:

• Build Time: Typical PayloadCMS builds complete in 2-4 minutes
• Bundle Analysis: See which collections contribute to bundle size
• Database Migration: Automatic schema updates on deployment

Debugging & Monitoring

Real-time application monitoring:

• API Logs: Track collection queries and mutations
• Admin Activity: Monitor user login and content changes
• Error Tracking: Automatic error logging with stack traces
• Performance Metrics: Database query performance and response times

Configuration Examples

Custom Collections

Deploy complex PayloadCMS schemas without configuration issues:

// Complex collection with relationships
const Posts = {
  slug: 'posts',
  admin: {
    useAsTitle: 'title',
  },
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'title',
      type: 'text',
      required: true,
    },
    {
      name: 'content',
      type: 'richText',
    },
    {
      name: 'author',
      type: 'relationship',
      relationTo: 'users',
      required: true,
    },
    {
      name: 'featuredImage',
      type: 'upload',
      relationTo: 'media',
    },
  ],
}

Environment-Specific Configuration

// Different configs per environment
const config = buildConfig({
  admin: {
    user: Users.slug,
    meta: {
      titleSuffix: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? ' - CMS' : ' - Dev CMS'
    }
  },
})

Enterprise Features

Advanced Security

• SOC 2 Compliance: Enterprise-grade security controls
• Custom WAF Rules: Protect against CMS-specific threats
• DDoS Protection: Automatic traffic filtering and rate limiting
• Admin Access Control: IP whitelisting for admin panel access

Performance & Reliability

• 100% Uptime SLA: Guaranteed uptime with financial backing
• Database Backups: Automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery
• Horizontal Scaling: Auto-scale based on API traffic and admin usage
• Content Delivery: Global edge caching for collection data

Developer Support

• Dedicated Account Manager: Direct line to PayloadCMS experts
• Priority Support: <2 hour response time for critical issues
• Migration Assistance: Free migration from PayloadCMS Cloud
• Custom Integrations: Connect with your existing DevOps tools

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Build Failures:

# Check your payload.config.ts for syntax errors
npm run build

# Verify all dependencies are listed in package.json
npm install

Database Connection Issues:

# Verify DATABASE_URI environment variable
echo $DATABASE_URI

# Test connection locally
npm run payload migrate

Getting Help

• Documentation: Comprehensive guides at docs.sherpa.sh
• Community Support: Join our Discord
• Priority Tickets: Available for paid plans

Migration Guide

From PayloadCMS Cloud

The easiest way to migrate from PayloadCMS Cloud:

1. Export Data: Use Payload’s built-in export functionality
2. Follow Quickstart: Connect your existing repository
3. Import Data: Use Payload’s import functionality
4. Update DNS: Point your domain to sherpa.sh

From Self-Hosted

Key differences when migrating from self-hosted PayloadCMS:

• Remove Docker/PM2 configurations
• Environment variables managed in dashboard
• No need for reverse proxy setup (nginx/Apache)
• Automatic SSL certificate management
• Built-in file storage (no S3 configuration)

Next Steps

After deploying your first PayloadCMS app:

1. Custom Domain: Connect your domain in the dashboard
2. Environment Variables: Configure API keys and secrets
3. Team Access: Invite content editors with role-based permissions
4. Monitoring: Set up alerts for API performance and errors
5. Database Setup: Connect production MongoDB/PostgreSQL
6. Content Migration: Import existing content and media

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