Wix-managed headless projects can be created through code using the Wix CLI, through a visual UI using Wix Vibe, or a combination of both. This article helps you choose the right starting point for your workflow and directs you to the resources you need to get building.
There are 2 primary ways to start a Wix-managed headless project:
The Wix CLI is the right choice when you want full control over your code and prefer working in your own IDE. The CLI scaffolds a complete Astro-based project with automatic authentication, then you develop, test, and deploy through the command line.
To create a project:
Make sure you have Node.js v20.11.0 or higher and Git installed.
Run the following command:
The CLI then prompts you for the details it needs to set up your project.
Note: You can run the command non-interactively, which is especially useful for automated scripts and AI agents. To do so, pass the --project-name, --business-name, and --site-template flags, and separate them from npm's own arguments with --. Passing only some of these flags causes the CLI to error out or fall back to interactive prompts. For the full list of flags, see npm create @wix/new headless.
Follow the prompts to name your project, choose a template, and select a directory for your project files.
After the CLI finishes generating your project, navigate to your project directory and start the local development environment:
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see Quick Start a Headless Project in the CLI documentation.
Wix Vibe is the right choice when you want to get a project up and running without writing code, or when you want to explore ideas visually before committing to a code-based workflow.
With Vibe, you describe what you want to build using conversational prompts. Vibe generates a complete project with pages, components, and Wix business solution integrations. You can continue editing in the Vibe editor, or open the project locally and switch to CLI-based development at any time.
For details on working with Vibe, see About Wix Vibe.
When you create a project with the CLI, you can choose a starter template. For details on each template, including links to their source code, see Wix CLI for Headless Templates.
Once you've created your project, these resources help you continue: