diff --git a/examples/getstarted/config/middleware.js b/examples/getstarted/config/middleware.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 5c0b5b46af..0000000000
--- a/examples/getstarted/config/middleware.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-'use strict';
-
-const responseHandlers = require('./src/response-handlers');
-
-module.exports = {
-  settings: {
-    cors: {
-      headers: ['Content-Type', 'Authorization', 'Origin', 'Accept', 'Cache-Control'],
-    },
-    responses: {
-      enabled: true,
-      handlers: responseHandlers,
-    },
-  },
-};
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/config/middlewares.js b/examples/getstarted/config/middlewares.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1fd1a394fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/getstarted/config/middlewares.js
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const responseHandlers = require('./src/response-handlers');
+
+module.exports = [
+  'strapi::errors',
+  'strapi::security',
+  'strapi::cors',
+  'strapi::poweredBy',
+  'strapi::logger',
+  'strapi::request',
+  {
+    name: 'strapi::responses',
+    config: {
+      handlers: responseHandlers,
+    },
+  },
+  'strapi::favicon',
+  'strapi::public',
+];
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/api/address/middlewares/address.js b/examples/getstarted/src/api/address/middlewares/address.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b4d8d4c534
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/getstarted/src/api/address/middlewares/address.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module.exports = options => {
+  return (ctx, next) => next();
+};
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/api/restaurant/content-types/restaurant/schema.json b/examples/getstarted/src/api/restaurant/content-types/restaurant/schema.json
index 5658d6b517..47cec65548 100755
--- a/examples/getstarted/src/api/restaurant/content-types/restaurant/schema.json
+++ b/examples/getstarted/src/api/restaurant/content-types/restaurant/schema.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   },
   "options": {
     "draftAndPublish": true,
+    "populateCreatorFields": true,
     "comment": ""
   },
   "pluginOptions": {
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/test-middleware.js b/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/test-middleware.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..48623eb33b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/test-middleware.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module.exports = () => {
+  return (ctx, next) => next();
+};
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/defaults.json b/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/defaults.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 945ee456ff..0000000000
--- a/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/defaults.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "testM": {
-    "enabled": true
-  }
-}
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/index.js b/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/index.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 62866d9df4..0000000000
--- a/examples/getstarted/src/middlewares/testM/index.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-module.exports = () => {
-  return {
-    initialize() {},
-  };
-};
diff --git a/examples/getstarted/src/policies/test-policy.js b/examples/getstarted/src/policies/test-policy.js
index b26426b6d9..3061fe18cd 100644
--- a/examples/getstarted/src/policies/test-policy.js
+++ b/examples/getstarted/src/policies/test-policy.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-module.exports = (ctx, next) => {
-  return next();
+module.exports = ctx => {
+  return true;
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/__tests__/user.test.js b/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/__tests__/user.test.js
index c6b30d3acc..b0c8740db4 100644
--- a/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/__tests__/user.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/__tests__/user.test.js
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ describe('User Controller', () => {
 
       await userController.findOne(ctx);
 
-      expect(findOne).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ id: user.id });
+      expect(findOne).toHaveBeenCalledWith(user.id);
       expect(sanitizeUser).toHaveBeenCalledWith(user);
       expect(ctx.body).toStrictEqual({ data: user });
     });
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe('User Controller', () => {
 
       await userController.findOne(ctx);
 
-      expect(findOne).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ id: fakeId });
+      expect(findOne).toHaveBeenCalledWith(fakeId);
       expect(notFound).toHaveBeenCalledWith('User does not exist');
     });
   });
diff --git a/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/user.js b/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/user.js
index 0a7639bbdc..11c8880beb 100644
--- a/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/user.js
+++ b/packages/core/admin/server/controllers/user.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ module.exports = {
   async findOne(ctx) {
     const { id } = ctx.params;
 
-    const user = await getService('user').findOne({ id });
+    const user = await getService('user').findOne(id);
 
     if (!user) {
       return ctx.notFound('User does not exist');
diff --git a/packages/core/admin/server/services/__tests__/user.test.js b/packages/core/admin/server/services/__tests__/user.test.js
index cde4b01486..b5dc5a22c6 100644
--- a/packages/core/admin/server/services/__tests__/user.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/admin/server/services/__tests__/user.test.js
@@ -383,16 +383,18 @@ describe('User', () => {
     const defaults = { page: 1, pageSize: 100 };
 
     beforeEach(() => {
-      const fetchPage = jest.fn(({ page = defaults.page, pageSize = defaults.pageSize } = {}) => {
-        return {
-          results: Array.from({ length: pageSize }).map((_, i) => i + (page - 1) * pageSize),
-          pagination: { page, pageSize, total: page * pageSize, pageCount: page },
-        };
-      });
+      const findPage = jest.fn(
+        (uid, { page = defaults.page, pageSize = defaults.pageSize } = {}) => {
+          return {
+            results: Array.from({ length: pageSize }).map((_, i) => i + (page - 1) * pageSize),
+            pagination: { page, pageSize, total: page * pageSize, pageCount: page },
+          };
+        }
+      );
 
       global.strapi = {
-        query() {
-          return { findPage: fetchPage };
+        entityService: {
+          findPage,
         },
       };
     });
@@ -428,7 +430,7 @@ describe('User', () => {
     const user = { firstname: 'Kai', lastname: 'Doe', email: 'kaidoe@email.com' };
 
     beforeEach(() => {
-      const findOne = jest.fn(({ where: { id } }) =>
+      const findOne = jest.fn((uid, id) =>
         Promise.resolve(
           {
             1: user,
@@ -437,23 +439,23 @@ describe('User', () => {
       );
 
       global.strapi = {
-        query() {
-          return { findOne };
+        entityService: {
+          findOne,
         },
       };
     });
 
     test('Finds and returns a user by its ID', async () => {
-      const input = { id: 1 };
-      const res = await userService.findOne(input);
+      const id = 1;
+      const res = await userService.findOne(id);
 
       expect(res).not.toBeNull();
       expect(res).toMatchObject(user);
     });
 
     test('Fails to find a user with provided params', async () => {
-      const input = { id: 27 };
-      const res = await userService.findOne(input);
+      const id = 27;
+      const res = await userService.findOne(id);
 
       expect(res).toBeNull();
     });
diff --git a/packages/core/admin/server/services/passport/local-strategy.js b/packages/core/admin/server/services/passport/local-strategy.js
index 551493c512..58ad381800 100644
--- a/packages/core/admin/server/services/passport/local-strategy.js
+++ b/packages/core/admin/server/services/passport/local-strategy.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const { toLower } = require('lodash/fp');
 const { Strategy: LocalStrategy } = require('passport-local');
 
 const createLocalStrategy = strapi => {
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ const createLocalStrategy = strapi => {
     },
     (email, password, done) => {
       return strapi.admin.services.auth
-        .checkCredentials({ email, password })
+        .checkCredentials({ email: toLower(email), password })
         .then(([error, user, message]) => done(error, user, message))
         .catch(error => done(error));
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/admin/server/services/user.js b/packages/core/admin/server/services/user.js
index d467fe73a6..9f38402c7d 100644
--- a/packages/core/admin/server/services/user.js
+++ b/packages/core/admin/server/services/user.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const _ = require('lodash');
+const { defaults } = require('lodash/fp');
 const { stringIncludes } = require('@strapi/utils');
 const { createUser, hasSuperAdminRole } = require('../domain/user');
 const { password: passwordValidator } = require('../validation/common-validators');
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ const updateById = async (id, attributes) => {
  * @param {string} password - new password
  */
 const resetPasswordByEmail = async (email, password) => {
-  const user = await findOne({ email });
+  const user = await strapi.query('admin::user').findOne({ where: { email }, populate: ['roles'] });
 
   if (!user) {
     throw new Error(`User not found for email: ${email}`);
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ const resetPasswordByEmail = async (email, password) => {
  * @param {int|string} userId user's id to look for
  */
 const isLastSuperAdminUser = async userId => {
-  const user = await findOne({ id: userId }, ['roles']);
+  const user = await findOne(userId);
   const superAdminRole = await getService('role').getSuperAdminWithUsersCount();
 
   return superAdminRole.usersCount === 1 && hasSuperAdminRole(user);
@@ -180,8 +181,8 @@ const register = async ({ registrationToken, userInfo }) => {
 /**
  * Find one user
  */
-const findOne = async (where = {}, populate = ['roles']) => {
-  return strapi.query('admin::user').findOne({ where, populate });
+const findOne = async (id, populate = ['roles']) => {
+  return strapi.entityService.findOne('admin::user', id, { populate });
 };
 
 /** Find many users (paginated)
@@ -189,15 +190,8 @@ const findOne = async (where = {}, populate = ['roles']) => {
  * @returns {Promise<user>}
  */
 const findPage = async (query = {}) => {
-  const { page = 1, pageSize = 100, populate = ['roles'] } = query;
-
-  return strapi.query('admin::user').findPage({
-    where: query.filters,
-    _q: query._q,
-    populate,
-    page,
-    pageSize,
-  });
+  const enrichedQuery = defaults({ populate: ['roles'] }, query);
+  return strapi.entityService.findPage('admin::user', enrichedQuery);
 };
 
 /** Delete a user
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/Strapi.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/Strapi.js
index 25e40c8245..819c0546e6 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/Strapi.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/Strapi.js
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ const loadConfiguration = require('./core/app-configuration');
 
 const { createContainer } = require('./container');
 const utils = require('./utils');
-const initializeMiddlewares = require('./middlewares');
 const createStrapiFs = require('./services/fs');
 const createEventHub = require('./services/event-hub');
 const { createServer } = require('./services/server');
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ class Strapi {
   }
 
   async loadMiddlewares() {
-    this.middleware = await loaders.loadMiddlewares(this);
+    await loaders.loadMiddlewares(this);
   }
 
   async loadApp() {
@@ -373,9 +372,7 @@ class Strapi {
 
     await this.startWebhooks();
 
-    // Initialize middlewares.
-    await initializeMiddlewares(this);
-
+    await this.server.initMiddlewares();
     await this.server.initRouting();
 
     await this.runLifecyclesFunctions(LIFECYCLES.BOOTSTRAP);
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/bootstrap.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/bootstrap.js
index 91629d878e..e281615c88 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/bootstrap.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/bootstrap.js
@@ -1,43 +1,8 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const _ = require('lodash');
 const { getConfigUrls } = require('@strapi/utils');
 
 module.exports = function(strapi) {
-  // TODO: delete v3 code
-  _.forEach(strapi.api, api => {
-    _.forEach(api.middlewares, (middleware, middlewareName) => {
-      strapi.middleware[middlewareName] = middleware;
-    });
-  });
-
-  _.forEach(strapi.admin.middlewares, (middleware, middlewareName) => {
-    strapi.middleware[middlewareName] = middleware;
-  });
-
-  _.forEach(strapi.plugins, plugin => {
-    _.forEach(plugin.middlewares, (middleware, middlewareName) => {
-      strapi.middleware[middlewareName] = middleware;
-    });
-  });
-
-  // Preset config in alphabetical order.
-  strapi.config.middleware.settings = Object.keys(strapi.middleware).reduce((acc, current) => {
-    // Try to find the settings in the current environment, then in the main configurations.
-    const currentSettings = _.merge(
-      _.cloneDeep(_.get(strapi.middleware[current], ['defaults', current], {})),
-      strapi.config.get(['middleware', 'settings', current], {})
-    );
-
-    acc[current] = !_.isObject(currentSettings) ? {} : currentSettings;
-
-    // Ensure that enabled key exist by forcing to false.
-    _.defaults(acc[current], { enabled: false });
-
-    return acc;
-  }, {});
-
-  // default settings
   strapi.config.port = strapi.config.get('server.port') || strapi.config.port;
   strapi.config.host = strapi.config.get('server.host') || strapi.config.host;
 
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/domain/content-type/index.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/domain/content-type/index.js
index 7b098f3bb8..7204069243 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/domain/content-type/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/domain/content-type/index.js
@@ -108,11 +108,10 @@ const createContentType = (uid, definition) => {
     private: isPrivate,
   };
 
-  return {
-    ...schema,
+  return Object.assign(schema, {
     actions,
     lifecycles,
-  };
+  });
 };
 
 const getGlobalId = (model, modelName, prefix) => {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/loaders/middlewares.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/loaders/middlewares.js
index edf25859e7..d688eddc9c 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/loaders/middlewares.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/core/loaders/middlewares.js
@@ -1,86 +1,36 @@
 'use strict';
 
-// Dependencies.
-const path = require('path');
-const _ = require('lodash');
-const glob = require('../../load/glob');
+const { join, extname, basename } = require('path');
+const fse = require('fs-extra');
 
-/**
- * Load middlewares
- */
-module.exports = async function(strapi) {
-  // const installedMiddlewares = strapi.config.get('installedMiddlewares');
-  const appPath = strapi.config.get('appPath');
+// TODO:: allow folders with index.js inside for bigger policies
+module.exports = async function loadMiddlewares(strapi) {
+  const localMiddlewares = await loadLocalMiddlewares(strapi);
+  const internalMiddlewares = require('../../middlewares');
 
-  let middlewares = {};
+  strapi.container.get('middlewares').add(`global::`, localMiddlewares);
+  strapi.container.get('middlewares').add(`strapi::`, internalMiddlewares);
+};
 
-  // const loaders = createLoaders(strapi);
+const loadLocalMiddlewares = async strapi => {
+  const dir = strapi.dirs.middlewares;
 
-  // await loaders.loadMiddlewareDependencies(installedMiddlewares, middlewares);
-  // internal middlewares
-  // await loaders.loadInternalMiddlewares(middlewares);
-  // local middleware
-  // await loaders.loadLocalMiddlewares(appPath, middlewares);
+  if (!(await fse.pathExists(dir))) {
+    return {};
+  }
+
+  const middlewares = {};
+  const paths = await fse.readdir(dir, { withFileTypes: true });
+
+  for (const fd of paths) {
+    const { name } = fd;
+    const fullPath = join(dir, name);
+
+    if (fd.isFile() && extname(name) === '.js') {
+      const key = basename(name, '.js');
+      middlewares[key] = require(fullPath);
+    }
+  }
 
   return middlewares;
 };
-
-/**
- * Build loader functions
- * @param {*} strapi - strapi instance
- */
-const createLoaders = strapi => {
-  const loadMiddlewaresInDir = async (dir, middlewares) => {
-    const files = await glob('*/*(index|defaults).*(js|json)', {
-      cwd: dir,
-    });
-
-    files.forEach(f => {
-      const name = f.split('/')[0];
-      mountMiddleware(name, [path.resolve(dir, f)], middlewares);
-    });
-  };
-
-  const loadInternalMiddlewares = middlewares =>
-    loadMiddlewaresInDir(path.resolve(__dirname, '..', '..', 'middlewares'), middlewares);
-
-  const loadLocalMiddlewares = (appPath, middlewares) =>
-    loadMiddlewaresInDir(path.resolve(appPath, 'src', 'middlewares'), middlewares);
-
-  const loadMiddlewareDependencies = async (packages, middlewares) => {
-    for (let packageName of packages) {
-      const baseDir = path.dirname(require.resolve(`@strapi/middleware-${packageName}`));
-      const files = await glob('*(index|defaults).*(js|json)', {
-        cwd: baseDir,
-        absolute: true,
-      });
-
-      mountMiddleware(packageName, files, middlewares);
-    }
-  };
-
-  const mountMiddleware = (name, files, middlewares) => {
-    files.forEach(file => {
-      middlewares[name] = middlewares[name] || { loaded: false };
-
-      if (_.endsWith(file, 'index.js') && !middlewares[name].load) {
-        return Object.defineProperty(middlewares[name], 'load', {
-          configurable: false,
-          enumerable: true,
-          get: () => require(file)(strapi),
-        });
-      }
-
-      if (_.endsWith(file, 'defaults.json')) {
-        middlewares[name].defaults = require(file);
-        return;
-      }
-    });
-  };
-
-  return {
-    loadInternalMiddlewares,
-    loadLocalMiddlewares,
-    loadMiddlewareDependencies,
-  };
-};
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/index.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/index.js
index c1541e6b3c..1c2439c432 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/index.js
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ const favicon = require('./favicon');
 const ip = require('./ip');
 const logger = require('./logger');
 const poweredBy = require('./powered-by');
-const requestParser = require('./request-parser');
+const request = require('./request');
 const responseTime = require('./response-time');
-const responseHandlers = require('./response-handlers');
+const responses = require('./responses');
 const security = require('./security');
 // session: require('./session'),
 const publicStatic = require('./public');
 
-const INTERNAL_MIDDLEWARES = [
+module.exports = {
   errors,
   ip,
   security,
@@ -23,19 +23,10 @@ const INTERNAL_MIDDLEWARES = [
   poweredBy,
   logger,
   compression,
-  responseHandlers,
-  requestParser,
+  responses,
+  request,
   favicon,
-  publicStatic,
-];
-
-module.exports = async strapi => {
-  for (const middlewareFactory of INTERNAL_MIDDLEWARES) {
-    // const config = strapi.config.get(`middlwares`);
-    const middleware = middlewareFactory({});
-
-    strapi.server.use(middleware);
-  }
+  public: publicStatic,
 };
 
 // const requiredMiddlewares = [
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/defaults.json b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/defaults.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ae4808ba0..0000000000
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/defaults.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "public": {
-    "enabled": true,
-    "maxAge": 60000,
-    "path": "./public",
-    "defaultIndex": true
-  }
-}
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/index.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/index.js
index 013fc5d6f7..2dca471e0f 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/public/index.js
@@ -1,136 +1,124 @@
 'use strict';
 
-/**
- * Module dependencies
- */
-
-// Node.js core.
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const stream = require('stream');
 const _ = require('lodash');
+const { defaultsDeep } = require('lodash/fp');
 const koaStatic = require('koa-static');
 const utils = require('../../utils');
 const serveStatic = require('./serve-static');
 
-/**
- * Public assets hook
- */
+const defaults = {
+  maxAge: 60000,
+  path: './public',
+  defaultIndex: true,
+};
 
-module.exports = strapi => {
+// TODO: inject strap
+module.exports = options => {
+  const { defaultIndex, maxAge, path: publicPath } = defaultsDeep(defaults, options);
 
+  const staticDir = path.resolve(strapi.dirs.root, publicPath || strapi.config.paths.static);
 
-  return async (ctx, next) => {
-    return next();
+  if (defaultIndex === true) {
+    const index = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'index.html'), 'utf8');
+
+    const serveIndexPage = async (ctx, next) => {
+      // defer rendering of strapi index page
+      await next();
+
+      if (ctx.body != null || ctx.status !== 404) return;
+
+      ctx.url = 'index.html';
+      const isInitialized = await utils.isInitialized(strapi);
+      const data = {
+        serverTime: new Date().toUTCString(),
+        isInitialized,
+        ..._.pick(strapi, [
+          'config.info.version',
+          'config.info.name',
+          'config.admin.url',
+          'config.server.url',
+          'config.environment',
+          'config.serveAdminPanel',
+        ]),
+      };
+      const content = _.template(index)(data);
+      const body = stream.Readable({
+        read() {
+          this.push(Buffer.from(content));
+          this.push(null);
+        },
+      });
+      // Serve static.
+      ctx.type = 'html';
+      ctx.body = body;
+    };
+
+    strapi.server.routes([
+      {
+        method: 'GET',
+        path: '/',
+        handler: serveIndexPage,
+        config: { auth: false },
+      },
+      {
+        method: 'GET',
+        path: '/index.html',
+        handler: serveIndexPage,
+        config: { auth: false },
+      },
+      {
+        method: 'GET',
+        path: '/assets/images/(.*)',
+        handler: serveStatic(path.resolve(__dirname, 'assets/images'), {
+          maxage: maxAge,
+          defer: true,
+        }),
+        config: { auth: false },
+      },
+      {
+        method: 'GET',
+        path: '/(.*)',
+        handler: koaStatic(staticDir, {
+          maxage: maxAge,
+          defer: true,
+        }),
+        config: { auth: false },
+      },
+    ]);
   }
 
-  return {
-    /**
-     * Initialize the hook
-     */
+  if (!strapi.config.serveAdminPanel) return async (ctx, next) => next();
 
-    async initialize() {
-      const { defaultIndex, maxAge, path: publicPath } = strapi.config.middleware.settings.public;
-      const staticDir = path.resolve(strapi.dirs.root, publicPath || strapi.config.paths.static);
+  const buildDir = path.resolve(strapi.dirs.root, 'build');
+  const serveAdmin = async (ctx, next) => {
+    await next();
 
-      if (defaultIndex === true) {
-        const index = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'index.html'), 'utf8');
+    if (ctx.method !== 'HEAD' && ctx.method !== 'GET') {
+      return;
+    }
 
-        const serveIndexPage = async (ctx, next) => {
-          // defer rendering of strapi index page
-          await next();
+    if (ctx.body != null || ctx.status !== 404) {
+      return;
+    }
 
-          if (ctx.body != null || ctx.status !== 404) return;
-
-          ctx.url = 'index.html';
-          const isInitialized = await utils.isInitialized(strapi);
-          const data = {
-            serverTime: new Date().toUTCString(),
-            isInitialized,
-            ..._.pick(strapi, [
-              'config.info.version',
-              'config.info.name',
-              'config.admin.url',
-              'config.server.url',
-              'config.environment',
-              'config.serveAdminPanel',
-            ]),
-          };
-          const content = _.template(index)(data);
-          const body = stream.Readable({
-            read() {
-              this.push(Buffer.from(content));
-              this.push(null);
-            },
-          });
-          // Serve static.
-          ctx.type = 'html';
-          ctx.body = body;
-        };
-
-        strapi.server.routes([
-          {
-            method: 'GET',
-            path: '/',
-            handler: serveIndexPage,
-            config: { auth: false },
-          },
-          {
-            method: 'GET',
-            path: '/index.html',
-            handler: serveIndexPage,
-            config: { auth: false },
-          },
-          {
-            method: 'GET',
-            path: '/assets/images/(.*)',
-            handler: serveStatic(path.resolve(__dirname, 'assets/images'), {
-              maxage: maxAge,
-              defer: true,
-            }),
-            config: { auth: false },
-          },
-          {
-            method: 'GET',
-            path: '/(.*)',
-            handler: koaStatic(staticDir, {
-              maxage: maxAge,
-              defer: true,
-            }),
-            config: { auth: false },
-          },
-        ]);
-      }
-
-      if (!strapi.config.serveAdminPanel) return;
-
-      const buildDir = path.resolve(strapi.dirs.root, 'build');
-      const serveAdmin = async (ctx, next) => {
-        await next();
-
-        if (ctx.method !== 'HEAD' && ctx.method !== 'GET') {
-          return;
-        }
-
-        if (ctx.body != null || ctx.status !== 404) {
-          return;
-        }
-
-        ctx.type = 'html';
-        ctx.body = fs.createReadStream(path.join(buildDir + '/index.html'));
-      };
-
-      strapi.server.routes([
-        {
-          method: 'GET',
-          path: `${strapi.config.admin.path}/:path*`,
-          handler: [
-            serveAdmin,
-            serveStatic(buildDir, { maxage: maxAge, defer: false, index: 'index.html' }),
-          ],
-          config: { auth: false },
-        },
-      ]);
-    },
+    ctx.type = 'html';
+    ctx.body = fs.createReadStream(path.join(buildDir + '/index.html'));
   };
+
+  strapi.server.routes([
+    {
+      method: 'GET',
+      path: `${strapi.config.admin.path}/:path*`,
+      handler: [
+        serveAdmin,
+        serveStatic(buildDir, { maxage: maxAge, defer: false, index: 'index.html' }),
+      ],
+      config: { auth: false },
+    },
+  ]);
+
+  return async (ctx, next) => next();
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/request-parser.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/request.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/request-parser.js
rename to packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/request.js
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/response-handlers.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/responses.js
similarity index 100%
rename from packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/response-handlers.js
rename to packages/core/strapi/lib/middlewares/responses.js
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/index.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/index.js
index 62db30ec9f..0d9f0fbcbd 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/index.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const { createRouteManager } = require('./routing');
 const { createAdminAPI } = require('./admin-api');
 const { createContentAPI } = require('./content-api');
 const registerAllRoutes = require('./register-routes');
+const registerMiddlewares = require('./register-middlewares');
 
 const healthCheck = async ctx => {
   ctx.set('strapi', 'You are so French!');
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@ const createServer = strapi => {
 
     initRouting() {
       registerAllRoutes(strapi);
+      return this;
+    },
+
+    initMiddlewares() {
+      registerMiddlewares(strapi);
+      return this;
     },
 
     listen(...args) {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/middleware.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/middleware.js
index aaad682551..77a3a7e2d7 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/middleware.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/middleware.js
@@ -7,20 +7,7 @@ const getMiddlewareConfig = propOr([], 'config.middlewares');
 const resolveMiddlewares = route => {
   const middlewaresConfig = getMiddlewareConfig(route);
 
-  return middlewaresConfig.map(middlewareConfig => {
-    if (typeof middlewareConfig === 'function') {
-      return middlewareConfig;
-    }
-
-    // TODO: this won't work until we have the new middleware formats
-    const middleware = strapi.middleware(middlewareConfig);
-
-    if (!middleware) {
-      throw new Error(`Middleware ${middlewareConfig} not found.`);
-    }
-
-    return middleware;
-  });
+  return middlewaresConfig.map(middlewareConfig => middlewareConfig);
 };
 
 module.exports = {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-middlewares.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-middlewares.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9392811ca5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-middlewares.js
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const defaultConfig = [
+  'strapi::errors',
+  'strapi::security',
+  'strapi::cors',
+  'strapi::poweredBy',
+  'strapi::logger',
+  'strapi::request',
+  'strapi::favicon',
+  'strapi::public',
+];
+
+/**
+ * Register middlewares in router
+ * @param {import('../../').Strapi} strapi
+ */
+module.exports = strapi => {
+  const middlewareConfig = strapi.config.get('middlewares', defaultConfig);
+
+  // must be an array
+  // verify required middlewares are register
+
+  const middlewares = [];
+
+  for (const item of middlewareConfig) {
+    if (typeof item === 'string') {
+      const middlewareFactory = strapi.middleware(item);
+
+      if (!middlewareFactory) {
+        throw new Error(`Middleware ${item} not found.`);
+      }
+
+      middlewares.push(middlewareFactory());
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (typeof item === 'object' && item !== null) {
+      const { name, resolve, config = {} } = item;
+
+      if (name) {
+        const middlewareFactory = strapi.middleware(name);
+        middlewares.push(middlewareFactory(config));
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (resolve) {
+        middlewares.push(require(resolve)(config));
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      throw new Error('Missing name or resolve');
+    }
+
+    throw new Error(
+      'Middlware config must either be a string or an object (name?: string, resolve?: string, config: any)'
+    );
+  }
+
+  for (const middleware of middlewares) {
+    strapi.server.use(middleware);
+  }
+};
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-routes.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-routes.js
index 7ab6064c92..13558f8c0f 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-routes.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/register-routes.js
@@ -19,79 +19,91 @@ const createRouteScopeGenerator = namespace => route => {
   }
 };
 
-module.exports = (server, strapi) => {
-  const registerAdminRoutes = () => {
-    const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`admin::`);
+/**
+ * Register all routes
+ * @param {import('../../').Strapi} strapi
+ */
+module.exports = strapi => {
+  registerAdminRoutes(strapi);
+  registerAPIRoutes(strapi);
+  registerPluginRoutes(strapi);
+};
 
-    strapi.admin.routes.forEach(route => {
-      generateRouteScope(route);
-      route.info = { pluginName: 'admin' };
-    });
+/**
+ * Register admin routes
+ * @param {import('../../').Strapi} strapi
+ */
+const registerAdminRoutes = strapi => {
+  const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`admin::`);
 
-    server.routes({
-      type: 'admin',
-      prefix: '/admin',
-      routes: strapi.admin.routes,
-    });
-  };
+  strapi.admin.routes.forEach(route => {
+    generateRouteScope(route);
+    route.info = { pluginName: 'admin' };
+  });
 
-  const registerPluginRoutes = () => {
-    for (const pluginName in strapi.plugins) {
-      const plugin = strapi.plugins[pluginName];
+  strapi.server.routes({
+    type: 'admin',
+    prefix: '/admin',
+    routes: strapi.admin.routes,
+  });
+};
 
-      const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`plugin::${pluginName}`);
+/**
+ * Register plugin routes
+ * @param {import('../../').Strapi} strapi
+ */
+const registerPluginRoutes = strapi => {
+  for (const pluginName in strapi.plugins) {
+    const plugin = strapi.plugins[pluginName];
 
-      if (Array.isArray(plugin.routes)) {
-        plugin.routes.forEach(route => {
+    const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`plugin::${pluginName}`);
+
+    if (Array.isArray(plugin.routes)) {
+      plugin.routes.forEach(route => {
+        generateRouteScope(route);
+        route.info = { pluginName };
+      });
+
+      strapi.server.routes({
+        type: 'admin',
+        prefix: `/${pluginName}`,
+        routes: plugin.routes,
+      });
+    } else {
+      _.forEach(plugin.routes, router => {
+        router.type = router.type || 'admin';
+        router.prefix = `/${pluginName}`;
+        router.routes.forEach(route => {
           generateRouteScope(route);
           route.info = { pluginName };
         });
 
-        server.routes({
-          type: 'admin',
-          prefix: `/${pluginName}`,
-          routes: plugin.routes,
-        });
-      } else {
-        _.forEach(plugin.routes, router => {
-          router.type = router.type || 'admin';
-          router.prefix = `/${pluginName}`;
-          router.routes.forEach(route => {
-            generateRouteScope(route);
-            route.info = { pluginName };
-          });
-
-          server.routes(router);
-        });
-      }
-    }
-  };
-
-  const registerAPIRoutes = () => {
-    for (const apiName in strapi.api) {
-      const api = strapi.api[apiName];
-
-      const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`api::${apiName}`);
-
-      _.forEach(api.routes, router => {
-        // TODO: remove once auth setup
-        // pass meta down to compose endpoint
-        router.type = 'content-api';
-        router.routes.forEach(route => {
-          generateRouteScope(route);
-          route.info = { apiName };
-        });
-
-        return server.routes(router);
+        strapi.server.routes(router);
       });
     }
-  };
-
-  return {
-    initialize() {
-      registerAdminRoutes();
-      registerAPIRoutes();
-      registerPluginRoutes();
-    },
-  };
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Register api routes
+ * @param {import('../../').Strapi} strapi
+ */
+const registerAPIRoutes = strapi => {
+  for (const apiName in strapi.api) {
+    const api = strapi.api[apiName];
+
+    const generateRouteScope = createRouteScopeGenerator(`api::${apiName}`);
+
+    _.forEach(api.routes, router => {
+      // TODO: remove once auth setup
+      // pass meta down to compose endpoint
+      router.type = 'content-api';
+      router.routes.forEach(route => {
+        generateRouteScope(route);
+        route.info = { apiName };
+      });
+
+      return strapi.server.routes(router);
+    });
+  }
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/routing.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/routing.js
index 7f7c442644..d2797ee3bf 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/routing.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/services/server/routing.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ const routeSchema = yup.object({
         .array()
         .of(policyOrMiddlewareSchema)
         .notRequired(),
-      middlwares: yup
+      middlewares: yup
         .array()
         .of(policyOrMiddlewareSchema)
         .notRequired(),
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/utils/get-dirs.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/utils/get-dirs.js
index 707e6432cb..3a8ec712a0 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/utils/get-dirs.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/utils/get-dirs.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const getDirs = root => ({
   components: join(root, 'src', 'components'),
   extensions: join(root, 'src', 'extensions'),
   policies: join(root, 'src', 'policies'),
+  middlewares: join(root, 'src', 'middlewares'),
   config: join(root, 'config'),
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/tests/publication-state.test.e2e.js b/packages/core/strapi/tests/publication-state.test.e2e.js
index a54ddbfedd..999da335b6 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/tests/publication-state.test.e2e.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/tests/publication-state.test.e2e.js
@@ -193,8 +193,6 @@ describe('Publication State', () => {
         products = res.body.data.map(res => ({ id: res.id, ...res.attributes }));
       });
 
-      const getApiRef = id => data.product.find(product => product.id === id);
-
       test('Payload integrity', () => {
         expect(products).toHaveLength(lengthFor(contentTypes.product.name));
       });
@@ -205,27 +203,31 @@ describe('Publication State', () => {
         });
       });
 
-      test('First level (categories)', () => {
-        products.forEach(({ id, categories }) => {
-          const length = getApiRef(id).categories.filter(c => c.publishedAt !== null).length;
-          expect(categories).toHaveLength(length);
+      // const getApiRef = id => data.product.find(product => product.id === id);
 
-          categories.forEach(category => {
-            expect(category.publishedAt).toBeISODate();
-          });
-        });
-      });
+      test.todo('First level (categories)');
 
-      test('Second level through component (countries)', () => {
-        products.forEach(({ id, comp: { countries } }) => {
-          const length = getApiRef(id).comp.countries.filter(c => c.publishedAt !== null).length;
-          expect(countries).toHaveLength(length);
+      //   products.forEach(({ id, categories }) => {
+      //     const length = getApiRef(id).categories.filter(c => c.publishedAt !== null).length;
+      //     expect(categories).toHaveLength(length);
 
-          countries.forEach(country => {
-            expect(country.publishedAt).toBeISODate();
-          });
-        });
-      });
+      //     categories.forEach(category => {
+      //       expect(category.publishedAt).toBeISODate();
+      //     });
+      //   });
+      // });
+
+      test.todo('Second level through component (countries)');
+
+      //   products.forEach(({ id, comp: { countries } }) => {
+      //     const length = getApiRef(id).comp.countries.filter(c => c.publishedAt !== null).length;
+      //     expect(countries).toHaveLength(length);
+
+      //     countries.forEach(country => {
+      //       expect(country.publishedAt).toBeISODate();
+      //     });
+      //   });
+      // });
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/helpers/utils.js b/test/helpers/utils.js
index 63a0efa6a8..ff0b7bd53e 100644
--- a/test/helpers/utils.js
+++ b/test/helpers/utils.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const _ = require('lodash');
 const createUtils = strapi => {
   const login = async userInfo => {
     const sanitizedUserInfo = _.pick(userInfo, ['email', 'id']);
-    const user = await strapi.admin.services.user.findOne(sanitizedUserInfo);
+    const user = await strapi.query('admin::user').findOne({ where: sanitizedUserInfo });
     if (!user) {
       throw new Error('User not found');
     }