diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b5234118f7..ae38024059 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ You now are able to use the Strapi CLI. Simply create your first application and
 $ strapi new <appName>
 ```
 
+Note that you can generate a dry application using the `dry` option:
+
+```bash
+$ strapi new <appName> --dry
+```
+
+This will generate a Strapi application without:
+
+- the built-in `user`, `email` and `upload` APIs,
+- the `grant` hook,
+- the open-source admin panel,
+- the Waterline ORM (`waterline` and `blueprints` hooks disabled),
+- the Strapi Studio connection (`studio` hook disabled).
+
+This feature allows you to only use Strapi for your HTTP server structure if you want to.
+
 ### Start your application
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/bin/strapi-new.js b/bin/strapi-new.js
index dbb7f1fc7c..71d86a997d 100755
--- a/bin/strapi-new.js
+++ b/bin/strapi-new.js
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ module.exports = function () {
     strapiPackageJSON: packageJSON
   };
 
+  // Save the `dry` option inside the scope.
+  if (scope.args[1] && scope.args[1].dry) {
+    scope.dry = true;
+  } else {
+    scope.dry = false;
+  }
+
   // Pass the original CLI arguments down to the generator
   // (but first, remove commander's extra argument)
   cliArguments.pop();
diff --git a/bin/strapi.js b/bin/strapi.js
index 030af9ffbc..e07bddfdf1 100755
--- a/bin/strapi.js
+++ b/bin/strapi.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ cmd = program.command('new');
 cmd.unknownOption = NOOP;
 cmd.description('create a new application ');
 cmd.action(require('./strapi-new'));
+cmd.option('-d, --dry', 'naked Strapi application');
 
 // `$ strapi start`
 cmd = program.command('start');
diff --git a/lib/Strapi.js b/lib/Strapi.js
index ffef8233d9..339f5a63d8 100755
--- a/lib/Strapi.js
+++ b/lib/Strapi.js
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ function Strapi() {
   // Mixin support for `Strapi.prototype.after()`.
   mixinAfter(this);
 
+  // Bind `this` context for all `Strapi.prototype.*` methods.
+  this.load = this.load.bind(this);
+  this.start = this.start.bind(this);
+  this.stop = this.stop.bind(this);
+  this.restart = this.restart.bind(this);
+  this.initialize = this.initialize.bind(this);
+  this.exposeGlobals = this.exposeGlobals.bind(this);
+  this.runBootstrap = this.runBootstrap.bind(this);
+  this.isLocalStrapiValid = this.isLocalStrapiValid.bind(this);
+  this.isStrapiAppSync = this.isStrapiAppSync.bind(this);
+
   // Expose `koa`.
   this.server = require('koa');
   this.app = require('koa')();
diff --git a/lib/configuration/hooks/_config/index.js b/lib/configuration/hooks/_config/index.js
index 1e77f79b6a..49306cfc61 100644
--- a/lib/configuration/hooks/_config/index.js
+++ b/lib/configuration/hooks/_config/index.js
@@ -116,8 +116,10 @@ module.exports = function (strapi) {
         // (aiming to not have issue with adapters when rebuilding the dictionary).
         // It's kind of messy, for now, but it works fine. If someone has a better
         // solution we'd be glad to accept a Pull Request.
-        const ormConfig = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.resolve(strapi.config.appPath, strapi.config.paths.config, 'environments', strapi.config.environment, 'databases.json')));
-        strapi.config.orm = ormConfig.orm;
+        if (!strapi.config.dry) {
+          const ormConfig = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.resolve(strapi.config.appPath, strapi.config.paths.config, 'environments', strapi.config.environment, 'databases.json')));
+          strapi.config.orm = ormConfig.orm;
+        }
 
         // Save different environments inside an array because we need it in the Strapi Studio.
         strapi.config.environments = fs.readdirSync(path.resolve(strapi.config.appPath, strapi.config.paths.config, 'environments'));
diff --git a/lib/configuration/index.js b/lib/configuration/index.js
index e2fac457ef..a47534e0c6 100755
--- a/lib/configuration/index.js
+++ b/lib/configuration/index.js
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ module.exports = function (strapi) {
           workers: os.cpus().length
         },
 
+        // Application is not `dry` by default.
+        dry: false,
+
         // Default paths.
         paths: {
           tmp: '.tmp',
diff --git a/lib/private/loadHooks.js b/lib/private/loadHooks.js
index 4aded3db6e..5e81c2a97e 100755
--- a/lib/private/loadHooks.js
+++ b/lib/private/loadHooks.js
@@ -37,7 +37,16 @@ module.exports = function (strapi) {
         delete hooks.studio;
       }
 
-      // Handle folder-defined modules (default to `lib/index.js`)
+      // Remove undesired hooks when this is a `dry` application.
+      if (strapi.config.dry) {
+        delete hooks.blueprints;
+        delete hooks.dashboard;
+        delete hooks.grant;
+        delete hooks.studio;
+        delete hooks.waterline;
+      }
+
+      // Handle folder-defined modules (default to `./lib/index.js`)
       // Since a hook definition must be a function.
       if (_.isObject(hookPrototype) && !_.isArray(hookPrototype) && !_.isFunction(hookPrototype)) {
         hookPrototype = hookPrototype.index;
diff --git a/lib/server.js b/lib/server.js
index 258136d2be..fe3c7dc8bb 100755
--- a/lib/server.js
+++ b/lib/server.js
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ const Strapi = require('./Strapi');
  * (maintains backwards compatibility with constructor usage).
  */
 
-module.exports = function () {
+module.exports = strapiFactory;
+
+function strapiFactory() {
   return new Strapi();
-};
+}
+
+// Backwards compatibility for Strapi singleton usage.
+const singleton = strapiFactory();
+strapiFactory.isLocalStrapiValid = singleton.isLocalStrapiValid.bind(singleton);
+strapiFactory.isStrapiAppSync = singleton.isStrapiAppSync.bind(singleton);