Optimizely for BACK-End Developers

Mastering CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation

Whether you're integrating core systems, building scalable content solutions, or enabling advanced experimentation, Optimizely empowers back-end developers to architect robust digital experiences.

As a back-end developer, Optimizely offers powerful server-side SDKs for Feature Experimentation, enabling precise control over feature rollouts and A/B tests. Coupled with Optimizely CMS (PaaS), you gain the flexibility to build and extend content management solutions, integrate with diverse systems, and ensure high performance and security for your digital platform.

Getting started

Your first steps with Optimizely

This section is for back-end developers new to Optimizely. Here, you'll find foundational topics to help you integrate Optimizely's core capabilities into your server-side applications, focusing on Feature Experimentation and CMS (PaaS).

SDKs, APIs, and Graph

Explore how Optimizely's robust SDKs, comprehensive APIs, and the unified Optimizely Graph enable deep integration and customization. Learn to leverage these tools for seamless interaction with Optimizely products, fetching content, managing experiments, and extending platform capabilities.

CMS class libraries and APIs
Introduction to Optimizely Graph
Experimentation SDKs

Experimentation core concepts and datafiles

Grasp the fundamental building blocks: understand experiments, feature flags, and variations for server-side control. Learn how Optimizely's datafiles work, how they are updated, and how server-side SDKs use them to make real-time feature flag and experiment decisions.

Experimentation core concepts
Datafile management

Getting set up

Get your local development environment configured to seamlessly integrate with Optimizely's back-end services and APIs for both CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation.

Get started with Feature Experimentation
Get started with CMS (PaaS)

Verify experiment and content setup

Learn essential debugging techniques and tools to ensure your initial Optimizely implementations are working correctly for both experiment loading and accurate content display.

Experimentation implementation checklist

Ready to launch your first project?

You've verified your setup and are eager to see your work in action. This section provides the essential resources and guidance to help you kickstart your first Optimizely project, ensuring a smooth transition from setup to successful deployment.

Experimentation quickstarts
Create a CMS starter project

Start your first experimentation with:

Level up

Optimizing your Optimizely implementations

For back-end developers with foundational Optimizely knowledge, this section explores customization, user tracking, performance optimization, and automated workflows for CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation.

CMS Customization

Extend and tailor Optimizely CMS to fit your specific business needs and workflows. The CMS offers extensive customization options for its user interface, content handling, and integration with external systems.

Custom CMS UI
Custom content providers
Plugins and add-ons

Server-side event tracking and user attributes

Implement robust server-side event tracking to capture user behavior and pass custom user attributes for precise audience targeting and experiment analysis in Feature Experimentation.

Track events
Define audiences

CMS (PaaS) deployment

For Optimizely CMS deployed as Platform as a Service (PaaS), backend developers gain significant control and flexibility. This model allows for deep customization, unique integrations, and tailored workflows, providing full access to APIs and extensions. You manage your own deployment cycles, infrastructure, and CI/CD pipelines, enabling precise control over updates and releases.

CMS smooth deployment
CMS deployment API

Edge and caching

Optimize the delivery of your digital experiences through advanced caching and edge strategies for both Optimizely CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation. These techniques minimize latency, reduce load on origin servers, and ensure fast, scalable content and feature delivery.

CMS caching
Feature Experimentation at the edge

Advanced experimentation and seamless product integration

As you deepen your expertise, mastering feature experimentation best practices becomes crucial for reliable A/B testing and progressive delivery. This section also guides you through integrating various Optimizely products with your CMS, enabling a truly unified and data-driven digital experience platform.

Feature Experimentation best practices
Integrating Optimizely products with CMS

Mastering Optimizely

Architectural excellence and innovation

This section is tailored for seasoned back-end developers and architects looking to maximize Optimizely's potential in complex, enterprise-level digital experience platforms, with a focus on CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation.

Architecture and microservices design

Design and implement scalable architectures where your self-hosted Optimizely CMS is an integral component within a microservices ecosystem, ensuring high availability and resilience.

DXP architecture overview
Deploying as microservice

Custom APIs and webhooks

Build sophisticated custom integrations, automate complex workflows, and extend platform functionality using Optimizely's comprehensive APIs and webhooks for both CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation.

Manage webhooks
CMS class libraries & APIs

Security, compliance and data governance

Implement robust security measures, ensure data privacy compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and establish strong data governance policies across your Optimizely CMS (PaaS) and Feature Experimentation implementations.

DXP security
Optimizely trust center

The Opal tools SDK

We have Opal tools SDK available in Python, C#, and JavaScript/TypeScript, empowering backend developers to build custom tools and integrate AI-driven solutions directly within Optimizely Opal.

TypeScript SDK
Python SDK
C# SDK

Validate your expertise: Get certified

You've mastered architectural excellence, seamless data integration, and leveraged Optimizely Graph to its full potential. Now, formalize your expertise and demonstrate your proficiency with official Optimizely certifications. These credentials validate your advanced skills in building robust and scalable digital experiences, opening doors to new opportunities in the world of DXP.

CMS (PaaS) certifications
Experimentation certifications

Staying current

Essential resources for Optimizely developers

In the fast-paced world of digital experience development, staying informed is key to success. This section provides critical resources to help you keep pace with Optimizely's evolution, anticipate future changes, and leverage the latest tools and features to their fullest potential.

Stay up-to-date with release notes

Keep track of the latest features, improvements, and bug fixes across all Optimizely products. Understanding release notes helps you leverage new capabilities and prepare for upcoming changes. View release notes: CMS (PaaS), Feature Experimentation, Optimizely Graph, Optimizely Opal

Influence the future with the product roadmap

Get a glimpse into Optimizely's strategic direction and upcoming innovations. The roadmap provides insights into planned features and helps you align your development efforts with future platform capabilities. Explore the roadmap

Additional resources for every stage

Here's a curated list of essential resources to support your journey with Optimizely, no matter your experience.

brand_developer Developer docs

Your go-to source for comprehensive API references, SDK guides, and technical articles.

brand_partner Optimizely World

Connect with other Optimizely developers, share insights, and find solutions in our vibrant community forums.

brand_simple Slack / chat

Engage in real-time discussions, ask quick questions, and get support from peers and Optimizely experts.

Academy

Advance your skills with structured courses and certifications designed for Optimizely developers. Explore Academy courses

Support

Access direct assistance from Optimizely for technical issues and personalized help. Contact our support professionals