Optimizely CMS for Developers
Comprehensive guide to unlock the full potential of Optimizely CMS
This guide provides a structured path for developers to learn, build, and maintain solutions, covering both Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings.
What is Optimizely CMS?
Optimizely CMS is designed for content management, digital experiences, and headless capabilities. Its key features include content modeling, editorial tools, asset management, and personalization capabilities.
PaaS (Platform as a Service)
PaaS offers a self-managed infrastructure, providing greater control over the hosting environment and custom code deployment. It is ideal for highly customized solutions, complex integrations, and specific infrastructure requirements.
SaaS (Software as a Service):
SaaS provides a fully managed service, simplifying operations and allowing a focus on content and development. This model is suited for faster time-to-market, reduced operational overhead, and a headless-first approach.
Core CMS concepts
Key concepts in Optimizely CMS include various content types like pages, blocks, media, and folders. Content properties encompass text, rich text, image, content reference, content area, and collections. The platform defines how content is organized and linked through its content hierarchy, and how it's displayed via rendering (traditional MVC or headless API consumption). Additionally, it manages assets such as images, videos, and documents within the CMS.
Getting started
Your first steps with Optimizely
Kickstart your Optimizely CMS development journey by exploring environment setup for both PaaS and SaaS. Gain insights into understanding the CMS user interface for effective collaboration, and learn to design intuitive content models for authors, with resources readily available to launch your first project.
Environment setup
PaaS environment setup requires configuring a local .NET development environment, a database (SQL Server LocalDB or Azure SQL), and integrating Optimizely CMS NuGet packages; while SaaS involves accessing your CMS instance via credentials and URLs, managing API keys for headless consumption, and setting up a frontend framework like React, Vue, or Angular.
Configuring your CMS
For PaaS, configuring your CMS involves deployment to cloud platforms like Azure Web Apps and integration with identity providers such as OpenID. In contrast, SaaS configuration focuses on managing your pre-provisioned CMS instance, setting up API keys for headless consumption, and integrating with your chosen frontend framework.
The CMS user interface
Beyond code setup, a deep understanding of the Optimizely CMS user interface is crucial for developers. It ensures seamless collaboration with content editors and a better grasp of the end-user experience, leading to more effective content delivery.
Explore the CMS (PaaS) user interface
Get started with CMS (SaaS)
Content modeling
Designing an effective content model is paramount for content authors. A well-structured model simplifies content creation, ensures consistency, and enhances the overall user experience by making content intuitive and easy to manage.
Developing content in CMS (PaaS)
Developing content in CMS (SaaS)
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.
Creating a start project for CMS (PaaS)
Explore the getting started guide for CMS (SaaS)
Level up
Core CMS Development
Explore the core functionalities of Optimizely CMS development, including leveraging Optimizely Graph for unified content access, utilizing various CMS APIs for efficient content delivery and management, automating tasks with scheduled jobs, and ensuring a seamless content creation experience through effective content previewing.
Optimizely Graph
Optimizely Graph is a multi-tenant SaaS service that allows you to search, query, and deliver content anywhere. It unifies content access across Optimizely products through a single GraphQL API, transforming your CMS content into a queryable form for efficient content consumption.
Install and configure Graph for CMS (PaaS)
Getting content for CMS (SaaS) using Graph
Optimizely CMS APIs
Optimizely CMS offers powerful APIs for content delivery and management. The content delivery API enables headless content consumption, while the content management API provides REST endpoints for basic content operations, and the content definitions API allows remote management of content types.
Scheduled jobs
Scheduled jobs in Optimizely CMS are automated services that perform tasks at specified intervals, such as cleanup, content synchronization, and scheduled publishing. These jobs are crucial for maintaining system health and ensuring timely content updates.
Previewing content
Optimizely CMS allows you to preview content during editing to visualize how it will appear to visitors upon publication. This includes options for live preview, property overlays, and context modes, ensuring a seamless content creation experience.
Preview rendering for blocks in CMS (PaaS)
Enabling live preview in CMS (SaaS)
Digital Asset Management (DAM)
Digital Asset Management involves uploading, organizing, and referencing media assets within the CMS. This includes image manipulation services like resizing, cropping, and focal points, and the ability to integrate with external DAM systems.
Mastering Optimizely
Architectural excellence and innovation
This section is tailored for seasoned front-end developers and architects looking to maximize Optimizely's potential. Explore advanced architectural patterns, custom integrations, and strategies for delivering high-performing, scalable digital experiences.
Personalization and real-time audiences
Optimizely CMS empowers you to deliver tailored content experiences through both manual and automated personalization.
Personalizing content in CMS (PaaS)
Real-time audiences for CMS (SaaS)
Workflow and publishing
Workflow and publishing capabilities include customizing editorial workflows and approval processes, scheduled publishing and unpublishing, and managing content versioning and rollback.
Learn about projects in CMS
Control the publishing process in CMS (SaaS)
Integrate Optimizely products
Optimizely CMS seamlessly integrates with other Optimizely products. These integrations are often facilitated by event-driven connections and robust APIs, allowing for a unified and powerful digital experience.
CMP + CMS (PaaS) integration
Configured Commerce + CMS (PaaS) integration
CMS (SaaS) + ODP + Web Experimentation
UI customization and extensibility
Explore advanced possibilities for tailoring the Optimizely CMS experience. This includes UI customization and leveraging API-driven approaches to build and manage content types programmatically.
Custom UI components for CMS (PaaS)
Developing add-ons for CMS (PaaS)
Manage content types via REST API in CMS (SaaS)
Validate your expertise: Get certified
You've mastered content modeling, development, and management within Optimizely CMS. Now, formalize your expertise and demonstrate your proficiency with official Optimizely certifications. These credentials validate your skills and open doors to new opportunities in the world of digital experience.
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 (SaaS), CMS 12 (PaaS), Optimizely Graph
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.
Developer docs
Your go-to source for comprehensive API references, SDK guides, and technical articles.
Optimizely World
Connect with other Optimizely developers, share insights, and find solutions in our vibrant community forums.
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