Sitecore Modules
Can BIG become BIGGER ?
SPEAKER
Kris Verheire
Sitecore Modules - Agenda
 What is the idea behind modules in Sitecore?
 Where can modules be found or researched?
 Some of the arguments with regards to the different approaches to
modules.
 A selection of the most prominent modules
 Future of modules / Sitecore strategy
 Q&A
What is the idea behind modules?
What is the idea behind modules?
 Modules on Sitecore are developed as catalysts for your solution
 Can provide substantial aid for development
 Speed up content editing process
 Simplify analytics and/or marketing tasks
 Sitecore has not been developing new functional modules but rather
places it’s focus on their Core product (CMS+ DMS).
 Custom developed modules can freely be contributed to the Sitecore
Marketplace as proof of implementation prowess, or to speed up general
Sitecore development.
What is the idea behind modules?
 Sitecore has a strong focus
 CMS (Content, Search, Editing, Publishing, Versions, Languages, …)
 DMS (Analytics, Profiling, Personalization, MV-testing, …)
 Configurable and expandable (Events, Pipelines, …)
 Additional functional requirements are often
 Business specific (Event overview, calendar functionality)
 Integration specific (CRM/ERP integrations, legacy system integrations)
 Recurring web 2.0 features (Blog, Forum, Online forms, Poll, Chat)
Where can we find Modules
Where can we find Modules
 Sitecore Marketplace
 Sitecore Developer Network
 Custom/Internal development
Sitecore Marketplace
Sitecore Marketplace
 https://marketplace.sitecore.net/
 Platform provided by Sitecore
 Everyone can make contributions
 Helps structure and categorize available modules
 Contains modules contributed by Sitecore as well
Sitecore Marketplace
Pro’s
Con’s
 Extensive, 350+ modules listed
 Module are often discarded
 Free of charge
 No clear indication whether or not
modules are version independent
 Well structured & easy to search
 Modules can be
 Recommended
 Rated
 Reviewed
 Commented on
 No Sitecore strategy
 Support of discarded modules?
 Adopt good approaches
 Advise on top modules
Sitecore Developer Network
Sitecore Developer Network
 http://sdn.sitecore.net/Products.aspx
 Modules built by Sitecore
 Best-practice modules, fully supported by Sitecore
 Active products that integrate perfectly into the CMS
Sitecore Developer Network
Pro’s
 Modules kept up to date across
all versions
 Good support and information
 Seamlessly integrated with DMS
 Well documented with clear
release notes and updates
Con’s
 Limited amount of modules
 Slow adoption of end-user feature
requirements
 One-time fee and/or subscription
based modules, not always free
 No system that allows for rating or
commenting on a module
Custom/Internal development
Custom/Internal development
 Modules built internally by either the company or implementation partner
 Often very customer or project specific
 Danger for one-shot modules
 No updates
 No further module evolution
 Fixed within time and budget of project
Custom/Internal development
Pro’s
Con’s
 Modules implementation fits the
needs perfectly
 Price heavy depending on
complexity
 Modules can be combined into a
re-usable library of building blocks
 Overhead of managing and
updating the module
 Strong in-house knowledge, easy
to modify
 Modules are often one-shot, no
re-use possible.
 If reusable, strong ROI
Some eye-catching modules
Top marketplace modules
Sitecore Instance Manager
Sitecore Courier
Log Analyzer
Sitecore Unicorn
WeBlog
SBOS Accelerators
Experience Explorer
Advanced System Reporter
Module: Sitecore Instance Manager
(SIM)
 Allows for fast installation & management
of Sitecore instances
 Comes with an API and plugin engine
 Made by Sitecore
 Meant for Sitecore developers
 Up-to-date module usable from Sitecore 6.x and up
Module: Courier
 Used for creation of Sitecore Update Packages
 Compares serialization folders
 Folders created using the Serialization API
 Shared Source
 Meant for Sitecore developers
 http://sitecoresnippets.blogspot.be/2012/10/sitecorecourier-effortless-packaging.html
Module: Unicorn
 Automatic serialization of Sitecore items
 Uses the Sitecore Serialization API
 Allows for source control on specific items
 Shared Source
 Meant for Sitecore developers
 https://github.com/kamsar/Unicorn
Module: Sitecore Log Analyzer (SCLA)
 Helps analyze and explore large log files
 Insight into website uptime and downtime…
 Made by Sitecore
 Meant for Sitecore administrators and developers
Module: WeBlog
 Allows for quick & non-obtrusive Blog creation
 Feature-rich blog module
 Page-editor supported
 Comments with workflows
 Social sharing
 Shared Source
 Meant for marketers and developers
Module: Advanced System Reporter
(ASR)
 Expands on the available reports in Sitecore
 Shared Source
 Meant for Sitecore
administrators and
developers
Module: SBOS Accelerators
 Sitecore DMS enhancement set
 Personalization tracker
 Actual conversions report
 Historical conditional rendering
 Campaign tracking on Aliases
 Measurement types for multivariate testing
 Made by Sitecore
 Meant for marketers and developers
 http://www.sitecore.net/Support/ConsultingServices/Business-Optimization-Services.aspx
Module: Experience Explorer
 Allows for simulation of the DMS system
 Enables marketers to test
online marketing strategy
 Part of Sitecore for versions 7.2 and up.
 Made by Sitecore
 Meant for marketers and developers
Future of modules / Sitecore strategy
Future of marketplace
Sitecore input received by
 Pieter Brinckman – Technical Marketing Manager - pib@sitecore.net
 Jimmie Overby – Shared Source Coordinator – jo@sitecore.net
Future of marketplace
 The Sitecore Marketplace is a first effort.
 A dedicated development team is working on multiple outgoing sites
for the development community -> https://kb.sitecore.net/
Future of marketplace
 The Sitecore Marketplace is a first effort.
 A dedicated development team is working on multiple outgoing sites
for the development community -> https://kb.sitecore.net/
 New specification for the Marketplace update are based on the
community feedback and Sitecore MVP’s.
 Code sharing is key to success for both Sitecore and their partners.
 Intent is set on Marketplace growth and enhancement
Sitecore Strategy
 Will shared modules ever serve as the basis for new functionalities or
modules ?
 Sitecore is well aware of the existing modules
 There is however, never any intent of copying ideas
 Community movements serve as a source of inspiration however
 Sitecore reaches out to contributors
 Through meetings Sitecore can discuss ideas and help on the module
Sitecore Strategy
 Will shared modules ever be merged into the Sitecore product ?
 No
 Merging could create a conflict of interest and remove the community
power
 Furthermore, modules could fork
 Multiple similar modules
 Harder load on community
 Less clarity on module choices
 Hard to extend and enhance the module
 “Code ownership is kept in mind. We want to motivate to create modules”
Sitecore Strategy
 Are new SDN modules in the pipeline ?
 Yes
 Upcoming next releases will give more insight
 A number of valuable and cool announcements will be made during
the Sitecore Symposium in Barcelona 15-17 September
 http://www.sitecore.net/symposiumEU2014
Q&A
 Contact: kverheire@reference.be
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/KVerheire
 Contact SUG-BELUX directly: sugbelux@gmail.com
 MeetUp: http://www.meetup.com/Sitecore-User-Group-Belgium/