Sitecore 10 Helix Architecture and Development
Helix:
Helix we have a set of guidelines and good layer structures for Sitecore development.
This structure pattern practices giving more maintainable code and decreasing the cost of change for your customer.
Helix principles we can apply in any software project with any language.
Helix layers:
This layer concept supports the dependency flow architecture completely anywhere in the solution.
It provides a clear structure for Sitecore developers to create and maintain clear and formatted code.
Layers are conceptual constructs described through folders in the file system.
There are 3 layers,
1) Project layer
This layer gives the context to the solution having graphic design, layouts, and page types.
All the features for this solution are built together and contain few modules, it is a small layer in the solution.
2) Feature Layer
This layer contains the articles, news, a website search, promotion, etc.
When we create a feature project naming standard is following in Helix.
We have multiple features under this layer, if we have done changes in one layer is not affect other feature layers. So, without impacting other layers we can change, remove, and built and release the project.
3) Foundation Layer
This is the lowest level in the Helix structure it forms the foundation of your solution.
When we have done changes in one module it can impact other modules. So that this module is the most stable structure.
This module shared the functionality between the feature modules.
Setting development environment for Helix:
1) Check-Out:
From version control, we can get the required version or branch.
2) Dependencies:
Import and configure the dependencies and framework controls here.
We can run the custom scripts using a package manager like NuGet or npm and restore the required dependencies.
3) Build:
Using build, we can compile the modules.
For this, we can run compilers like MS Build and CSS/JavaScript processors and build the solution.
4) Baseline:
Website/environment set up running a clean Sitecore with defined baseline.
We can use SIF (Sitecore Installation Framework) for local setup, this is used to restoring the backup database and restoring a virtual machine.
5) Publish:
We can publish the module to the baseline websites.
With the use of Microsoft Web Deploy, PowerShell, or similar tools we can deploy the compiled assets, files, scripts, CSS files, and images.
6) Configure:
We can add the specific configuration in web config files under different modules or other files using MS Build and PowerShell.
7) Serialize:
All the latest deployment and modules we can serialize to our new environment.
We can serialize module by module or the whole project using the required options.
8) Deserialize:
We can restore the Sitecore items even we changed some files also this deserialization undoes the changes and restore the latest items.
Advantages for Sitecore Helix Structure:
- 1) It helps to develop the project very fast and easy deployment and it is avoiding messy code problems.
2) Implementation and maintenance are easy.
3) We can easily reuse the components anywhere on your site.
4) Easy to identify the performance problems, because of best practices followed by Helix. So that troubleshooting is easy.
5) Helix design principles help Sitecore partners when implementing Sitecore sites in the most efficient, sustainable, flexible ways.
Sitecore 10 Helix Architecture and Development – Skybridge Infotech in USA India
Author: Kiruthika Sakthivel, Sitecore Specialist
