fitting

in a custom stack

Who am IWho am I

● Simone Deponti● Python/Plone developer @

Abstract● simone.deponti@abstract.it

The customerThe customer

● Largest on-line retailer in Italy● Several brands

The initial situationThe initial situation

Catalog empire

March of the Cart

Marketing kingdom

...and a lot of small Imperial cities

The problemThe problem

● Need to manage “marketing” content● To integrate already existing content● Stand alone

The problem (2)The problem (2)

● “Large theatre of operations”● Must maintain good relations with

“neighbouring states”● Parallel universes (multisite)

What do we need?What do we need?

Speed

Flexibility

Coherence

I better clarify...

SpeedSpeed

● No● Repetitive tasks● “useless” steps

● Yes● One click one kill

FlexibilityFlexibility

● Marketing is not accounting● Creatives● Exception is routine

● Knowledged users● Web is their work● Possesses skills (that we can leverage)

CoherenceCoherence

● Few base concepts● Stick to them!● Fast training

The solutionThe solution

● “Aggregated” content● “multicast” publication● Information Architecture CMS != IA Site

The solution (2)The solution (2)

● Primary content● Page is folder● Object “composition”● Templating (Genshi)

The solution (3)The solution (3)

● “primary” content● Explicit positioning of root element● Site-level multicast● Internal structure follows Plone IA

The solution (4)The solution (4)

● Several content types● “Standalone” or providing interfaces

to internal WS● Can be used within “primary” content

Lessons learnedLessons learned

● Plone's structure is optimal to manage content● Presenting content is an altogether different

story● In the presentation layer, multiple is good, while

managing, it's a <CENSORED>

Lessons learnedLessons learned

● Integration is simple if functional area are well defined and grouped

● Several ways:● Webservice● SQL● Etc etc

ChallengesChallenges

● Know the stack● Automated refresh● Componentize, componentize, componentize

And then?And then?

● You can always do better● Still too many useless steps● Fine grained security● UI polishing

CastCast

● Plone● Genshi● SQLAlchemy● PostgreSQL● SOLR