By transitioning to a sophisticated React-based frontend and enhancing our backend structure, we've examined all elements in our mission to deliver a more resilient, efficient, and user-centric platform. You'll discover our transition to a RESTful API method, enhancements to our documentation and testing workflows, and the optimization of content management and slide production.

However, that's not everything - we’re also rolling out a new billing model based on subscriptions, incorporating AI-driven image generation, and launching a flexible templating system to enhance the content creation process. By the end of this post, you’ll have a thorough comprehension of the technical choices and creative solutions that have influenced the upcoming major iteration of the Castit CMS.

Thus, whether you are an experienced digital signage expert or merely entering content management, this blog post is meant for you. Prepare to explore the intricacies and discover how Castit is moving standards in the industry. Also, don't miss out the opportunity to read the previous blog post about business perspective behind this redesign.

 

* Castit digital signage onboarding screen redesign

 

Introduction

As our company and user community keep expanding, it's essential that we modify our primary product - the Castit CMS - to address the changing requirements of our clients. This is why we have recently initiated a thorough technical overhaul of our content management system.

We'll take you behind the scenes and share the key details of our CMS upgrade, from the frontend framework to the backend architecture. Our goal is to provide the readers with a deep understanding of the thoughtful decisions and innovative solutions that have shaped the next generation of the Castit CMS.

 

From Silverstripe to React: A New Frontend Framework

A major change in our CMS redesign was moving from the Silverstripe framework to the widely used React, a JavaScript-based UI development library. This transition was influenced by various factors, such as: 

• React's enhanced performance

• Modular design of this library for web and native user interfaces

• Extensive and vibrant developer community backing it

By adopting React, we've managed to create a more interactive and adaptable user interface for the Castit CMS. Our frontend codebase has become more sustainable, expandable, and flexible for future needs. This not only helps our internal development team but also guarantees a smooth experience for our users as they explore and engage with the CMS.

In other words, the code powering the visible parts of our website has been updated to be more adaptable and easier to maintain and expand in the future. This benefits both our team who works on the website and the clients who use our CMS by providing a more reliable and seamless experience. 

For example, suppose we need to add a new feature to the website in the future, with the improved code structure. In that case, it is easier and quicker for our developers to implement that new feature without causing issues elsewhere on the site. This leads to a better outcome for our customers using the CMS.

 

* Using React instead of SilverStripe

 

Revamping the Backend

In addition to the frontend overhaul, we've also updated the backend of the Castit CMS. We have shifted from a single controller-based architecture and instead embraced a RESTful API model, an application programming interface (API) that conforms to the design principles of the representational state transfer (REST) architectural style. This indicates that every entity in the CMS (including Screens, Playlists, and Content Items) now possesses its own specific controller, enhancing the system’s modularity, testability, and maintenance ease.

The implementation of this API-driven structure presents numerous benefits. It enables more detailed testing, where problems with a particular entity can be swiftly recognized and resolved without impacting the whole system. It also establishes a basis for upcoming integrations and third-party extensions, since the CMS can now be easily accessed and integrated through standardized endpoints.

For example, let's say there was an issue with how the Playlist feature was working. With the new API-driven structure, our developers could quickly identify and fix the problem in the playlist controller, without accidentally breaking something else in the CMS. This flexibility allows us to more easily add new features or make changes in the future.

The key benefits are:

• More detailed testing and faster problem resolution

• Easier integration with other systems through standardized access points

So in simple terms, we've made improvements under the hood to make the CMS more adaptable and reliable, which benefits both our internal team and our clients using the system.

 

Improvements in Documentation and Testing

To enhance the maintainability and reliability of our CMS, we have made significant investments in documentation and testing procedures. We have adopted the OpenAPI standard for our API documentation, offering a transparent and thorough outline of the accessible endpoints, parameters, and response formats. Consequently, this has allowed us to incorporate Swagger, a well-known tool that displays the documentation and facilitates interaction and testing of the API for developers.

These improvements in documentation and testing have had a significant impact on our development workflow. Our team can now quickly onboard new contributors, ensure consistent API usage across the application, and catch potential issues early in the development lifecycle.

These documentation and testing upgrades have streamlined our development process. New team members can get up to speed faster, and we can catch problems early before they cause issues. Overall, these behind-the-scenes improvements help ensure the CMS works smoothly for our customers.

Example: Imagine the CMS had a feature to create custom playlists. The new OpenAPI documentation would outline exactly how developers could access and use that playlist functionality. And the Swagger tool would let them easily test creating, updating, and deleting playlists to make sure everything works as expected.

 

Optimizing Content Management

A primary objective in our CMS redesign was to enhance the content management experience for our users. To accomplish this, we will implement several significant modifications, such as removing the Channels feature and embedding content items (text, images, videos) directly within the Screens module.

 

Streamlining Slide Creation

This simplified method will enable our clients to oversee all their content in a more user-friendly and effective way. Moreover, we've improved the Playlist settings, allowing users greater precision in managing the timing and display of their digital signage assets and materials.

Another focus of our CMS redesign was the Slide Creator module. We are completely redesigning this feature, improving its ease of use. The Castit users will easily add various elements, such as text, images, and videos, to their slides, and we've provided access to 3rd party free stock media services to simplify the content sourcing process.

In addition, we will be launching an advanced feature: AI-driven image creation. Users will be able to create custom visuals for their slides by simply providing a textual prompt, opening up new creative possibilities and reducing the reliance on manual design work.

 

* Slide Creator feature redesigned in Castit platform

 

Templating and Personalization

To improve the overall user experience, we will implement a templating system for the Castit CMS. Our design team has assembled a selection of industry-focused templates that clients can utilize as a foundation for their digital signage content. These templates not only simplify the development process but also guarantee a unified and aesthetically pleasing brand identity on every screen.

Furthermore, we’ll enable our users to tailor these templates to align with their individual branding and design choices, creating an authentically personalized experience.

 

Billing and Payments through Subscriptions Online

In conjunction with our CMS redesign, we'll introduce a new subscription billing model, facilitated by Stripe. This change enables our customers to conveniently oversee their Castit plans, selecting the number of screens they need and choosing between monthly or yearly payment options (with the latter provided a reduced rate).

The incorporation of Stripe's secure payment processing options will significantly streamline the onboarding and account management process for our users, removing the necessity for manual invoicing and tracking payments.

 

* First look at the Payment screen in the redesign

 

Architecture and Technology Choices

Behind the scenes, the technical revamp of the Castit CMS has included a thorough reworking of our application architecture and technology stack. We have adopted the newest best practices and standards in React development, guaranteeing that our frontend codebase is efficient, easy to maintain, and in line with industry trends.

Moreover, we have established strong caching, API, authorization, and navigation layers to improve the system's overall efficiency and user experience. We are additionally examining the incorporation of Redis, a robust in-memory data repository, to enhance our caching effectiveness and lessen the strain on our main database.

 

Obstacles and Factors to Consider

Like any significant technical overhaul, our CMS redesign is facing its share of difficulties. A crucial challenge is to make sure that the technical modifications fit perfectly with the design specifications provided by our UX team. Achieving the optimal equilibrium between groundbreaking features and a unified user experience has been an ongoing struggle, yet one we are dedicated to perfecting.

Another focal point has been the implementation of new functionalities, like the Scheduler module, enabling users to accurately manage the timing and scheduling of their digital signage content. Incorporating these sophisticated features while ensuring a clear and user-friendly interface has remained a key focus.

 

Conclusion

The technical redesign of the Castit CMS marks an important achievement in our efforts to offer our clients a top-tier digital signage solution. By adopting contemporary frameworks, refining our content management processes, and improving the overall user experience, we believe that the upcoming version of the Castit CMS will enable our clients to reach their digital signage objectives with increased effectiveness and innovation.

As we keep progressing and innovating, you can rely on Castit to stay at the leading edge of the industry, providing advanced technology and unmatched assistance to our existing and future esteemed clients.

Stay tuned for the next blog, which will cover the design perspective of the Castit redesign process.