Three years ago, I started my journey with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and I still remember how overwhelmed I was when I started using it. As a front-end developer, my first task in AEM – implementing responsive design – was no cakewalk and required extensive problem solving.
In this blog, I share the 10 tips and tricks I’ve learned to help solve problems faced by front-end developers. Whether you’re exploring AEM for the first time or seeking to enhance your skills, these tips will empower you to excel in your role as a front-end developer in the AEM ecosystem.
1. Get Familiar With AEM Architecture
My first tip is to understand AEM’s architecture early on.
- Learn Core Concepts – Before diving into code, familiarize yourself with AEM’s components, templates, client libraries, and the content repository. Learn how each of the components interact and fit in your application.
- Sling and JCR (Java Content Repository) – Gain a basic understanding of Apache Sling (the web framework AEM is built on) and how JCR stores content. This foundational knowledge will help you understand how AEM handles requests and manages content.
- Get Familiar with CRXDE Lite – CRXDE Lite is a lightweight browser-based development tool that comes out of the box with Adobe Experience Manager. Using CRXDE Lite developers can access and modify the repository in your local development environments within the browser. You can edit files, folders, nodes, and properties. The entire repository is accessible to you in this easy-to-use interface. Keep in mind that CRXDE offers you the possibility to make instant changes to the website. You can even synchronize these changes with your code base using plugins for the most used most used code editors like Visual Studio Code, Brackets, and Eclipse.
- Content Package – An AEM front-end developer needs to work on web pages, but we don’t have to create them from the beginning. We can use the CRXDE Lite build and download content to share with other developers or bring content from production to local development environments.
The above points are the basic building blocks that FE developers should be aware of to start with. For more detail read check out the AEM architecture intro on Adobe Experience League.
2. Focus on HTML Template Language (HTL)
AEM uses HTL, which is simpler and more secure than JSP. Start by learning how HTL works, as it’s the main way you’ll handle markup in AEM. It’s similar to other templating languages, so you’ll likely find it easy to grasp.
3. Master Client Libraries (Clientlibs)
Efficient Management of CSS/JS
AEM uses client libraries (in short clientlibs) to manage and optimize CSS and JavaScript files. So, it’s important to learn how to organize CSS/JS files efficiently as categories and dependencies. This helps load only the required CSS/JS for a webpage to help with page performance.
Minimize and Bundle
Use Out of the Box Adobe Granite HTML Library Manager (com.adobe.granite.ui.clientlibs.impl.HtmlLibraryManagerImpl) OSGI configuration to minify the CSS/JS that will build small file size for CSS/JS and boost in page load time.
For more information check out Adobe Experience League.
4. Leverage AEM’s Component-Based Architecture
Build components with reusability in mind. AEM is heavily component-driven, and your components will be used across different pages. Keeping them modular will allow authors to mix and match them to create new pages.
5. Use AEM’s Editable Templates
Editable templates are better than static. AEM’s editable templates give content authors control over layout without developer intervention. As a front-end developer, CSS/JS that we build must be independent of templates. Clientlib related to a UI component should work without any issues on any template-based pages.
6. Get Familiar with AEM Development Tools
There are multiple development tools that you can find within the most used text editors like Brackets, Visual Studio Code and Eclipse. You should use these extensions to speed up your development process. These tools help you synchronize your local environment with AEM, making it easier to test changes quickly.
Check out Experience League for more information.
7. Start With Core Components
AEM comes with a set of core components that cover many basic functionalities such as text, image, carousel. Using the core components as building blocks (extending) to build custom components, saves development time and follows best practices. For more details check out the following links:
8. Understand the AEM Content Authoring Experience
Work With Content Authors
As a front-end developer, it’s important to collaborate closely with content authors. Build components and templates that are intuitive to use and provide helpful options for authors. By doing this, you will gain understanding about how authors use your components and will help you make them more “user friendly” each time.
Test Authoring
Test the authoring experience frequently to ensure that non-technical users can easily create content. The easier you make the interface the less manual intervention will be required later.
9. Keep Accessibility in Mind
Accessibility First
Make sure your components are accessible. AEM is often used by large organizations, where accessibility is key. Implement best practices like proper ARIA roles, semantic HTML, and keyboard navigation support. I have spent some time on different projects enhancing accessibility attributes. So, keep it in mind.
AEM Accessibility Features
Leverage AEM’s built-in tools for accessibility testing and ensure all your components meet the required standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1). For more information, you can read the Experience League article on accessibility.
10. Leverage AEM’s Headless Capabilities
Headless CMS With AEM
Explore how to use AEM as a headless CMS and integrate it with your front end using APIs. This approach is particularly useful if you’re working with modern front-end frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.
GraphQL in AEM
AEM offers GraphQL support, allowing you to fetch only the data your front end needs. Start experimenting with AEM’s headless features to build SPAs or integrate with other systems.
SPA Editor
The AEM SPA Editor is a specialized tool in Adobe Experience Manager designed to integrate Single Page Applications (SPAs) into the AEM authoring environment. It enables developers to create SPAs using modern frameworks like React and Angular out of the box while allowing content authors to edit and manage content within AEM, just as they would with traditional templates. Do you remember when I mentioned the developer tools for IDEs? Well, there is one to map your spa application to work with AEM ecosystem.
More Insights for AEM Front-End Developers
In this blog, we’ve discussed AEM architecture, HTL, Clientlibs, templates, tools, components, authoring, accessibility, and headless CMS as focus areas to help you grow and excel as an AEM developer.
If you have questions, feel free to drop the comments below. And if you have any tips not mentioned in this blog, feel free to share those as well!
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nice information for front-end website designers