The long-awaited release of OXID eShop 7.0.0 is just around the corner and brings with it many exciting new features, improvements and updates. In this blog post, we give you an overview of the most important changes in the areas of security, performance, development, operation and optimisation that you can expect in the latest version of OXID.
This is what changes in OXID 7 in terms of security
OXID 7 places special emphasis on security. The supported and tested MySQL versions are 5.7 and 8.0, while the supported PHP versions are 8.0 and 8.1. Composer version 1.x is no longer supported for security reasons, instead version 2.4 is supported and tested. Symfony components have been updated to version 6, and automatic HTML escaping is now performed in the frontend by the Twig template engine.
Performance adjustments in OXID 7
The performance of an online shop is a crucial factor for the user experience and the conversion rate. To further optimise the performance of the shop, OXID 7 supports the modern WebP image format. Compared to conventional formats such as JPEG and PNG, WebP offers a significantly better compression rate while maintaining the same image quality. This leads to a faster loading time of the website and thus to better performance.
To take full advantage of the WebP format, OXID 7 offers an optional function to automatically convert existing images into the WebP format. This function can be activated in the shop settings by selecting the option "Automatically convert all uploaded images to WebP format" under "Master Settings" > "Core Settings" > "System" > "Pictures". As soon as this setting is activated, all newly uploaded images as well as already saved images are automatically converted to WebP format.
This changes in OXID 7 development
In OXID 7, Twig is introduced as the default template engine, which is widely used in the developer community and offers excellent support. Twig is a flexible, powerful and well-documented template engine that greatly simplifies the process of creating and managing templates for web applications. With Twig, developers can access a wide range of features and extensions that make it easy to customise and extend OXID eShop templates.
The improvements to the template structure in OXID 7 allow developers to customise the visual appearance of the OXID eShop faster and easier. The introduction of multiple inheritance templates for modules, including Twig, means developers can change the layout of the shop without affecting the internal business logic and code base. When a module changes, the layout automatically adjusts, making custom module development and design customisation much easier.
Another advantage of the new template structure in OXID 7 is that the names in the controller templates are independent of the template engine used. This allows for easier integration of alternative template engines such as Smarty. The template engine finds the right extension independent of the engine used, which increases the flexibility and customisability of the system.
OXID 7 configuration and operation
In OXID 7, the structure of the YAML configuration file has been revised to simplify the installation, configuration and maintenance of OXID eShops. The redesign of the YAML file results in a clearer, easier to understand and better organised configuration structure. This allows developers and shop operators to manage their settings and customisations in a more efficient and intuitive way.
Another advantage of the revised YAML configuration file is the improved integration with the system components and modules of the OXID eShop. The new structure makes it easier to access and manage various configuration options, making the development and customisation of OXID eShops even smoother and more user-friendly.
In addition to the redesign of the YAML configuration file, the module handler has also been revised in OXID 7. The module-specific information is now stored in YAML files instead of in the database. Managing module information becomes easier and more transparent as all relevant data is stored in a single file. Since the information is no longer stored in the database, the database is relieved, which contributes to better performance of the shop. The use of YAML files facilitates versioning and the exchange of module information, which improves collaboration within a development team or between different teams.
OXID 7 has been optimised in these areas
OXID 7 focuses on optimising and simplifying the eShop by removing technically obsolete functionalities. This move allows developers and shop operators to focus on the latest technologies and best practices and improve the efficiency of their eShops.
The Testing Library, which was included in previous OXID versions, has been removed. Instead of the deprecated Testing Library, OXID 7 recommends the use of native PHPUnit and Codeception functionalities. These modern testing frameworks offer more comprehensive and up-to-date code testing capabilities and are widely used in the developer community. This not only makes it easier to test code, but also to integrate and collaborate with other developers and projects.
The RSS functionality that was previously present in OXID eShops has also been removed. Since RSS feeds have now been replaced by many more modern and flexible technologies and communication channels, the removal of this functionality is a logical step to optimise the eShop and focus on more up-to-date solutions.
Finally, login via LDAP has been removed from OXID 7. Since most customers implement their own authentication solutions anyway, the removal of this functionality is a sensible step to simplify the eShop. By removing the LDAP login, developers and shop owners can develop and integrate their own specific authentication solutions that are better tailored to their individual needs.
Conclusion on OXID 7
OXID eShop 7.0.0 brings numerous improvements and updates that make the shop more secure, powerful and user-friendly. The implementation of new technologies and the removal of obsolete features allow developers and shop owners to manage their OXID eShops even more efficiently and easily. We are looking forward to the upcoming release of OXID 7 in May 2023 and are excited about the possibilities this new version will open up.