Umbraco 14 is here! Offering numerous improvements and new features that enhance performance, security, and user experience. Here we will discuss the key features of Umbraco 14 and explain why they are beneficial for both technical and non-technical users alike.
The latest iteration of everyone’s favourite Content Management System is live. But don’t worry, it still has all the things you loved before, the editor-friendly back-office (with a new look), the scalability, the customisation. But we also have some new features to talk about so let’s dive into those features shall we. Fear not non-technical readers, I will explain why these features are beneficial for all of us in the next section.
Bellissima
Introducing Bellissima, Umbraco 14’s brand new back-office built from the ground up. Don’t worry, the seamless and intuitive UI that you are used to for content management will be as familiar as ever. The rebuild of the back-office see’s Umbraco move away from outdated AngularJS, opting for an approach based on web components and typescript for a more modern, future-proofed development experience.
Extension-first strategy
Umbraco 14 brings with it a more uniformed approach for API’s and Libraries. According to Umbraco themselves, the Extension API “..ensures that all UI in Umbraco is built using this API and the Umbraco UI Library.” Increasing Umbraco’s extendibility and customisability even further.
The new Management API increases Umbraco’s headless capabilities, built directly into Umbraco this API is used by the back-office to communicate with the backend whilst simultaneously being available to add content management capabilities in external applications.
Rounding out our new suite of API’s, the Context API replaces Angular JS’s dependency system, once again ensuring we are future proofed in our pursuit of developmental success.
Other improvements include:
Firstly, the new back-office, Bellissima, is designed to be even more intuitive whilst retaining its familiarity previous iterations, making it easier for non-technical users to manage content without a steep learning curve
Next, by moving away from outdated AngularJS and adopting web components and TypeScript, the back-office is more stable and future-proof, ensuring a smoother experience for all users and allowing non-technical users to manage their content without running into errors.
Umbraco’s other improvements benefit non-technical users by keeping their site safe from threats, providing faster load times, and ensuring usability for all, including those with disabilities. Additionally, organising media files is now easier than ever, resulting in a smoother and more efficient user experience.
If you're currently using Umbraco 13, you might be wondering whether it's worth upgrading to Umbraco 14. The answer largely depends on your specific needs. Umbraco 13 is a Long-Term Support (LTS) version, meaning it provides stability and ongoing support for an extended period. In contrast, Umbraco 14 operates under Standard-Term Support (STS), with features being released as they are developed.
While Umbraco 14 introduces exciting improvements like Bellissima and enhanced API capabilities, it may still have ongoing refinements and potential issues being worked on. Unless your project specifically requires the new features set in Umbraco 14, staying on Umbraco 13 may be the more stable choice for now.
Still unsure? Contact Northern Wolf to discuss how we can help.
