Decoupled & Optimized: Core CMS v0.6.4 Launches the Modular Commerce Pack
I am thrilled to announce the release of Core CMS v0.6.4! This update is all about modular optimization and refining our architecture. We have successfully split the monolithic e-commerce plugin structure into three standalone, independent plugins: Commerce Shop, Food & Beverage POS, and Commerce Reports.
Major Highlights / Updates
This release refines how features are loaded and managed, ensuring standard Core installations remain lightning-fast and lightweight:
- Decoupled Commerce Shop: The main store plugin handles native checkouts (Stripe/PayPal), physical shipping, and Lemon Squeezy digital files. Its product editor is now fully cleaned of F&B controls.
- Standalone Food & Beverage POS: Restaurant operations (QR menus, table locations, delivery zones, modifiers, and Kanban board) are isolated in their own plugin with a dedicated menu manager.
- Commerce Reports Sibling Engine: The analytics dashboard (`admin/reports.php`) dynamically maps to active sibling plugins (Shop and/or F&B) and deactivates itself if no commerce module is active.
- Exposed Plugin Settings: Added redirect hooks so that F&B and Reports display an action gear settings button directly inside the CMS Plugin Manager screen.
- Digital Menu Long Description Fix: Item description lengths are no longer truncated on the digital menu page (`/menu`) and render fully via Editor.js when expanded.
Technical Deep Dive
Under the hood, we've executed clean separation steps to prevent database and code residue:
- Independent Database Sweeps: Sibling uninstall scripts are designed to drop only their specific columns/tables without corrupting shared tables (like products) if a sibling plugin is still active.
- Unique Plugin Changelogs: Decoupled and individualized changelogs for the Shop, F&B, and Reports plugins to keep version histories specific and readable.
- Settings Redirection Routing: Leveraged simple header redirects inside decoupled folders so core dashboard hooks query the correct settings paths seamlessly.
Looking Ahead
With the e-commerce systems decoupled and optimized, we've paved the way for seamless, lightweight performance across all network sites in our integration pipeline (brainav.ca, dragriver.ca, and drag0n.ca).
Try the updated platform out at core-cms.brainav.ca.
Until next time!
— Jason Brain