Magento 2.0 delivers a revolutionary update to both of their finest products on the market, both Community and Enterprise Edition are improved vastly since the last variant. Here we’ll show you what has change since.
Features
Compatibility
Magento 2.0 will use PHP 5.3 and Zend Framwork for managing performances of cache engine, database access layer and translations. Coincidentally, it supports MSSQL and Oracle that is great for Windows Platform Server.
Concept of View
In Magento 2.0, the sheer complexity and overall development time is considerably reduced due to the novel design of concept of the view in the module, which is the replacement of the existing base design package that enables developers to create working view with minimal effort as they don’t have to define the configuration file, because it is possible to create the view instead. Replacement of base directory and integration of view into the whole system are two major changes in Magento 2.0.
JQuery Library
Jquery is the most popular lightweight to use JavaScript Library. In Magento 2.0, jQuery library is the default JavaScript library. The migration from prototype to Jquery is one of the most important changes for frontend developers in Magento 2.0 as the prototype.js was used as a base javascript framework in its previous version because of the instability that entails.
Support from Magento 2.0 is only valid for one Javascript framework which means that there will be less Javascript conflicts in 2.0 than in 1.x. Yet another major plus for developers.
New Performance
Performance used to be an issue for Magento. A powerhouse with an unquenchable thirst for resources and marginally less efficient than other solutions, but everything changes with the latest installment. Magento 2.0 is at least 20% faster than the latest Magento 1.x. This change in overall performance is vastly noticeable.
Component Oriented Architecture
Modules such as customer, catalog, checkout, sales, CMS and others exist as components and interact between each other with high code coupling. Should a certain module deem obsolete, it can be disabled or replaced with the developers’ choice of module. It’s not necessary to install the entire system and hack the existing code base to customize and tweak Magento 2.0, thus site performance increases significantly.
Directories Structure
Magento 2.0 ushers two major overhaul in its file structure. First and foremost, everything is placed directly under the app structure. Secondly, every module has its own VIEW directory in which you can access all template, layout, js, and css/less files of any specific module. This undoubtedly serve as a monumental milestone for module developers as they can have more opportunities for customization without changing core site functionality.
There are four types of directories in Magento 2 file system:
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Primary directories
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System directories
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Application directories
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Public directories
Automated Testing
Developers are now able to construct autonomous testing regime. It includes a flawless testing framework designed to perform: Static Tests, Performance Tests, Unit Tests, Legacy and Migration Tests, Integration Tests and JavaScript Unit Tests.
Better Security
In lieu of changes to directory structure, Magento 2 is now more secure than ever. There is a new directory – ‘pub’, which enables developers to protect the code from different security breaches. They have taken some new steps in handling server validation. It will ensure greater security, so the online store will be much safer.
The latest version includes an automatic installer that can check upgrade requirements, and will verify that you have all the additional components needed for flawless operation with your upgrade. And of course, an easy-to-use import/export tool will make it easy to switch over to Magento 2 and future upgrades. Whereas upgrading used to be a dull task, it’s rather smooth sailing with version 2.0.
Class Alias
Class Alias has been removed. Only Class name needs to be place in the mage class design pattern method.
RDBMS Tabular Structure
New sections are converted into typical RDBMS tabular structure in Magento 2.0. There are plans to provide NoSQL adapter, so the removing of EAV is inevitable, but in Magento 2.0 it will get improved performance
ORM
There is a possibility than Magento 2.0 will get a new ORM.
Service Contracts
Service Contracts is another important feature of Magento 2, which is based on a set of different PHP Interfaces. The feature improves and simplifies the use of APIs for various modules. With Service Contracts, developers will get a new way of working with public API endpoints.
Front-end Architecture
Magento 2.0 frontend engine is aligned with modern protocols, and uses HTML5, CSS3 technologies. The Prototype library was replaced by jQuery along with Jquery UI. They have Magento UI library which is based on LESS, it contains a solid set of mixins, and a large set of variables that allows you to make the development process more intuitive and flexible.
Opting LESS based on the fact that Magento 2 comes with an internal compiler, that allows the developer to focus on the development process. The LESS compilation could be a server-side using LESS PHP library, or client-side that uses less.js library.
Note that Magento 2.0 used RequireJS, which significantly increases the pages loading speed. RequireJS is an implementation of AMD (Asynchronous Module Definition) technology, it is an API for declaring modules and their asynchronous loading at a moment when they are needed. This avoids adding JS-script libraries in the head, in the “lazy” loading way.
Back-end point of view:
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PHP 5.5, Zend Framework 1.x
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MySQL, Oracle and MSSQL databases support
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jQuery + plugin orientated framework
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Improved SOAP, XML-RPC, JSON-RPC, REST and other APIs
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Unlimited theme inheritance
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New validator library
Key Updates
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New Technologies
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Improved Customization Process
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Easier Frontend Development
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Reduced Upgrade Cost and Effort
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Improved Scalability and Performance
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New Documentation and Testing resources
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Better Engagement with Community
New Technologies
The new technology stack includes the latest versions of PHP, JQuery, CSS3, etc.
Magento 1.x technology stack
Sass/Compass
jQuery in rwd package only
Prototype Javascript livrary in core
Additional Javascript libraries
Magento 2.0 technology stack
- HTML5
- CSS3
- RequireJS
- Apache 2.2 or later
- PHP 5.5.x with PHP 5.4.11
- MySQL 5.6
- PSR Compliance
- Install needed components via Composer
- Magento UI Library
- CSS Pre-processor
- Full page caching
- Magento Performance toolkit
With JQuery Magento 2 is more accessible, as a result, developers are able to use a JavaScript libraries they already well-versed in. The supports for additional plugins is provided as well.
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Magento 2 is fully responsive and based on HTML5. Customers get a great shopping experience on every device, and developers are able to use powerful APIs and features from HTML5.
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CSS3 improves page load speed of Magento 2. It also provides a myriad of new visual effects: reflections, multiple backgrounds, shadows, and so on.
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Another great feature of Magento 2 is a RequireJS library. It aids in loading JS resources asynchronously. As a result it improves page load time and encourage modular design for front end components.
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The second Magento also supports PHP 5.5 (5.4.11 is the minimum requirement). Ultimately, Magento 2 provides better overall performance.
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The support for MySQL 5.6 in Magento 2 is finalized. This version of MySQL can essentially improve MySQL engine performance.
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With the addition of PSR compliance, Magento V2.0 is easier to learn. In addition, it standardizes the use of PHP, hence developers can use different sets of code libraries.
Improved Customization Process
With the advent of Visual Design Editor, using the ‘drop and drag’ interface for editing Magento layout is much easier. Thanks to the appearance of Visual design editor, modifying containers and blocks will not require specialized technical knowledge. Hence, any changes in the admin panel at ease.
With improved customization process, developers are now able to extend Magento to meet specific merchant needs faster and easier.
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The modular code of Magento reduces cross-module dependencies and allows developers to make targeted changes without any impact on other areas of code. This leads to cleaner interfaces among multiple extensions with higher flexibility and better customization.
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There are a layered navigation and modularized search interface in Magento 2.0. Thus, search functions are more customizable.
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Magento 2.0 provides enhanced APIs for better integrations with external systems.
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Another significant addition to the new Magento is XML validation. It checks that XML code follows specific structures and rules.
Easier Frontend Development
With less CSS preprocessor and modern HTML5 themes, developer now finds it easy in getting accustom to new layout of the site without changing site functionality.
Frontend development is also more accessible in Magento 2.0 with LESS CSS preprocessor and modern HTML5 themes.
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Developers now have more opportunities for an easier customization of the look and feel without changing core site functionality. As a result, they can pay more attention to user experience, formats and styles. Frontend coding in Magento 2 is less complex and more autonomous.
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Magento 2.0 also provides features that make CSS more extendable and maintainable in a theme-friendly way. CSS-preprocessor speeds up frontend development and improves multilevel theme inheritance – developers can recompile CSS for all dependent themes with the dedicated updated parent themes. Instead of LESS CSS preprocessor, developers can also use Sass/Compass.
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It includes a Blank Theme, which allows developers to start with a stripped down the theme and all the necessary features and customizations.
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The Magento UI Library includes a lot of different components (i.e. typography, tables, forms, etc.) and specific patterns (messages, navigation, ratings). It provides the ability to change almost all elements of Magento 2 front end. With UI patterns defined within the library, developers can create new themes or modify existing much faster.
Reduced Upgrade Cost and Effort
In Magento 2.0, upgrading core Magento software and extensions will be easier than with lower upgrade costs and efforts.
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Upgrade to new version: To support developer upgrade new version easier, Magento 2 includes information on versioning policies. Moreover, you will be provided all necessary information about compatibility of upgrades.
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Install Magento: With the support of new standalone installer, installing Magento 2 will be much faster. This tool will check for prerequisites before starting installation.
With lower upgrade costs and efforts, it is easier to upgrade all core Magento software and install extensions in Magento 2.
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Upgrading Magento to a newer versions is now easier, because version 2.0 includes information on versioning policies. In addition, you can get all the necessary information about compatibility of upgrades with the current version.
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It includes a standalone installer, which is a separate and independent script.
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Upgrading to Magento 2 is possible by exporting all standard records and importing them into the system.
Improved Scalability and Performance
Improved scalability consists of improved indexers, new Magento performance toolkit, Varnish Cache. Meanwhile the new indexers in Magento 2.0 come with an even more efficient updates to speed up performance, Magento performance toolkits support to verify and optimize system performance and Varnish Cache helps reducing server load and speed up the page loading time while providing support for multiple admin users.
New Documentation and Testing resources
The newest version of Magento includes all the necessary documentation. Also, it consists of tests to enable faster development. This testing framework supports continuous integration and testing practices. Not to mention static environments, performance criteria, and functional areas. To enable faster development, the testing framework of Magento 2.0 supports continuous integration and testing practices.
Better Engagement with Community
Engagement with the community is thoroughly enhanced in Magento 2.0 where updates on Github, Magento 2 webinars and special events make the platform more opened to the community.
