Introducing the BC Open Platform

hi everyone,

 

as starting new year here @ business catalyst, excited able share 1 of our biggest development projects. have heard time , again quest deliver more complex, custom made projects tailor site customers. , of times included not customizing front end of site, working on administration section.

bc open platform @ glance

our new project called business catalyst open platform allows build custom-tailored admin experiences customers. new functionality utilizes idea of apps (or applications) , powerful rest apis. designed allow interface business catalyst platform, creating, editing , styling own menu items using simple json configuration files, or connecting external tools , applications using our apis. full open platform program include:

 

• a full-fledged developer program
• web apps , system rest apis
• detailed developer documentation navigate around these new features
• javascript sdk
• an app marketplace run in collaboration our partners bc gurus.
• a developer forum partners can comment, share, collaborate , offer feedback engineering team.
• sample applications started

 

as move forward want open of these elements more developers in closed beta testing program, read further see how can part of program. first, let's take @ these new features achieve.

build custom functionality in admin section

whether talking menu entries in top ribbon or additional entries in side menus, able control how customers see , interact business catalyst admin area, business owners spend day.

 

for example, can add own homepage slider, owner of site can upload images or choose them existing library, manage slides in single dashboard or create video slider clips integrated youtube or vimeo.

 

this application will  saving development time , giving end customer better experience allowing them edit own site in admin without having call partner future updates.

 

by creating own application able deliver custom interfaces, adapted needs of customers. these new menu entries can link outside content or newly coded applications designed customers.

 

using new apis , having ability customize menu entries allow extend admin section of bc building own tools , applications.

 

package apps , sell them on marketplace

once decide want monetize work beyond single site, can package applications , sell them on bc app store (managed bc gurus), generating revenue other partners want optimize work including application in sites.

 

over past few months have tested these workflows handful of dedicated partners thank efforts. in app store can see of applications created. take moment review them , see how sites benefit using 1 of them. cover variety of uses such as:

 

• web app autoloader
• twitter feed
• captcha refresh
• team directory
• homepage slider
• dev in box

 

we want thank these developers took time test new technology @ times incomplete, , provided invaluable feedback our team progressed. hope move forward see amazing apps built on platform.

 

start learning developer documentation , forum

our developer program includes detailed documentation guide through first steps in building application, developer forum can chat, ask questions, collaborate , share ideas, provide bc engineering team feedback can later integrated product.

 

at time these tools restricted beta testing team, expect open them bc partners move towards public beta release within next few months.

 

join our closed beta program

at time installing apps available every business catalyst partner. in order join our developer community , try hand @ coding 1 of applications or customizing admin area of own site, please join our closed beta program. required sign nda , receive access documentation , tools first instances of app development.

 

to join program please send e-mail bc partner team expressing interest in this, , guide through procedure. please note testing group open partners (paid or free) have created @ least 1 paid site on business catalyst. 

 

within next few months our team continue develop these features of beta group, , open development program partners of business catalyst.

 

we hope excited embark in new chapter business catalyst, , shape future of platform. 

the business catalyst team

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