Option to create Template Files in SE Cloud admin panel
We're working on a new SE Cloud theme and it's almost done. I had issues with the development process and I would like share it with SE developers and management.
Working on themes will be more streamlined if we cloud create layout and page templates from admin panel instead of creating files in local server..
With SE Cloud template engine, local development is impossible. If I work on a new project on local server, to view the changes in source code every single time instead of simply pressing a F5 key, I have to take these steps :
1) Locate local directory
2) Compress the directory
3) Open SE Cloud admin panel
4) Go to theme choosing page
5) Choose file
6) Click on Upload
7) Error message ( Because of duplicate package )
8) Choose file again
9) Confirm overwrite & upload
10) Refresh page
Another way is to use the built-in text editor. The editor is fine for small modifications but starting and working on a new project with that editor is impractical. To simple create a new layout file I have to :
1) Download the package
2) Locate the local directory
3) Unzip the package
4) Create the file
5) Modify package.json
6) +10 steps I mentioned above
I have to repeat these tasks over and over and switch between local and online servers continuously.
SE Cloud is a great platform, full of potentials and with a nice template engine but developing on it for developers is tedious and full of unnecessary tasks for achieving simple goals.
In the era of live reload, command line composers and packagers, single line app deployments and IDEs with automation plugins, SE Cloud development process is falling behind. Is there any plans to improve this ? The ability to create layout and template files and a better text editor with auto completion will make the process easier.
Our new theme for SE Cloud will be published soon and I hope there's enough SE Cloud customers out there and we can continue developments for this platform.
Working on themes will be more streamlined if we cloud create layout and page templates from admin panel instead of creating files in local server..
With SE Cloud template engine, local development is impossible. If I work on a new project on local server, to view the changes in source code every single time instead of simply pressing a F5 key, I have to take these steps :
1) Locate local directory
2) Compress the directory
3) Open SE Cloud admin panel
4) Go to theme choosing page
5) Choose file
6) Click on Upload
7) Error message ( Because of duplicate package )
8) Choose file again
9) Confirm overwrite & upload
10) Refresh page
Another way is to use the built-in text editor. The editor is fine for small modifications but starting and working on a new project with that editor is impractical. To simple create a new layout file I have to :
1) Download the package
2) Locate the local directory
3) Unzip the package
4) Create the file
5) Modify package.json
6) +10 steps I mentioned above
I have to repeat these tasks over and over and switch between local and online servers continuously.
SE Cloud is a great platform, full of potentials and with a nice template engine but developing on it for developers is tedious and full of unnecessary tasks for achieving simple goals.
In the era of live reload, command line composers and packagers, single line app deployments and IDEs with automation plugins, SE Cloud development process is falling behind. Is there any plans to improve this ? The ability to create layout and template files and a better text editor with auto completion will make the process easier.
Our new theme for SE Cloud will be published soon and I hope there's enough SE Cloud customers out there and we can continue developments for this platform.
> Is there any plans to improve this ?
Yes, we have plans much to what you're describing. I come from front end development and know the pain well. In addition to using existing tools and as close to live reload as we can get, we're hoping to expose more of the inner workings of widgets via handlebars/mustache templates. No promises as we're still in planning stages and plans can change.
I was able to use live reload for CSS btw by referencing to a local file but I had to switch between IDE for local CSS and built-in editor for HTML files and with the inability to create layout files from dashboard, keeping packages in sync can get frustrating.