1. Platform & environment

OrderCloud Accelerator

The OrderCloud Accelerator tool provides automation for Azure infrastructure and DevOps, along with a production-ready administrative application that implements best practices and patterns. This tool reduces solution development time by automating key setup and configuration tasks, making it particularly valuable for teams new to headless API development. The automated processes and pre-built components can save development teams significant time in bringing their solution to production.

Available marketplace solution tools:

  • OrderCloud marketplace data seeding
  • Azure resource provisioning
  • Local development settings configuration, including env.local files and settings.json files
  • VS Code deployment integration
  • Administrative application with comprehensive OrderCloud API coverage and customization options
  • Buyer application with expanding capabilities

Automated data and infrastructure seeding

The Accelerator application setup process requires minimal configuration in the OrderCloud Portal and Azure Portal. This streamlined approach allows teams to focus on customizing their solution rather than infrastructure setup.

OrderCloud marketplace requirements:

  • API Client creation for secure application access
  • Admin User configuration for marketplace management
  • Security Profile setup for administrative data seeding

Configuration options:

  • Resource ID mapping to application settings for seamless integration
  • Existing marketplace API Client integration for established solutions
  • Azure subscription and resource group identification for resource management

Guided seeding process

The infrastructure seeding process automates resource creation through an intuitive VS Code interface, eliminating the need for manual Azure Portal configuration:

  1. Azure Portal authentication
  2. Resource generation steps:
    • App service plan creation
    • Admin and storefront application services deployment
    • Function app configuration
    • Storage account setup
  3. VS Code integrated terminal execution for streamlined deployment

Built-in DevOps

The deployment process is integrated directly into VS Code, providing a seamless development experience:

  1. Resource generation completion verification
  2. Dependency installation management
  3. OOTB admin application deployment through VS Code:
    • Application folder selection
    • 'Deploy To Web App' option
    • Azure app service deployment automation

Configurable administrative experience

The Accelerator's React-based administrative application provides a robust foundation for marketplace management:

  • Implements configurable, lightweight architecture for optimal performance
  • Utilizes open source components for flexibility and maintainability
  • Mirrors OrderCloud Portal functionality for consistent user experience
  • Uses OpenAPI specifications for reliable integration
  • Generates intuitive interfaces for efficient marketplace administration

Notable features

The administrative application includes comprehensive capabilities for marketplace management:

  • OrderCloud JavaScript SDK authentication and authorization
  • Comprehensive API endpoint CRUD operations
  • Dynamic form generation with validation
  • Assignment relationship typeaheads for improved data entry
  • Resource list pagination, filtering, sorting and search
  • Request caching optimization for improved performance
  • Table, form, and xp schema configuration
  • UI theme customization options

Customization options

Xp schemas

The schema configuration system provides extensive customization capabilities:

  • OpenAPI specification format support for standardized definitions
  • Data type control for precise field configuration
  • Format validation options for data integrity
  • Required field specifications
  • Resource schema integration for consistent data modeling
  • Automatic form and table population for efficient UI generation

Table and form overrides

The interface customization system offers comprehensive control:

  • Native property display configuration
  • OpenAPI specification ordering for consistent presentation
  • Customizable marketplace experience
  • Resource visibility control for targeted functionality
  • Property order management
  • Display name configuration for clear presentation

Accelerator roadmap

Planned enhancements to expand platform capabilities:

  • Enhanced storefront application
  • Functions app with integrated services:
    • Message senders for notifications
    • Payment processing integration
    • Shipping calculation services
    • Tax computation functionality
If you have suggestions for improving this article, let us know!