Deploy Specific Websites Using SuiteCommerce Tools

TL;DR

Deploying specific websites using SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) allows you to create custom sites tailored to your business needs. This article details the steps required to set up and deploy these sites effectively, especially when not utilizing themes and extensions.

Overview

When implementing the Aconcagua release of SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) or later, it's advisable to utilize themes and extensions for enhancing your website. However, if you're focusing on custom deployments without these tools, follow the given process.

If using themes and extensions on an SCA website, note that these should not be deployed to a specific site. Instead, themes and extensions can be made available as bundled SuiteApps after installation, enabling activation across multiple domains.

How to Create and Deploy Custom Websites

To successfully create and deploy a custom website without utilizing themes and extensions, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Developer Tools

Begin by installing the developer tools and downloading the SuiteCommerce Advanced source code. Refer to the documentation on Set Up SCA Developer Tools for comprehensive guidance.

Step 2: Create Custom Modules

For each website you plan to build, create any custom modules you require. Detailed instructions can be found in Create a Custom Module.

Step 3: Organize Source Code

Within the top-level directory of the downloaded SuiteCommerce Advanced source code, do the following:

• Create a directory named Sites, which should be located at the same directory level as the Modules directory.
• Within the newly created Sites directory, establish a subdirectory for each individual website you intend to deploy.

Step 4: Configure Distribution File

Inside each site's specific subdirectory, create a custom distro.json file. For this:

• Utilize the default distro.json as a template.
• The custom distro.json should refer to:
  • Shared module source code located in suite_commerce.
  • Custom modules outlined in custom_modules.

Step 5: Deploy the Website

To deploy your website, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the specific subdirectory of the website you want to deploy.
2. Execute the deployment:
   • For local deployment, use the command gulp local.
   • To deploy directly to your NetSuite account, utilize gulp deploy.

After executing the deployment task, the corresponding DeployDistribution and LocalDistribution directories will be created within the site-specific directory, containing the compiled application files necessary for the website's operation.

Additional Considerations

• Themes and Extensions: For customization, consider utilizing themes and extensions available as bundled SuiteApps in later implementations of SCA. This can greatly enhance the visual layout and functionality of your websites.
• Testing and Validation: Ensure to test your customizations locally before deploying to live environments. This helps in troubleshooting any potential issues early on.

Who This Affects

• Developers: Those involved in website customization or deployment will benefit from understanding site-specific deployment methods.
• Administrators: Administrators overseeing website management can apply these best practices for efficient development.

Key Takeaways

• Custom websites can be deployed without utilizing themes or extensions in SCA.
• Organize your SuiteCommerce Advanced source code appropriately for deployment.
• Utilize gulp for local and account deployment effectively.
• Always test customizations locally before going live.

Source: This article is based on Oracle's official NetSuite documentation.