Varty’s Videos: All About Composable
The Chief Technology Officer at Agility CMS steps in front of the camera again with some "tasty" insights on composable architecture. In this installment of Varty's Videos, Joel tells us what composable is, where it delivers value, and how to avoid the big mistakes.
Agility CMS Chief Technical Officer Joel Varty is back again with another YouTube video series. Composable Architecture 101 is a five-part series that looks at the core elements of composable content creation.
Composable has always been a critical tool and capability. But the true power and benefit of composable is now being realized, fully and completely. Some key takeaways from “The Composable Conference” in April confirm this, especially the observation that composable continues to deliver even as user preferences change.
Joel’s video series is the perfect starting point for novices new to the world of composable to veterans looking to strengthen their composable knowledge.
Video 1: What is Composable Architecture?
Joel kicks things off by introducing the basics of composable with his trademark friendly, engaging, and easy-to-understand manner. Not only does he cover the what of composable, but also the why. He also breaks down:
- His criteria for true composability
- How composable is the best fit for your particular use case
- How composable helps with today’s and tomorrow’s technology needs
Interesting Thing Joel Says to Watch Out For: “I like to think of it as a piece of pie.”
Watch: What is Composable Architecture?
Video 2: How Does a Composable Architecture Save You Money?
The second video looks at the question everyone asks about everything: how does this save me money? When it comes to composable, Joel returns to his pie analogy and compares composable to traditional DXP and tells you:
- The hidden, oft-forgotten costs of a traditional DXP
- Why time-to-market is just as important as dollars spent
- What to look out for to lower the cost of composable
Interesting Thing Joel Says to Watch Out For: “In all my experience, I have never seen a traditional DXP where the way that they do CMS is the absolute best way.”
Watch: How Does a Composable Architecture Save You Money?
Video 3: How to Kickstart Your Composable Architecture
The third video looks at what element pretty much every composable stack will need: a headless CMS. From there, he continues his traditional DXP vs. composable comparison. He also provides his kickstart recommendations, and yes, the pie is back. You’ll also learn:
- Why framework flexibility matters
- The concept of “building outwards”
- What costs a lot, takes forever, and how to avoid it
Interesting Thing Joel Says to Watch Out For: “I’m from Agility, so I’d love for you to use Agility CMS.”
Watch: How to Kickstart Your Composable Architecture
Video 4: How to Switch Your Website to Composable the Easy Way!
The fourth of five looks at how an incremental approach, starting with the website, is the way to go when transitioning from a traditional DXP to a modern composable architecture. Joel also explains why headless CMS is the foundation of it all. Joel also talks about:
- Using modern routing via CDN to bridge old and new systems
- The three benefits of partnering with composable vendors
- Additional composable components to utilize and when
Interesting Thing Joel Says to Watch Out For: “Whatever your motives are, there’s a way to work around that using an incremental way.”
Watch: How to Switch Your Website to Composable the Easy Way!
Video 5: Are You Making These Composable Mistakes?
The pie is back. In the final video of the series, Joel identifies the biggest pitfalls associated with a composable strategy. This video is all about setting yourself up for sustained success, especially as things like growing technical complexity come into play. You’ll also learn:
- Why there’s more to the term “future-proof” than meets the eye
- How to identify and prevent vendor cost sprawl
- Best practices to always keep in mind
Interesting Thing Joel Says to Watch Out For: “It can hit you all at once if you try to do too much all at once.”
Watch: Are You Making These Composable Mistakes?
Other Composable Resources
Check out these additional composable resources from CMS Critic and Agility CMS:
From CMS Critic
- MACHtales: Voices from “The Composable Conference” with Jina Zohori of Agility CMS
- Hungry for Composable? New Research Shows a Growing Appetite for MACH Technologies
From Agility CMS
Composable Goes from “Uh, What Does That Mean?” to “Oh! Now I Get It!”
The concept of composable could be daunting. But Joel’s Composable Architecture 101 series starts with the basics and gradually works its way up. The content may grow in complexity, but Joel’s grounded delivery makes it easy for anyone to follow along.
Brew a nice cup of coffee or tea. Grab a bagel or a donut. Or a slice of pie. And discover why composable is so critical in Composable Architecture 101.
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