For Backend Developers
Bloomreach Experience Manager is a Java-based platform built on JCR (Java Content Repository), Spring, and the HST (Hippo Site Toolkit) delivery framework. The Build section is the largest — covering content modeling, component development, REST APIs, search, security, workflows, and platform extensions.
What you'll find in the Build section
Content Repository (JCR)
Understand how content is stored, typed, and queried in the JCR. Work with node types, namespaces, and the repository API.
Document Types & Content Beans
Define document types that structure your content, and work with content beans — Java objects that map JCR nodes to typed Java classes.
HST Configuration
Configure the delivery tier: sitemap, pages, components, virtual hosts, and mounts. The HST configuration model is the backbone of request routing.
Component Development
Build HST components — the Java controllers that fetch content and pass it to templates. Learn the component lifecycle, parameters, and async rendering.
REST Services
Expose content via JAX-RS REST endpoints — both plain services and content-aware services that leverage the HST request context.
Search & Queries
Build content search queries using the Fluent Search API or legacy HstQuery API. Configure faceted navigation for filtered browsing.
Plugins & Extensions
Extend the CMS with Wicket-based UI plugins, custom dashboards, perspectives, and event listeners.
Recommended starting points
- Hello World — hands-on tutorial covering the MVC pattern
- HST Configuration Model — understand how requests map to pages
- Component Development — build your first HST component
- Content Beans — map JCR content to Java objects
- REST Services — expose content via APIs