b13 Blog

Sharing what we've learned while delivering client projects online for more than 20 years and being leading contributors to TYPO3 is part of who we are.

We choose widely-adopted open-source technologies because we can fix, extend, and improve them while building on the experience and support of thousands of our peers. In our blog, we share with you the knowledge we've gained along the way for you to build on.

Read on!

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SEOCore-DevelopmentSecurityTYPO3DDEVSolrPerformanceTYPO3v10TYPO3 v12ContainerUX/UI-DesignOpen SourceTool-TipTYPO3 v11LocalizationCacheProject ManagementCTypeFormsWorkspaces
Image for Article UX Troubleshooting - Site Navigation

UX Troubleshooting - Site Navigation

|Laura Heine

Site navigation is one of the most important elements of any website, and can greatly impact user experience. Poor navigation can result in shorter site visits and higher bounce rate. The good news: unlike some other UX elements, navigation can be improved relatively quickly. You can address a lot of preliminary issues by following well-accepted usability heuristics. Then go deeper with a thorough analysis of your business goals and user needs to create a site nav that is truly intuitive.

Image for Article Why choose On-Prem over SaaS for your CMS?

Why choose On-Prem over SaaS for your CMS?

|David Steeb

Enterprises now have many software delivery channel options to choose from. With software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud-based implementation models on the rise, you might be trying to figure out the best software delivery channel to support your enterprise’s digital strategy. If you don’t have an internal IT department, SaaS can be tempting, but when you also have stringent data compliance needs, an on-premises (or on-prem for short) solution is your best bet.

Image for Article Simplify your page configuration with our extension

Simplify your page configuration with our extension

|David Steeb

TYPO3’s separation of content and code is one of its major strengths. TYPO3 saves content in containers called content elements, which you can stack in content areas on a page record to create pages. The different parts of this highly configurable setup include “page types” (defined by the “doktype” field value in the pages database table record), a “backend layout” configuration, and possibly a third, separate “frontend layout” configuration value. We combine these components in various ways to enable different scenarios and desired outcomes.

Image for Article New TCA types in TYPO3 version 11

New TCA types in TYPO3 version 11

|Oliver Bartsch

In previous installments of our TYPO3 v11 series, we covered some of the great UX improvements that are making editors' lives easier. In this final post of the series, we’ve got something special for all the developers and site administrators: new TCA types. Using these dedicated types will reduce and simplify the TCA configuration required for special fields. They also allow auto-configuration and auto-creation of database fields.

Image for Article Visual Design for an international audience

Visual Design for an international audience

|Stefanie Kreuzer

When working with transnational corporate websites in different cultural contexts, it is very important to know the different aspects and demands of your international audience. To make a website optimally available and enjoyable for a wide range of users, you need to look beyond the technical requirements of a CMS only supporting text display and language direction. For your visual design to have a global reach, you need to consider things like aesthetics, symbolism, typography and form construction.

Image for Article Level up your TYPO3 forms with custom extensions and flexible finishers

Level up your TYPO3 forms with custom extensions and flexible finishers

|Michael Semle

TYPO3’s “Form” system extension is a flexible framework that can handle many configurations, templates, and use cases. While TYPO3 makes it easy to create forms on the fly, your business may have more complex needs that require backend adjustments. Rather than seeking tech help for every minor change, your company might benefit from a custom extension or flexible finisher that makes forms more self-serviceable for marketers. At b13, we love to help our clients get more flexibility out of TYPO3 Forms with custom solutions for specific business needs.

Image for Article Explainer - What's the difference between UI and UX?

Explainer - What's the difference between UI and UX?

|Laura Heine

It’s fair to say that there’s a lot of jargon in every industry, but the web seems to have plenty. The misunderstanding about the user interface (UI) versus the user experience (UX) highlights the confusion we often come across in our work. Sometimes customers ask us to build user interfaces, but they haven’t considered the impact on user experience. This quick article explains these terms and why this difference matters.

Image for Article Make more cost-effective decisions for your CMS

Make more cost-effective decisions for your CMS

|David Steeb

At b13, we’re often approached by CMOs and CEOs disgruntled by escalating costs. What seems like a relatively “cheap” CMS or software solution can often come with hidden or long-term expenses—like multiple relaunches, jumps in licensing fees, or pricey additions. As an agency committed to free and open source software like TYPO3, we’re dedicated to helping companies make forward-thinking decisions for their content strategy. In the process, we’ve identified some best practices for making smart, cost-effective decisions for your CMS.