UmbraCare LOGO

Umbraco Developer Key Skills

Master the key skills every Umbraco developer needs to succeed. From backend mastery with .NET Core to front-end finesse with modern frameworks, this guide has examples to elevate your development expertise.

Published on: , by:
Piotr Bach
Piotr Bach
Wojciech Tengler
Wojciech Tengler
Umbraco MS SQL .NET Core Azure SEO

Jump to Section

ASP.NET Core & C#: The Foundations

Since 2021, Umbraco has run on .NET Core, making ASP.NET Core and C# non-negotiable developer skills.

  • ASP.NET Core enables cross-platform web development with a modular architecture.
  • C# is the language driving Umbraco’s backend functionality.

Example: Razor Syntax in Action

Razor simplifies bridging backend logic with frontend views.

Here's a snippet to retrieve content by its ID:

@Umbraco.Content(1234).Name

💡 Pro Tip: Combine Razor with strongly-typed models to create robust, maintainable views.

Learn more:

I wrote about the switch from ASP.NET to ASP .NET Core here: The Cross-Platform Revolution: Umbraco and .NET Core.

Start working with C# by checking out the official C# documentation.

To get the full scoop on what ASP.NET Core offers, check out our detailed article, "ASP.NET Core Essential Features."

Defensive programming principles for .NET and Umbraco CMS

Defensive Programming: Build Resilient Applications

Defensive programming protects your applications from unexpected errors and malicious input.

It’s a must for creating reliable Umbraco applications.

Key Principles of Defensive Programming

  1. Input Validation: Prevent injection attacks by validating all inputs.
  2. Fail-Safe Defaults: Use secure defaults for unhandled errors.
  3. Consistent Error Handling: Centralize error handling for predictable outcomes.
  4. Logging and Monitoring: Monitor your app using tools like Application Insights.

Example: Input Validation in Umbraco

When processing user input, ensure all fields are validated:

if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(userInput))  
    throw new ArgumentException("Input cannot be null or empty");

💡 Further Reading: Check out our Defensive Programming Principles with Examples.

Azure App Service as Umbraco cloud platform,

Azure App Service is a powerful and scalable solution for hosting Umbraco applications in the cloud

Cloud Computing: Scaling Umbraco

Azure offers a suite of tools tailored for hosting and scaling Umbraco applications.

Azure Services for Umbraco

  • Azure App Service: Scalable hosting for your web app.
  • Azure SQL Database: Fully managed and secure database solutions.
  • Azure Blob Storage: Efficiently store media like images and videos.
  • Azure Redis Cache: Speed up your site by caching frequent queries.
  • Azure Search: Deliver fast and relevant search results to your users.

Example: Configuring Azure Key Vault

Secure your application secrets in Azure Key Vault:

var secretClient = new SecretClient(new Uri("<KeyVaultUri>"), new DefaultAzureCredential());
string secret = await secretClient.GetSecretAsync("DatabasePassword");

💡 Quick Tip: Use the Dedicated Media Folder package to organize media effectively.

JavaScript & Modern Frameworks: Supercharge Your UI

JavaScript is essential for interactive websites, while frameworks like AngularJS power Umbraco’s back office.

AngularJS in Umbraco

Umbraco’s back office uses AngularJS extensively.

Learn to create:

  • Custom property editors
  • Dynamic dashboards
  • Custom sections and apps

Example: Custom Property Editor

angular.module("umbraco").controller("MyPropertyEditorController", function($scope) {
    $scope.value = "Hello, Umbraco Developer!";
});

Frontend Frameworks for Umbraco

Frameworks like React and Vue.js can supercharge your frontend:

  • React: Fast and scalable UI components.
  • Vue.js: Intuitive for smaller projects.

💡 Pro Tip: Choose a framework that aligns with your project scale and team expertise.

Creative process of Umbraco web design using CSS

Styling with CSS, SCSS, and LESS

CSS defines your site’s visual identity, but preprocessors like SCSS and LESS take it further.

Example: Using SCSS Variables for Consistency

$primary-color: #3498db;

body {
    background-color: $primary-color;
}

💡 Action Item: Start by converting your existing CSS to SCSS for better maintainability.

.NET Backend and API Integrations: The Connectors

APIs extend Umbraco’s capabilities beyond content management.

Use RESTful APIs to connect payment systems, CRMs, or social platforms.

Example: Fetching Data from Twitter API

public IList<Tweet> GetLatestTweets()
{
    // Code to connect to Twitter API and fetch latest tweets
}
Umbraco Integration with External Services

Umbraco works great with external data sources and services

To nail API integrations, you need a mix of skills:

  1. Understanding RESTful Services: Know how web services work, especially REST APIs.
  2. JSON/XML Proficiency: Be comfortable with data formats like JSON or XML used in API communication.
  3. Authentication Know-How: Understand OAuth or other authentication methods for secure connections.
  4. Error Handling: Be prepared to handle potential issues or communication errors gracefully.

API integrations in Umbraco are about making your site not just a standalone entity but a part of a larger, interconnected web ecosystem.

Mastering these integrations means you can expand the functionality of your sites, making them more dynamic and resourceful.

Regular Expressions: The Problem Solvers

Jon Franklin once said, "Simplicity carried to the extreme becomes elegance."

This is particularly true for Regular Expressions (Regex).

Simplicity carried to the extreme becomes elegance.

Jon Franklin

Regex is your secret weapon for text processing. 

It slices and dice text to find exactly what you need.

Like a detective with a keen eye for detail, Regex allows you to sift through the chaos of text, identifying, fixing, and extracting precisely what you need with precision and finesse.

A detective solving a mystery using regular expressions

Example: Wrapping Text with Regex

Imagine you're working with a Umbraco Rich Text Editor and need to wrap plain text with a <p> tag.

Regex becomes your tool of choice to handle this task elegantly.

Here's an example of how you can achieve this in C#:

public static string WrapPlainTextWithParagraph(this string input)
{
    if (!input.IsSet())
        return input;

    if (input.Contains("<p>"))
        return input;

    input = $"<p>{input.Trim()}</p>";
    input = input.ReplaceNewLines("</p><p>");

    return Regex.Replace(input, "\\s+</p><p>+\\s+", "</p><p>", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);
}

💡 Pro Tip:  Check out Expresso for Regular Expressions.

It's a great tool for developers and saves hours of work.

Remember: “With great power comes great responsibility”.

Use regex wisely!

SEO rankings improvement graph symbolizing the impact of Umbraco effective SEO techniques

SEO: The Whisperer to Google

In today’s digital landscape, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about more than keywords and backlinks. 

It’s about making your website easy for Google to understand while ensuring a great experience for users.

Fundamental SEO Techniques for Umbraco Developers

Alt Attributes: Add alt text to all images to improve accessibility and help search engines index your media.

Example:

<img src="website-image.jpg" alt="Umbraco developer working on a laptop">

Meta Data: Optimize titles and meta descriptions for every page.

Example:

<title>Umbraco Developer Key Skills - Master Essential Techniques</title>
<meta name="description" content="Discover the essential skills every Umbraco developer needs to create SEO-friendly, high-performance websites.">

Schema Markup: Use structured data to enhance search results.

Example:

Highlight a product with JSON-LD schema:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Umbraco Hosting Package",
  "description": "High-speed hosting for Umbraco websites."
}

Semantic HTML: Use clean and descriptive HTML5 elements (e.g., <article>, <section>, <header>) to make your content structure clear to search engines.

Content Performance Tracking: Integrate Google Analytics and Search Console to monitor organic traffic.

Example: SEO Optimization in Action

When optimizing a blog post in Umbraco, focus on:

  1. Title Tag: Include the target keyword. Example: "Essential SEO Tips for Umbraco Developers".
  2. Headers: Use a hierarchy of <h1>, <h2>, and <h3> tags for content structure.
  3. Internal Linking: Link to related posts to improve navigation and reduce bounce rates.

💡Bonus Tip: Google Loves Quality Content.

Focus on creating well-organized, unique content tailored to your audience.

As Wendy Piersall puts it:

Google only loves you when everyone else loves you first.

Wendy Piersall

Advanced SQL Queries: The Data Ninjas

The world is one big data problem.

Andrew McAfee, co-director of the MIT Initiative

SQL is the language of data.

Knowing how to write advanced queries is like having a ninja skill in your arsenal.

SQL in Action: Finding and Reporting

Consider this scenario.

You need to generate a report on all current versions of articles in your Umbraco CMS that were updated after a specific date. 

Here's where your SQL prowess comes into play.

By using a query like the one below, you can efficiently retrieve a detailed list:

declare @now datetime = getdate()
declare @dateFrom datetime = getdate()
declare @days int = 7 -- last 7 days
  
set @dateFrom = dateadd(day,-@days,@now) 

 /* List all current versions of documents newer than @dateFrom Trimmed view */
select 
umbdocument.nodeId,
umbContentVersion.versionDate, 
umbContentVersion.[text], 
umbcontentType.alias,
umbracoUser.userEmail,
umbracoUser.[username]
from [umbracoDocument] umbdocument
join [umbracoContent] umbContent on umbdocument.nodeId = umbContent.nodeId
join [cmsContentType] umbcontentType on umbContent.contentTypeId = umbcontentType.nodeId
join [umbracoContentVersion] umbContentVersion on umbContent.nodeId = umbContentVersion.nodeId 
join [umbracoUser] umbracoUser on umbContentVersion.userId = umbracoUser.id
where umbContentVersion.[current] = 1 
and umbContentVersion.versionDate > @dateFrom
order by umbContentVersion.versionDate desc

This query is a prime example of how SQL filters and organizes data meaningfully, making report generation a breeze.

GDPR Compliance: Deleting Umbraco Users

SQL can be your ally when it comes to GDPR compliance.

Need to delete Umbraco users permanently for privacy reasons?

A well-crafted SQL query can precisely handle this, ensuring compliance and data integrity. 

💡Learn more: How to Delete Umbraco User Permanently.

💡Read: Ways to ensure Umbraco GDPR compliance

Database Maintenance: Keeping It Clean

As a data ninja, your role extends beyond retrieval and reporting.

Regular database maintenance is crucial.

It includes keeping the database optimized and clean.

This involves periodic checks, updates, and clean-ups to ensure your Umbraco system runs smoothly and efficiently.

SQL is a fundamental skill for Umbraco developers.

It empowers you to delve into data, make informed decisions, maintain compliance, and ensure the overall health of your Umbraco projects.

Git feature branches in Git Flow

Git feature branches. Source: https://www.atlassian.com/

Git & Git Flow: Code Collaboration

Git helps track changes, while Git Flow ensures smooth team collaboration.

Example Workflow in Git Flow

  1. Create a Feature Branch: Isolate changes for new features.
  2. Merge into Develop: Combine tested features into the development branch.
  3. Tag Releases: Mark milestones for production.

💡 Pro Tip: Follow Git’s golden rule: “Commit often, push regularly.”

Soft Skills: Bridging Tech and People

Technical skills alone don’t guarantee success.

Develop these soft skills to stand out:

  • Communication: Use analogies to explain complex concepts.
  • Empathy: Understand client and team needs.
  • Problem-Solving: Stay calm under pressure and think critically.

💡 Action Item: Practice active listening in meetings to build trust and understanding.

Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.

Paul J. Meyer

Conclusion: List of Skills for Umbraco Developers

To excel as an Umbraco Developer and deliver exceptional projects, focus on mastering these essential skills:

  1. ASP.NET Core & C#
  2. Defensive Programming
  3. Cloud Platforms (Azure)
  4. Front-End Development (JavaScript, AngularJS, React, Vue.js)
  5. CSS, SCSS, LESS
  6. API Integration (RESTful)
  7. Regex
  8. SQL Optimization
  9. Git & Git Flow
  10. SEO Best Practices
  11. Soft Skills (Communication, Empathy, Problem-Solving)

What's Next?

Are you looking to master these skills or need help with your Umbraco project?

Explore our Umbraco Developers services to take your websites to the next level.

Visit our blog regularly for more tips, in-depth guides, and actionable insights. 

EDITOR'S PICK

↑ Top ↑