Umbraco 13 is the latest long-term support version of Umbraco CMS that uses the latest .NET and C# versions, enhancing performance, scalability, and development flexibility. It introduces Dynamic Root for the Multinode Treepicker and Rich Text Editor improvements, expands headless capabilities with built-in APIs, and emphasizes sustainability in web development.
Long-Term Support and Compatibility
In the ever-evolving landscape of content management systems (CMS), Umbraco has consistently stood out for its flexibility, user-friendliness, and strong community support. With the release of Umbraco 13, the platform solidifies its position as a future-proof solution for developers and content managers alike.
Umbraco 13 arrives as a Long Term Supported (LTS) version, ensuring stability and ongoing support until December 2026. This release aligns with Microsoft’s latest LTS version, .NET 8, and C# 12, guaranteeing a secure and forward-compatible platform for projects. The commitment to long-term support is a testament to Umbraco’s dedication to reliability and predictability in releases, making it easier for users to plan their upgrades.
Changes Introduced in Umbraco 13
The upgrade to .NET 8 brings significant improvements, including a more flexible garbage collector and enhancements to Serialization and JSON. Coupled with the features of C# 12, such as Primary Constructors and Lambda Improvements, Umbraco 13 offers enhanced performance, scalability, and a suite of new features that provide a robust foundation for development needs.
One of the standout features of this latest version is the introduction of Dynamic Root for the Multinode Treepicker, offering a more powerful way to set up dynamic roots compared to the old Xpath syntax. Additionally, the Rich Text Editor (RTE) now supports Blocks with structured data, allowing for seamless incorporation and showcasing of blocks directly within the RTE.
As well as a number of enhancements to the core CMS functionality; Umbraco 13 also embraces headless capabilities. With built-in features like Content Delivery API, Media Delivery API, Preview, and Webhooks, developers can now deliver content in a headless manner without extra installations or developing custom APIs. This flexibility caters to the growing demand for omnichannel content delivery and decoupled architectures.
Performance and Sustainability
Performance is a key focus in Umbraco 13, with internal tests showing a small improvement in requests per second compared to Umbraco 12 on the same setup. We have also seen major improvements in the upgrade process when attempting to update from an older version of the CMS. So if you are currently on Umbraco 10 (the previous LTS version of Umbraco) then you no longer need to fear lengthy and expensive upgrade projects as in most cases upgrading to Umbraco 13 can be done much quicker than traditional major version upgrades.
The platform encourages sustainable web development practices, providing resources like the “Sustainability Best Practices” to guide users in creating environmentally conscious web projects.
Conclusion
Umbraco 13 is not just an incremental update; it’s a leap forward in CMS technology. By embracing the latest .NET and C# advancements, enhancing the RTE, and expanding headless capabilities this latest version offers a comprehensive, sustainable, and future-proof platform for all web development needs.
Whether you’re upgrading from a previous version or starting a new project, Umbraco 13 is certainly our recommended version to use. If you are looking to upgrade your website to this latest version then get in touch today to see how our team can assist you to unlock the full potential of your content management strategy.
