What a Year! 2025 Summary & Product Roadmap

Introduction to the Live Stream

Opening Remarks

• The hosts confirm they are live and welcome viewers, indicating a brief wait for participants to join.

• They express excitement about the topics to be covered and acknowledge the presence of the Presta community.

Host Introductions

• The hosts introduce themselves, mentioning that they will discuss events from last year and plans for 2026.

• Viewers are informed that questions can be asked at the end of the stream, with some team members available in chat for immediate queries.

Host Profiles

Piotr's Introduction

• Piotr introduces himself as a developer advocate at Cilio's with five years of backend experience, including two years working directly with Sedu.

• He shares personal interests such as cooking, traveling, and gaming.

Przemek's Introduction

• Przemek introduces himself as growth and partnership lead at Silius with nearly six years in his role and 14 years in technical sales.

• He mentions his love for hiking, endurance sports, cooking, and classic rock music.

Summary of 2025 Developments

Documentation Improvements

• Significant improvements were made to documentation by treating it as a technical product aimed at developers.

• Key areas improved include installation/configuration of plugins and migration guidance from CELUS 1 to CELUS 2.

Migration Support

• Updated documentation clarifies differences between versions to facilitate easier migration processes for users transitioning from CELUS 1 to CELUS 2.

GitHub Integration & AI Assistance

• Documentation was moved to GitHub; AI tools were implemented to enhance user navigation through resources.

Key Contributors Program

Introduction of the Program

• A key contributors program was introduced to clarify how individuals can become official contributors after previous ambiguous guidelines.

Community Engagement

• The program aims to involve more contributors actively working on Cilius while gathering their feedback on developments.

Cilius Community Engagement and Development

Importance of Community Contributors

• The program is praised for its effectiveness, highlighting the role of engaged community members who contribute consistently to the ecosystem. Their involvement enhances implementations, issue analysis, and reviews, leading to a faster feedback loop.

Expansion of Events

• Acknowledgment of current contributors is made while expressing hope for new participants. The discussion shifts to events, noting a significant increase in industry events from previous years.

• Last year saw 20 industry events across Europe, a notable increase compared to just three or four years ago. This growth indicates strong community interest in Cilius Meetups.

• A community meetup was also held in the United States, marking an expansion into new markets and enhancing brand visibility for Cilius.

Feedback and Learning Opportunities

• Increased recognition of Cilius at events is noted; more attendees are familiar with the platform. Gathering feedback from various stakeholders has become integral to improving offerings.

• Technical events like Symfonicon provided opportunities for direct user interaction with Cilius products, yielding valuable feedback on clarity and areas needing improvement.

Future Event Plans

• There are plans to exceed last year's 20 events. Upcoming events will be listed on their website, encouraging newcomers to engage with the community directly.

Product Development Insights

• Discussion transitions to product releases; around 40 tags were maintained in 2025 as part of ongoing development efforts focused on aligning with modern standards.

• Emphasis is placed on not just adding features but also addressing technical debt through dependency upgrades and stability improvements.

Migration Encouragement

• Maintenance for version 1.14 has ended; users are encouraged to migrate to version 2.0 by December this year for continued security support.

• Version 2.0 offers improved stability and ease of extension; audits are available to assist users during this transition process.

Migration Strategies and Team Changes

Migration Support and Legacy Bridge Plugin

• The introduction of a legacy bridge plugin aids in identifying necessary changes for project upgrades, minimizing risks during transitions.

• This plugin allows teams to reuse existing templates from CELUS-1, speeding up the migration process by avoiding a complete switch to the new tweak structure.

• Audits are conducted to present multiple migration routes, helping businesses decide whether to migrate parts of their store or undertake a full rewrite.

Internal Team Developments

• A significant change occurred with the hiring of Szymon Skowroński as CTO in February, enhancing team dynamics and development speed.

• Szymon's background includes being one of the first contributors to Silius and having extensive experience in e-commerce projects, which benefits both sales and development efforts.

Impact on Development Efficiency

• His leadership has led to faster adaptation to business needs, clearer priorities, and improved focus on architecture and sustainability within the team.

• The arrival of Szymon has fostered a positive atmosphere that enhances team collaboration while reducing short-term compromises.

Partner Ecosystem Growth

Expansion of Partnerships

• The company has nearly reached 100 partners this year, significantly increasing from around 20–30 at the start.

• New partnerships have been established in Sweden and Latvia, marking important milestones for expanding Sylius's market presence beyond France.

Growing Popularity Among Technical Companies

• More technical companies are integrating Sylius into their infrastructure as part of their ecosystems, indicating growing popularity post-meet-ups.

Educational Initiatives: Academy Updates

Course Enhancements

• Grazian is leading updates for the academy's courses focused on Silius 2.0, aimed at easing onboarding for new developers with updated materials.

Certification Introduction

• A certification program has been introduced to ensure that developers hired by customers possess verified skills in using Sylius effectively.

Developer Expertise and Community Engagement

Importance of Developer Knowledge

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of practical skills and knowledge in developers, particularly highlighting Grazia Nuzevci's expertise in CELUS as a key contributor.

• Grazia's involvement in commercial projects provides insights into how CELUS operates in production environments, enhancing the relevance of his contributions.

Community Support and Presence

• Dratsyan is recognized for his active participation in the support channel on Slack, where he assists users by answering questions and providing help.

• The speaker encourages joining their Slack community to benefit from such engagement.

Future Plans for Academia

Upcoming Developments

• The speaker hints at plans to expand the Academy offerings in 2026, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for future announcements regarding new developments.

Plugin Management and Updates

Overview of Plugin Changes

• Discussion begins on various plugins that have been taken over, updated, or changed, starting with the CMS plugin which is frequently mentioned among users.

• A presentation on CMS options was held during Cilius Con; viewers are encouraged to check it out on YouTube for more information.

Technical Improvements

• The CMS plugin has been refactored to align with CELUS standards, focusing on ease of extension and maintenance while improving internal structure.

• Usability enhancements make content management more intuitive; external CMS options like Sulu and StoryBlock are acknowledged but not seen as competition.

CMS Plugin Popularity and Use Cases

Target Audience for CMS Plugin

• The CMS plugin serves as a solid foundation for basic B2C stores needing predictable content management without complex integrations.

• It has been downloaded over a million times, indicating its popularity among users seeking straightforward solutions.

Wishlist and Product Bundle Plugins

Enhancements Made

• Similar improvements were made to the Wishlist and Product Bundle plugins; both have been aligned with CELUS standards for better maintainability.

• Issues related to wishlist duplication were addressed to enhance stability; product bundles are noted as practical features that can increase order value.

Payment Plugins Management

Strategic Partnerships

• Payment plugins from strategic partners Moli and ADM are now maintained internally by CELUS, allowing for better user experience through direct oversight.

• This approach enables faster implementation of new features based on planned sprints while ensuring compatibility with current versions.

Business Perspective on Payment Gateways

• Using official payment gateways like Moli or ADM supports open-source development through commissions generated from these plugins.

Product Updates and Enhancements

Overview of Improvements

• The team aimed to align with the SELU score while refactoring, enhancing payment flows including refunds, state handling, stability, and developer experience.

• Documentation and integration quality were upgraded through the introduction of a test application concept.

Plugin Development Focus

• Last year’s focus was on simplifying the creation and maintenance of plugins to reduce repetitive setup work.

• A new plugin skeleton provides a standard base structure for developers, eliminating boilerplate code.

Test Application Concept

• The test application concept allows for standardized testing setups within the vendor directory, reducing maintenance burdens on plugin authors.

• This approach improves maintainability by minimizing duplicated work and ensuring consistency across plugins.

React Connector Development

Business Perspective

• The decision to create a React connector stemmed from user demand for modern front-end workflows that support headless development.

Headless Architecture Benefits

• The React connector is designed for teams needing dynamic UIs and facilitates quicker project initiation without starting from scratch.

Store Demo Tool Introduction

Purpose of the Tool

• The tool aims to assist in building dedicated demos tailored to specific store types using AI-generated content.

Developer Insights

• From a development perspective, it streamlines fixture generation, data creation, and environment setup into one process.

MCP Server Plugin Integration

AI Integration Context

• Cilius has adapted an MCP server plugin that connects directly with AI models to enhance shopping experiences based on evolving consumer habits.

Technical Functionality

• The MCP server plugin serves as an integration layer between AI models and the store, enabling controlled operations within defined boundaries.

E-commerce Innovations and B2B Solutions

Importance of Predictable Interactions

• The interactions within the system are designed to be safe and predictable, focusing on structured actions rather than direct hacking.

• This approach opens up possibilities for conversational commerce, intelligence support, and selective automation.

• Google has announced the UCP (Unified Commerce Platform), indicating ongoing developments in this area.

Business Development Focus

• The speaker emphasizes a dual model: an open-source version alongside a paid product that supports growth and hiring.

• There is a significant demand for B2B e-commerce platforms, which often require custom solutions due to varying client needs.

Customization in B2B E-commerce

• Many existing platforms fail to meet the customizable needs of B2B clients, leading to reliance on bespoke solutions.

• The decision was made to enhance features specifically for B2B applications, resulting in successful project acquisitions.

Achievements with Syllius

• The speaker believes Syllius may already be one of the best e-commerce B2B platforms available.

• A notable development is the Request for Quotation (RFQ) plugin tailored for B2B clients, facilitating negotiation processes.

Features of the RFQ Plugin

• Customers can now add products to their cart and request quotes directly from admins or salespeople.

• Initial feedback led to enhancements such as allowing admins to create offers based on customer requests.

Technical Insights on Plugin Development

• Collaboration between teams improved quality standards and adaptability of the RFQ plugin for various business workflows.

• Changes during development posed challenges but ultimately resulted in a more effective tool that meets user needs.

Future Developments

• Ongoing improvements are expected as feedback continues to shape future iterations of plugins like RFQ.

Product Customization and B2B Solutions

Importance of Product Customization

• The need for product customization arises when selecting from a variety of options, such as adding personalized text to items like business cards or configuring products like wooden desks.

Plugin Development for Personalization

• A plugin was developed to facilitate the addition of custom text and personalized elements for printed goods and made-to-order products, aiming to enhance personalization without creating numerous variants.

Simplified Configuration Process

• Customers can configure products during the purchase process by selecting options and providing inputs, which simplifies the shopping experience compared to managing hundreds of variants.

Streamlined Order Management

• All configurations are stored in the cart and order item, allowing dynamic product configuration that is simpler than traditional methods with many variants.

Focus on B2B Projects

• The discussion shifts towards significant projects focused on B2B solutions, emphasizing enhancements in features and user experience for B2B applications.

Introducing Alesto: A Project Accelerator

Goals of Alesto Development

• Alesto was created to demonstrate that modern B2B solutions can be visually appealing and user-friendly while maintaining fast navigation capabilities.

Integration with Existing Modules

• It integrates various modules into a cohesive frontend solution, enabling faster implementation without sacrificing customization freedom.

Encouragement for Demos

• Users are encouraged to check out demos of Alesto, highlighting its functionality and inviting potential clients to book demonstrations with sales representatives.

Technical Insights from Alesto's Development

Learning from Implementation Challenges

• The development team gained insights into structuring projects effectively while integrating plugins consistently based on real-world use cases observed during Alesto's creation.

Performance Metrics

• With over 100,000 products showcased in Alesto, performance metrics indicate it meets high standards necessary for effective B2B operations.

Marketplace Enhancements: DAPRA Project

Launching a New Marketplace Solution

• Following the success of Alesto, a new marketplace project named DAPRA has been launched, designed similarly but tailored specifically for marketplace functionalities.

Revamping Existing Plugins

• Significant updates were made to existing marketplace plugins to better meet current needs after a period without updates; this includes aesthetic improvements led by frontend teams.

Addressing Developer Challenges

• Developers faced challenges transitioning from B2B concepts in Alesto to multi-vendor requirements in DAPRA due to differing product architectures.

Difficulties in Context Switching and Marketplace Solutions

Challenges of Working on Duffer

• The context switch between different projects, specifically Duffer, is highlighted as a significant challenge due to the differing nature of marketplaces and VTV.

• Finding an affordable marketplace solution is difficult; many options require substantial initial investments.

Affordable Marketplace Options

• DAFRA is recommended as a cost-effective starter for those looking to explore marketplace models or expand from B2C sales.

• Compared to other platforms like Mira, DAFRA offers a more budget-friendly alternative.

Major Announcements: Acquisition of PrestaShop

Significant Milestone

• The acquisition of PrestaShop by Sirius, Bitbuck, and Cyberfrogs is described as one of the most notable announcements in e-commerce recently.

• This acquisition marks a strategic move towards future goals that have been envisioned over the past six years at Sirius.

Implications of the Acquisition

• The acquisition signifies a Polish company acquiring a French company, which enhances visibility for Cilius.

• While awaiting official approval from the European Commission, it’s confirmed that Cilius will remain operationally separate from PrestaShop.

Future Plans and Roadmap

Upcoming Features

• Subscriptions are prioritized in the development roadmap after careful consideration; they will be integrated into Cilius as a new plugin.

• A demo version of the subscription feature is available for testing upon request.

Additional Developments

• A B2C fashion project accelerator is underway, focusing on plugins not previously utilized in Alesto and Daffer.

• Advanced customer service workflows are being developed to allow modifications post-checkout, addressing user requests for greater order management flexibility.

Innovations in Customer Service

AI Integration

• An AI back office assistant is being introduced despite skepticism about AI's current hype; this reflects ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency within Cilius.

Cilius Development and AI Integration

AI Features in Cilius

• The team emphasizes the importance of integrating AI features that are genuinely useful rather than just trendy, aiming to enhance user experience without unnecessary complexity.

• A new Assistant will be developed to help users navigate Celia's admin panel, allowing non-technical users to perform tasks like setting up promotions or configuring products independently.

Enhancements for Non-Technical Users

• The integration of AI is expected to improve content generation, making it easier for the website to rank higher on Google search results and speeding up administrative processes.

• Plans include creating a cross-platform migrator tool that facilitates faster migration from other platforms to Cilius, addressing user needs for flexibility and efficiency.

Store Accessibility and Ecosystem Development

• There are plans to rewrite the store for better accessibility, incorporating all courses and products into a seamless platform where users can interact with various offerings.

• Collaborations with ecosystem partners will lead to integrations with platforms like MailerLite, enhancing functionality and user experience within Cilius.

Roadmap Insights

• The current roadmap includes significant developments expected within one or two quarters; however, it remains flexible as new opportunities may arise.

• The webinar reflects on past achievements while looking forward to future enhancements, indicating ongoing progress in development efforts.

Community Engagement and Future Events

• Questions from attendees about upcoming events were addressed; information regarding 2026 events will be shared soon. Current planning focuses on smaller meetups due to holiday schedules.

• Webinar recordings will be available post-event on their YouTube channel. Discussions also touched upon maintaining Cilius' core strengths while avoiding feature bloat.

Future Versions of Cilius

• There are currently no plans for a Cilius version 3.x as the focus remains on refining version 2.0 and updating existing plugins based on recent changes made.

Discussion on CELUS Ecosystem and Contributions

Future Plans for CELUS

• The team indicates that if they plan future updates, they will likely make fewer changes compared to version 2.0, which required significant modifications to address legacy issues.

• Currently, there are no specific plans in place for new developments; however, individuals are encouraged to contribute to the CELUS ecosystem.

Opportunities for Contributors

• Interested individuals are invited to become contributors within the CELUS community and join their Slack channel as a starting point.

• The team confirms that non-Polish speakers can work with Syrius, highlighting an inclusive approach with contributors from various countries including France and Germany.

DAFRA Plugin Pricing and Functionality

• The DAFRA plugin is expected to handle about 80% of standard core functionality; pricing has not been finalized but may start around €10,000 annually for stores under €10 million.

• Customization processes are simplified due to the plugin's design based on SIDUS standards, allowing easy implementation in B2B contexts.

Key Contributor Benefits

• Key contributors do not receive free access to Serious Plus plugins; however, they gain recognition through media events and have opportunities for impactful contributions.

• A major advantage of being a key contributor is having a direct impact on product development by providing feedback based on daily usage experiences.

Documentation and Migration Support

• There are plans to translate documentation into multiple languages using AI tools, aiming for broader accessibility within the community.

• For migrating applications from Cilius 1 to Cilius 2, resources such as a migration guide and a legacy bridge plugin have been introduced to facilitate this process.

Detecting Syllius Websites and Partnership Updates

How to Detect if a Website is Built with Syllius

• A participant inquires about methods to identify websites built using the Syllius platform.

• The recommended tool for detection is a web crawler called "BuiltWith," although it may not always be accurate, especially for headless implementations of Syllius.

• There is an acknowledgment of a link shared in the chat regarding relevant plugins, indicating ongoing engagement with the audience.

Update on Solo Partnership with Sulu

• Discussion shifts to the current status of the partnership between Solo and Sulu, emphasizing strong communication and collaboration between both teams.

• It’s noted that both platforms utilize Symfony, and there are numerous joint projects and events planned, fostering community interaction.

Comparing Sulu and StoryBlock

• The speaker shares insights on where Sulu excels over StoryBlock, particularly for complex projects but notes it may be excessive for simpler needs.

• A suggestion is made to consult Thomas from the Sulu team for detailed comparisons as they have more expertise in this area.

Conclusion of Webinar

• As questions dwindle, the session nears its end. Participants are encouraged to reach out via comments or Slack for any further inquiries post-webinar.

• Gratitude is expressed towards attendees, highlighting collaborative efforts between speakers and anticipation for future engagements.