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feat: enhance case studies with additional metadata and improve layout for better organization
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‎src/content.config.ts‎

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const caseStudySchema = z.object({
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title: z.string(),
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summary: z.string(),
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// Optional metadata for grouping & ordering
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category: z.string().optional(), // e.g. "CMS & Operations"
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featured: z.boolean().optional(), // true -> Featured section
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priority: z.number().optional(), // higher -> earlier
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tags: z.array(z.string()).optional(), // e.g. ["wordpress","woocommerce","api"]
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// Optional links (e.g. deep dive)
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links: z
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.array(
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z.object({
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label: z.string(),
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href: z.string(),
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kind: z.enum(["deep-dive", "repo", "demo", "cta"]).optional(),
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})
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)
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.optional(),
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});
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export const collections = {

‎src/content/en-case-studies/commerce-operations-platform.mdx‎

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---
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title: E-commerce platform integrated with operations and automation
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summary: Evolution of a system from an MVP into a distributed platform supporting sales, logistics, and operations.
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summary: Evolving a system from an MVP into a distributed platform supporting sales, logistics, and operations.
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category: Systems & Architecture
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featured: true
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priority: 90
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tags: ["system design", "mvp-to-production", "asynchronous processing", "integrations", "operations", "observability"]
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---
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## Starting point

‎src/content/en-case-studies/distributed-platform.mdx‎

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---
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title: Distributed production system connecting cloud and physical devices
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summary: Design, deployment, and long-term evolution of a 24/7 production system integrating microservices with physical infrastructure.
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summary: Design, deployment, and long-term evolution of a 24/7 system combining microservices architecture with physical infrastructure.
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category: Systems & Architecture
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featured: true
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priority: 100
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tags: ["microservices", "event-driven", "edge devices", "24/7", "idempotency", "observability", "kubernetes"]
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---
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## Business context

‎src/content/en-case-studies/field-operations-platform.mdx‎

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---
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title: Field operations platform
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summary: Design and delivery of a system supporting daily work of teams operating in the field.
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title: Operational system for field teams
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summary: Design and implementation of a platform supporting the daily work of teams operating in the field.
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category: Frontend & UX
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featured: false
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priority: 60
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tags: ["operations", "field teams", "ux", "api-first", "asynchronous processing", "auditability", "offline-ready"]
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---
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## Context

‎src/content/en-case-studies/ops-layer-for-woocommerce.mdx‎

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---
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title: Operational layer for WooCommerce with independent team panels
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summary: Design and implementation of an advanced plugin extending WooCommerce with operational workflows, roles, and panels available outside WordPress admin.
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category: CMS & integrations
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featured: true
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priority: 85
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tags: ["wordpress", "woocommerce", "rest api", "rbac", "operations", "workflow", "audit", "pdf", "mobile", "qr"]
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links:
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- label: Architecture deep dive
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href: "/en/case-studies/ops-plugin-architecture/"
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kind: deep-dive
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- label: Let’s talk
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href: "/en/contact/"
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kind: cta
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---
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## System context
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The project focused on extending an e-commerce platform with an **advanced operational layer**, used daily by teams responsible for order fulfillment, logistics, and internal processes.
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The starting point was a system based on **WooCommerce**, which:
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- handled sales well,
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- was not designed for complex operational workflows,
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- assumed that all users would work inside **WordPress admin**.
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In practice, this proved insufficient.
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Operational teams:
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- were non-technical,
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- worked in different contexts (office, field, transport),
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- should not have access to the full CMS backend,
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- needed **dedicated tools** tailored to their daily work.
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The goal was to build an **independent operational layer**, deeply integrated with WooCommerce, yet **separated from the standard WordPress admin interface**.
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---
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## Core challenges
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### 1. WooCommerce as a data source, not a work interface
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The system needed to:
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- consume WooCommerce data and events,
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- react to order status changes,
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- remain fully compatible with the WP/WC ecosystem,
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while **not forcing operational teams to work in WordPress admin**.
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---
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### 2. Different roles, different work contexts
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The system supported multiple operational user types, including:
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- managers (desktop panel),
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- operational staff (mobile panel),
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- drivers / field teams (mobile panel).
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Each role:
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- had a different permission scope,
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- worked on different data views,
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- executed a different set of actions.
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The access model had to be:
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- precise,
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- easy to reason about,
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- maintainable in the long term.
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---
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### 3. Operability, auditability, and predictability
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The system could not be a “black box”.
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Every action:
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- was validated before execution,
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- recorded as an event,
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- traceable in an operation history.
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Auditability and action history were **critical** for daily operations and system maintenance.
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---
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### 4. Mobile work and fast data access
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Some users interacted with the system **exclusively on mobile devices**.
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This required:
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- mobile-optimized interfaces,
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- simple, unambiguous actions,
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- fast order lookup,
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- order identification via **QR code scanning using the phone camera**.
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---
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## Platform constraints
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The project was implemented **entirely within WordPress + WooCommerce**, which imposed specific constraints:
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- CMS lifecycle and hooks,
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- shared environment with other plugins,
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- strict backward compatibility requirements,
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- high security expectations.
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The solution had to be:
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- platform-compliant,
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- resilient to updates,
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- evolvable without full rewrites.
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---
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## Architectural approach
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A key decision was to treat **WordPress as an integration layer**, not as the center of operational logic.
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### Layered structure:
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- **CMS layer** – hooks, REST API, admin-post, WooCommerce integration.
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- **Application layer** – workflows, validations, state transitions, operational rules.
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- **Infrastructure layer** – persistence, event logging, document generation, external integrations.
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This separation made it possible to:
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- keep a large plugin maintainable,
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- clearly define responsibilities,
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- evolve the system iteratively.
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---
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## Operational panels (desktop and mobile)
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The system exposed **multiple independent panels**, adapted to different work contexts.
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### Manager panel (desktop)
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- operational dashboards,
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- order lists and filters,
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- execution of operational actions,
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- access to event history and audit data.
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### Staff and driver panels (mobile)
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- interfaces optimized for phones,
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- fast order lookup,
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- step-by-step process handling,
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- **QR code scanning via the phone camera**,
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- minimal interaction steps and clear feedback.
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Users **did not log into WordPress admin** to perform operational work.
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---
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## State and event management
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The system was built around a **state transition model**:
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- user actions triggered controlled state changes,
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- each change was recorded as an event,
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- the event log served as the foundation for auditing.
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Implemented mechanisms included:
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- idempotency safeguards,
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- pre-action validations,
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- protection against duplicate processing.
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---
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## Documents and artifacts
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Operational workflows included document generation (e.g. PDF):
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- based on the current system state,
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- using structured templates,
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- executed in a repeatable and controlled manner.
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Artifacts:
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- were linked to operational events,
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- could be stored locally or externally,
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- were not part of critical business logic.
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---
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## Plugin administration panel
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The plugin also provided a **dedicated administration panel** for technical administrators.
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It allowed:
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- managing plugin configuration,
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- handling updates and data migrations,
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- checking module and integration health,
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- basic system diagnostics.
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This made ongoing maintenance possible
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without manual database or code intervention.
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---
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## Installation, updates, and maintenance
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The plugin was designed for a **long operational lifecycle**:
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- safe upgrades,
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- automated data migrations,
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- synchronization of roles and permissions.
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This enabled:
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- rolling out new versions without downtime,
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- reducing operational risk,
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- evolving the system while it was in active use.
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---
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## Final outcome
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The result was a **robust operational plugin** that:
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- extended WooCommerce with a missing operational layer,
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- separated sales from fulfillment and operations,
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- supported both desktop and mobile workflows,
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- provided auditability and predictable behavior,
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- evolved iteratively in a production environment.
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The project demonstrated that even within **CMS platform constraints**, it is possible to build a mature, stable, and scalable operational system.
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---
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## Architecture showcase (GitHub)
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This case study focuses on the **context, challenges, and outcomes** of the project.
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If you want to go deeper — see how the system was structured,
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where architectural boundaries were drawn, and which engineering decisions
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and trade-offs shaped the solution — we prepared a dedicated
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**architecture showcase**.
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The repository covers:
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- architectural layers and responsibilities,
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- module layout and execution flows,
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- key engineering decisions and trade-offs,
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- approaches to operability, auditing, and long-term maintenance,
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while intentionally omitting business-specific logic and sensitive details.
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👉 **Architecture showcase (GitHub)**
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https://github.com/rocketdeploy-dev/showcase-ops-layer-for-woocommerce

‎src/content/en-case-studies/system-refactor-stabilization.mdx‎

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---
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title: Production system refactor and stabilization
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summary: Gradual transformation of a growing production system without service downtime.
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title: Refactoring and stabilization of a production system
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summary: Gradual transformation of an increasingly complex system without production downtime.
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category: Stabilization & Refactoring
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featured: false
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priority: 50
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tags: ["refactoring", "production", "stabilization", "evolutionary architecture", "observability", "api contracts"]
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## Initial situation

‎src/content/pl-case-studies/commerce-operations-platform.mdx‎

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title: Platforma e-commerce zintegrowana z operacjami i automatyką
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summary: Rozwój systemu od MVP do rozproszonej platformy obsługującej sprzedaż, logistykę i operacje.
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category: Systemy i architektura
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featured: true
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priority: 90
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tags: ["system design", "mvp→prod", "asynchroniczność", "integracje", "operacyjność", "observability"]
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## Punkt wyjścia

‎src/content/pl-case-studies/distributed-platform.mdx‎

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title: Rozproszony system produkcyjny łączący cloud z fizycznymi urządzeniami
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summary: Projekt, wdrożenie i rozwój systemu działającego 24/7, łączącego architekturę microservices z fizyczną infrastrukturą.
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category: Systemy i architektura
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featured: true
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priority: 100
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tags: ["microservices", "event-driven", "edge devices", "24/7", "idempotencja", "observability", "kubernetes"]
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## Kontekst biznesowy

‎src/content/pl-case-studies/field-operations-platform.mdx‎

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title: System operacyjny dla zespołów terenowych
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summary: Projekt i wdrożenie platformy wspierającej codzienną pracę zespołów operujących w terenie.
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category: Frontend i UX
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featured: false
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priority: 60
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tags: ["operacje", "field teams", "ux", "api-first", "asynchroniczność", "audyt", "offline-ready"]
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## Kontekst

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