TYPO3 8 LTS – Update or Relaunch?

Who should use TYPO3 8 LTS?

This question isn't easy to answer, since web projects can become very complex due to factors such as the use of extensions and custom-developed features. A list of pros and cons (particularly with regard to ease of use for editors, usability, technical security, costs, and new capabilities within the CMS) should be taken into account here. With this post, we aim to provide a general guideline, but we believe it’s essential to seek expert advice regarding a relaunch or upgrade.

If your website is still running one of the older LTS versions, such as TYPO3 4.5 or 6.2, you should consider an update not only because of the improvements for editors but also for security reasons. This is because free security updates are no longer provided for versions such as TYPO3 4.5, which means these systems could be potential targets for attacks. Furthermore, most systems still running an older TYPO3 version are not optimized for mobile devices. As a result, you won’t rank well on Google and other search engines. For older systems, we recommend a relaunch with TYPO3 8 LTS, since upgrading across multiple versions can cause problems, and in most cases, the design and information architecture are also outdated and could benefit from a fresh look.

Those of you who are satisfied with your current website—for example, in terms of design—but would like to have an up-to-date and therefore secure system should consider an upgrade. And for those who still remember the negative experiences of updates from 4.5 to 6.2 or even from 6.2 to 7.6, we can put your minds at ease. There are now smart migration strategies in place to prevent upgrade projects from spiraling out of control financially. But as mentioned earlier, the decision between an upgrade and a relaunch is often much more complex than we can cover in a single blog post.

But no matter what you decide, with one of the new TYPO3 versions, you’ll encounter quite a few new features, even if the basic functionality has remained the same. We’ve since started our first project with TYPO3 8 LTS and will go live with it in early May. In the process, we’ve learned a lot and gained practical experience, so we don’t have to rely on release notes:

Why Our Developers Value TYPO3 8 LTS

• Replacing the old rich text editor and then configuring the new CKEditor is very easy
• Backend is now significantly faster thanks to adjustments for the current PHP version 7
• The process for clearing the cache has been simplified
• Integration with various databases such as MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MSSQL, etc., is possible
• Deployment to a proServer is super easy and fast thanks to improved Composer support
• More options for uniquely marking up and configuring specific page types and content in the Backend
• New core features require fewer additional extensions, leading to leaner projects
• Through regular and reliable scheduled releases, the TYPO3 Core Team has succeeded in making it easier for us to work with TYPO3

Why Our Customers and Editors Will Love TYPO3 8 LTS

• Many parts of the TYPO3 core have been rewritten or revised, which also improves security
• Editors can now even edit content on their smartphones, if desired
• Smart image editing with predefined settings for different devices is now possible
• Forms can now be “put together” with just a few clicks (and without any programming knowledge!!!)
• Greater flexibility in translation
• The system can be adapted even better to individual workflows
• The new TYPO3 is once again up to date in terms of technologies and code, and—thanks to a major code cleanup—it’s faster to use and less prone to errors
• and much more