I write about
Optimizely

Optimizely Graph has quietly become the search engine sitting underneath most new Optimizely builds. It ships with CMS 13, it's the answer to "what replaces Find?", and it's increasingly the integration backbone people reach for when they need unified search across more than one site.

If you're working with Optimizely and haven't started exploring CMS 13 yet, now's the time. I've put together a dedicated CMS 13 course within the Optimizely Learning Centre that walks through the major changes — from beginner concepts right through to advanced migration guidance.

CMS 13 went GA on 31st March 2026, and after months of previews, webinars, and internal engineering sessions, it's finally real. I've been deep in this release since the first preview dropped, both preparing our clients and getting our own internal readiness in order. Now that the dust is settling, I wanted to put together a comprehensive look at what's actually shipped, what the community has built around it, and what's on the horizon.

We've all been there. You're eager to learn a new tool or platform, but the official documentation feels overwhelming. You read through pages of technical jargon, follow along with examples that don't quite click, and wonder if there's a better way. That's exactly why I built the Optimizely Learning Centre — a free, interactive platform designed to help you learn Optimizely products at your own pace, with hands-on practice built right in.

GraphQL is transforming how developers query and deliver content from Optimizely CMS. But let's be honest—there's a learning curve. Between understanding GraphQL syntax, navigating Optimizely Graph's specific schema, and figuring out authentication, many developers find themselves stuck between documentation and trial-and-error.

With Optimizely CMS 13 now available in preview, extension developers need to understand what changes are required to make their packages compatible with the new version.