Blog

TDS Classic to Support Rainbow

May 07, 2019 | Sean Holmesby and Charles Turano

At SUGCON London, Sitecore announced they would be switching over their default serialization format to Rainbow, a YAML-based format for Sitecore serialization in Sitecore version 9.2.

This is a change from the much-maligned .item format that has existed as the default serialization format in Sitecore since its inception. The change to Rainbow is something we’re really excited about as it simplifies source control diffs and merges.

Background

As TDS Classic works with Sitecore’s serialization, it has historically also used the .item format. The merge problem that exists with that format was first dealt with in 2014 when we shipped the Sitecore Item Merge Tool with the TDS Classic MSI. This Item Merge tool was again enhanced with the recent release of TDS Classic 5.8, providing a much friendlier way of visualizing the conflicting changes.

In 2015, a year after the initial release of the Item Merge Tool, the Rainbow serialization format was created as an open source project in an attempt to also deal with the .item format problem. It uses YAML files (.yml) to hold the field contents and definitions of the Sitecore items in a cleaner text format that is less troublesome for merges.

Now, in 2019, Sitecore 9.2 will likely move to using Rainbow as the default serialization format in the platform itself moving away from .item files.

Now the switch, and compatibility

We’ve been testing TDS Classic with the YAML-based format for a while using the items in the open source Habitat repository. We’ll also be closely working with Sitecore to ensure that TDS Classic will support the change the day that 9.2 is released. 

For now, we have an internal build of TDS Classic where we are able to create TDS projects with .yml files instead of .item files. In this code branch, we got the file parser working, and saw that the other features of TDS worked without any additional changes.

We will continue to test all of the other TDS Classic features that go far beyond simple serialization, to make sure that they all work with the official change to Rainbow.

The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow

We can’t wait to get our hands on a version of Sitecore 9.2 with Rainbow serialization. We have been thinking through the various scenarios our customers can and will encounter and have been preparing for them. To make this process as smooth as possible we anticipate an updated release of TDS Classic shortly after Sitecore releases their updates.

 Learn more about TDS 5.8 or sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know. 

 

TDS Classic Rainbow YAML Sitecore 9.2

Related Blog Posts

TDS Classic goes to Australia
Hedgehog Solution Architect, Sean Holmesby will be presenting at SUGCON ANZ. He gave insight on his topic and more. 
What is New in TDS Classic 5.8?
We go over the new features in TDS Classic 5.8 that can help significantly improve your experience.
Setting Up TDS 5.8 to Build to Azure Using Visual Studio Build and Pipelines: Configuring Azure DevOp's Release Pipeline
In this part, we are configuring the setting in the Release pipeline to deploy our Web Deploy package.
Setting Up TDS 5.8 to Build to Azure Using Visual Studio Build and Pipelines: Configuring Azure DevOp's Build Pipeline
In this part, we'll configure only the steps in the Build Pipeline, and publish the build drop (a Web Deploy package and a PowerShell script) to the Release pipeline.
Setting Up TDS 5.8 to Build to Azure Using Visual Studio Build and Pipelines: Local Set Up
By using TDS 5.8 and Web Deploy packages, we'll show you how to create a fully automated build and deployment process from your workstation to source control and into your Azure environment. 
A Look Back at TDS Classic
TDS Classic has been helping Sitecore developers for 10 years. We spoke with Sitecore Solution Architect and Chief Product Scientist, Charlie Turano to reflect back on the making TDS Classic. 
Hedgehog Announces the Release of TDS Classic 5.8
Hedgehog announced the release of TDS Classic 5.8. The newest update now supports Azure and Visual Studio 2019.
TDS Classic Licensing FAQ
Answers to a number of frequently asked questions regarding the licensing of TDS Classic.
The Benefits of Renewing a TDS Classic License
New features and early access to the latest and greatest in the Essential Collection are just a few reasons to keep your TDS Classic license active.
Guide to Sitecore Packaging
Development of features and components requires a set of Sitecore items to be packaged - things like renderings and templates. With TDS Classic, Sitecore developers can automate the packaging process. 
TDS Classic as a Tool for Technical Audits
TDS Classic provides Project Report generation for Sitecore items, which can be very helpful with technical audits
TDS Classic: Content File Sync
Content File Sync is a fantastic time saver for any Sitecore developer.
TDS Classic How-To: Perform Unattended Installation of TDS Classic for Visual Studio 2017
The TDS Classic version for Visual Studio 2017 is installed a bit differently than previous versions; the process is separated in two parts and performed by two different installers.
TDS Classic 5.7 - Lightning Deploy
Lightning Deploy Mode can be used to enable Lightning Mode for all deployments that utilize the TDS Sitecore Connector in their configuration, improving their speed and efficiency.
TDS Classic 5.7 - Lightning Sync
Lightning Sync allows both sync and quick push operations to use TDS Classic 5.7's new Lightning Mode feature
TDS Classic 5.7 - Solution Wide Sync
A simple new feature in TDS Classic 5.7, Solution Wide Sync makes a big difference when working with many TDS Classic projects in a solution.
TDS Classic 5.7 - Lightning Mode
Lightning Mode helps to improve the speed and efficiency of both deploy and sync operations. This enhancement is achieved by modifying how item comparisons are performed.
TDS Classic Best Practices: NuGet Build Components and TDS Classic .user configs
There are certain systems and processes that you can put in place to make a TDS Classic project run more smoothly. We're highlighting the best practices that our team recommends for getting the most out of TDS Classic.
TDS Classic Best Practices: Bundle Packages, Delta Builds and Delta Packages
Following TDS Classic best practices, like using Delta Builds and Delta Packages, can make the entire development experience run much more smoothly.
TDS Classic Best Practices: Validators and the Sitecore Package Deployer
TDS Classic can be used in many ways, but the goal is always the same: make development (and developers lives) easier. Whether it's using the Sitecore Package Deployer or using validators, following best practices can make your entire experience run much more smoothly.
Troubleshoot and Prevent Failed TDS Classic Project Builds
When building an .update package with TDS Classic, the build might fail with no additional information. From increasing log verbosity to using validators, there are ways to minimize or prevent this type of error.
TDS Classic How-To: Disable Automatic Code Generation
Code Generation is automatically triggered after every change in the TDS Project tree. If a project contains many items, users can disable this feature for their convenience.
TDS Classic Sitecore Deploy Folder
Sitecore Deploy Folder is a setting, located in the build tab of the TDS Classic Project's Properties page, and used to tell TDS Classic where the webroot is located.<br>
TDS Classic Builds on Jenkins Build Server with NuGet Packages
Our simple scenario includes 2 developers using TDS Classic and checking-in changes to source control. The Jenkins build server takes the changes and performs the build, and then deploys the created package to two Sitecore environments.
Features to Improve Sitecore Development: TDS Classic Strikes Back
Each and every feature in TDS Classic is aimed at helping developers. Whether the feature is out front or running quietly in the background the goal is always the same: make the development experience better. &nbsp;&nbsp;
TDS Classic Features to Improve Sitecore Development
Each version of TDS Classic comes with the same goal: to make Sitecore development and, by extension, developers, lives easier. Every feature in our products is aimed at making the process better - some of these features aren't quite as well-known as others, but they all help smooth and improve the development experience.
Deployment Properties and the Deployment Property Manager
When working with TDS Classic, you will eventually need to deploy your items to a Sitecore instance and you might not want the default behavior of every item in your TDS project deploying every time. This is where the TDS Sitecore Deployment Property Manager comes in!
TDS Classic How-To: Use the HedgehogDevelopment.TDS NuGet Package
The HedgehogDevelopment.TDS NuGet Package allows you to build TDS projects, without the need of installed TDS on the build server machine.
TDS Classic 5.6 Feature Spotlight - Prevent Deployment of Incorrect Assemblies
This feature, new to TDS Classic 5.6, will prevent a solution from deploying unless all assemblies (except the excluded assemblies we allow you to specify) match what exists in your webroot.&nbsp;
TDS 5.6 Feature Spotlight - Project Item Report
This feature, new to TDS Classic 5.6, allows you to create a report of all items in the TDS Classic project.&nbsp;
Create TDS Classic Custom Post Deploy Step
Team Development for Sitecore Classic version 5.5 allows developers to add post deployment steps to to their deployments and update packages. TDS Classic has used post deployment steps internally to perform a number of useful functions. Many of the developers using TDS Classic have requested the ability to add their own post deploy functionality. With the release of TDS Classic 5.5 in early 2016, this functionality is now available.