Patch Management or Customizing The Core: Which is Better?

Magento is an aspiring platform for all the e-commerce developers, as it offers all the in-vogue functionalities and features. But, what if you wanted to alter the core so that you can offer better capabilities by customizing the core? Chances are you might hit the wrong chord, and the change for the better could become the change for the worse! Now, you would not want that, would you? Let’s specifically understand the type of problem you would face when trying to alter the core.

Issues with Changing Core Code

When you try to alter the core code for a specific purpose, chances are you leave out some alterations thus causing errors. If these loops are not closed, the bugs will stay on with the e-store, causing major issues at a later stage.

If you try to suppress analysis tools with annotations, you would still have documentation stating the errors that exist. If you try to customize the core with complex codes, chances are you might slow the entire process.

At such times, you will need to change the core code, and repair it. In case, the core code is beyond repair, you are in for a bad time. So, what can you do?

You can either go for patch management, or safe mode customization of the core code.

Patch Management

In order to make sure your core code remains intact, Magento releases a patch every too often!These patches often take care of the bugs that stay within the core, and prove to make your site vulnerable. Developers can create a patch themselves so that they can repair the core code. They are generally small pieces of code. Rather than altering the core file, you can use patch management, as it offers to clean your code of all the bugs.

Changing the Core

The other method involves changing the core. When you change the core, and the framework is updates, the core changes automatically. All the changes you made, will be removed with this update. You should ideally start with a vanilla copy and top it up with the necessary customizations.

Which is Better?

It is always good to go with Patch management, as you will be sure to have your application running in the good old manner. With a change in the core, you may face issues related to the working of the application. Your application may or may not work in the manner desired by you; some unexpected changes may cause issues within the core

Conclusion

It is always a confusion for developers, which path to choose when the core needs to be customized- patch management or customizing the core. While customizing the core sounds the best way out, it can cause issues in the core, some of which can become irreparable. Instead, try the patch management path to solve the issue easily, and with fewer errors. Hire dedicated magento developers to give your application a designated appeal and core foundation.

Deepa is a technical writer with Semaphore Software.