Introduction
The Sands Venetian Palazzo frontend is a custom static site generator and asset pipeline, integrated in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), crafted to deliver a rich, performant, and maintainable web experience for one of Las Vegas’ most iconic resorts. This review provides a technical overview of the codebase, its architecture, and development practices.
Project Overview
This project powers the digital presence for both the Venetian and Palazzo resorts. It is designed to handle large volumes of content, support rapid updates, and ensure a seamless experience across devices. The build system automates content conversion, asset optimization, and template rendering, resulting in fast, reliable, and scalable deliverables.
For more context, see the Code and Theory case study.
Tech Stack
- Gulp: Task runner orchestrating the build process, including compilation, optimization, and file management.
- Handlebars: Templating engine for generating HTML from reusable components and layouts.
- Sass: CSS preprocessor for modular, maintainable, and scalable stylesheets.
- Markdown: Content is authored in Markdown and converted to JSON for dynamic rendering.
- BrowserSync: Provides live-reloading and synchronized testing across devices.
- JSHint: Ensures JavaScript code quality and consistency.
- Bower: Manages front-end dependencies.
- SVG & Image Optimization: Automated tasks for compressing and managing visual assets.
Architecture & Structure
- Separation of Concerns: Content, templates, styles, and scripts are organized in dedicated directories.
- Automated Build Pipeline: Gulp tasks handle cleaning, compiling, converting, and optimizing assets for both Venetian and Palazzo brands.
- Reusable Templates: Handlebars components and layouts promote consistency and reduce duplication.
- Content Conversion: Markdown files are transformed into JSON, enabling flexible content management and rendering.
- Asset Management: Images and SVGs are optimized and bundled for performance.
Key Features
- Multi-Brand Support: Build scripts generate deliverables for both Venetian and Palazzo sites from a shared codebase.
- Rapid Content Updates: Markdown-driven content allows for quick edits and publishing.
- Performance Optimizations: Automated minification, image compression, and CSS autoprefixing.
- Live Development Workflow: BrowserSync enables instant feedback and cross-device testing.
- Code Quality: JSHint and stylish reporting enforce best practices.
Code Quality & Practices
- Modular Structure: Templates, styles, and scripts are organized for scalability and maintainability.
- Automated Testing: Build tasks include linting and validation steps.
- Documentation: Clear scripts and configuration files support onboarding and collaboration.
- Version Control: Git workflows ensure traceability and safe collaboration.
Conclusion
The Sands Venetian Palazzo frontend is a showcase of efficient, modern web development using proven tools and workflows. It combines technical excellence with thoughtful design, ensuring a seamless experience for users and maintainers alike.
For more details or to discuss collaboration, please get in touch.
Screens
