Edge Delivery Services (EDS) is a dynamic and modular set of tools provided by Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) designed to facilitate rapid site development and streamlined content updates. EDS allows businesses to quickly launch new sites and empower authors to efficiently update and publish content.

To understand where EDS fits within the AEM ecosystem, consider the high-level architecture of AEM. Traditionally, AEM includes an authoring tier where content is created and updated, which is then activated to the AEM publish tier. The publish tier serves the content to browsers with the help of a Dispatcher and Content Delivery Network (CDN).

EDS introduces a parallel layer to the AEM publish tier, operating independently from it and enabling a new method of document authoring called "Document Based Authoring." Content in EDS can be created and published using AEM components or through documents from Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Docs, and Microsoft Sheets.

Benefits of Edge Delivery Services

• Quickly Create High-Impact Experiences: Accelerate the development and deployment of engaging web experiences.
• Drive Engagement and Conversions: Deliver content that captivates users and boosts conversion rates.
• Streamlined Publishing Process: Transition from content editing to live publishing seamlessly and swiftly.
• Utilize Multiple Content Sources: Integrate various content sources into a single site, simplifying and speeding up the publishing process.

Key Features of Edge Delivery Services

• Independence from AEM Publish: EDS operates without dependency on the AEM publish tier, utilizing a unique document-based authoring method.
• Flexible Content Creation: Authors can use the traditional AEM environment or integrate documents from Google Drive and SharePoint.
• Universal Editor: EDS includes a Universal Editor/Page Editor, enhancing the authoring experience, although currently available for premium support customers.
• Performance Optimization: EDS enhances website performance through optimization techniques, including the use of vanilla JavaScript and dynamic script loading, resulting in faster page load times.
• Streamlined Development: By eliminating complex authoring dialogs and extensive training requirements, EDS shortens development processes. Content creation, design, and development can occur simultaneously.

Setting Up Edge Delivery Services

Setting up Edge Delivery Services is straightforward and can be accomplished in a few easy steps. Here’s a quick guide:

1. Create a Public GitHub Repository: Use the AEM Boilerplate GitHub repo as a template here.
2. Install the AEM Code Sync GitHub App: Visit this link to install the app on your repository.
3. Copy Starter Content: Transfer the provided starter content to your Google Drive.
4. Share Documents: Share your Google Docs with helix@adobe.com.
5. Update Configuration: Modify the stub.yaml configuration file to point to your Google Drive.

For detailed steps, refer to the tutorial at AEM Live Developer.

Conclusion

Adobe's Edge Delivery Services represents a transformative approach to content authoring, combining ease of use with powerful performance optimization. As EDS continues to evolve with user feedback, it holds the potential to revolutionize content creation and delivery within the AEM ecosystem. Embracing EDS can lead to faster, more efficient workflows, making it an invaluable tool for modern content-rich websites.