Our solutions are designed to provide seamless functionality and efficient updates across SharePoint Online environments. Depending on the solution version being used—CDN-based or dedicated—we offer tailored methods for delivering updates, enhancements, and bug fixes.
This article explains:
- How the Office 365 CDN is used for automated updates/bugfixes.
- How the dedicated version operates.
- The update process for major releases and bug fixes.
Office 365 CDN
The Office 365 Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a global, cloud-based service that delivers static resources like JavaScript files with optimal performance. It ensures assets are cached and served from geographically distributed servers closest to the end users.
How Our Solutions Use the CDN
- Storage and Delivery: All JavaScript files are stored in the Office 365 CDN library, which is hosted within a secure Lightning Tools M365 tenant.
- Web Part Loading: During runtime, JavaScript sources are downloaded from our tenant's CDN library to the client’s environment.
- Automated Updates: Updates made to these files are automatically reflected in the client environment after a short propagation period.
Advantages
- Bug fixes and minor enhancements are automatically applied without manual effort.
Challenges
- Some organisations restrict the use of the CDN due to strict security policies or limitations related to the type of SharePoint tenant.
Dedicated Version for Local Environments
For organisations with stricter compliance or data sovereignty requirements, we provide a dedicated version.
- All files are automatically stored in a designated library within the client’s SharePoint environment (the hidden ClientSideAssets library in the App Catalog site collection).
- Updates are applied by updating the app in the App Catalog. This action automatically uploads the new files to the designated library.
Advantages
- Full control over resource hosting.
- Compliance with internal security and data policies.
Challenges
- Requires manual updates through the App Catalog.
- Slightly higher administrative overhead compared to the CDN-based version.
Major Releases and Bug Fixes
Major Releases
We typically issue 3–4 major releases per solution each year, which require clients to update their App Catalog, regardless of the version of the app they use. These updates may include significant changes or improvements that cannot be implemented solely via the CDN. These are announced via our newsletter: Stay Informed and Subscribe - Lightning Tools
Bug Fixes
Bug fixes are released as needed in alignment with our SLA agreement. For clients using the CDN, these updates propagate automatically. For dedicated version clients, these updates are included in the downloadable package, which needs to be manually uploaded to the App Catalog.
Accessing Downloads
All solution updates, including those for the dedicated version, can be accessed from our Download Center:
https://lightningtools.com/download-center/
Conclusion
Whether you use the Office 365 CDN or the dedicated version, we ensure that your environment remains up-to-date with minimal disruption. Our combination of automated updates, streamlined processes, and client-first support delivers reliable solutions tailored to your needs.
For questions or assistance, please contact our support team.