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Core Concepts

Before diving into implementation, understanding the foundational concepts behind Unchained Engine will help you make better architectural decisions and extend the platform effectively.

Key Concepts​

Architecture​

Learn about Unchained Engine's layered architecture, design philosophy, and how the different layers interact.

Director/Adapter Pattern​

The plugin system that powers Unchained Engine's extensibility. Understanding this pattern is essential for customizing payment, delivery, pricing, and other behaviors.

Order Lifecycle​

How orders transition from cart to fulfillment, including the checkout process, payment handling, and delivery.

Pricing System​

How prices are calculated using a chain of pricing adapters, including product pricing, delivery fees, payment fees, taxes, and discounts.

Authentication​

Authentication patterns including guest users, registered users, and external identity providers (OIDC).

Design Philosophy​

Unchained Engine is built on three core principles:

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

  • Prevents vendor lock-in
  • Fosters community support
  • Ensures resilience against economic issues

Hackable / Code-first

  • Configuration through code, not control panels
  • Customization beyond what core developers intended
  • Developer is always in control

Headless / API-first

  • Decoupled from any specific UI
  • Flexible and long-lasting architecture
  • Supports any frontend framework