The beta version of PrestaShop 8.0 was released in August 2022. The final version will be released as soon as possible. It is going to be the biggest release of PrestaShop since the release of version 1.7.0 in 2016. PrestaShop 8 is already creating hype with its new features. This new version includes an update to Symfony 4.4, compatibility with PHP 8 and 8.1, an improved experimental product page, and a new security page that allows store administrators to manage user sessions and configure password policy. It is going to be a new evolution of the PrestaShop platform. So, in this article, I will fully explain the features of PrestaShop 8.0 beta. Let’s see what you can learn from this article:
- Why is it not called PrestaShop version 1.8 after 1.7.8?
- PHP support.
- What does open source CMS mean?
- What are the new features of PrestaShop 8?
- Will PrestaShop 1.7 modules and themes run on PrestaShop 8?
- Is an upgrade necessary for my eshop?
PHP support
PHP versions 8.0 and 8.1 are supported by PrestaShop 8.0. More than 70% of the code for websites is written in PHP, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest developments and speed improvements. To run PrestaShop 8.0, your server must be at least PHP 7.2.5.
PrestaShop will bring significant performance improvements thanks to the adoption of PHP 8. This will make your store run faster than ever.
In terms of performance, version 8.1 is 25% – 45% faster than 8.0 and 52% – 72% faster than 7.2 in various common frameworks.
PrestaShop 8.0 beta is unstable and not benchmarked. Developers are impressed with PHP 8.1 because This will allow you to run multiple websites on a VPS or server without any problems.
What does open source CMS mean?
An open source content management system (CMS) is a system that is maintained by its developer community, rather than being developed and owned by a single company. The source code is publicly available and anyone can modify it and create their own functionality. PrestaShop.com already announces that PrestaShop will be the completely independent version (Open Source). Until now, the only PrestaShop distribution that could be downloaded from GitHub and PrestaShop.com depended on PrestaShop.com and could not work independently.
For this separation, the company completely disconnects the PrestaShop Project from its commercial activities. So we have two distributions:
- PrestaShop Project: The software is available separately from any commercial service and can be downloaded from GitHub. Thus, this distribution is designed for users with strong technical skills.
- Commercial PrestaShop: PrestaShop’s software is complemented by its services, which are sold by the company. You should have a Prestashop.com account to use this distribution, because this version is probably integrated with the basic PrestaShop suite.
What are the new features of PrestaShop 8?
- New Product Page: PrestaShop 8.0 comes with fresh, clean new back office product pages. This page will provide better user experience and fast page speed when dealing with many combinations and growing inventory. The Symfony based page is more customizable and offers reusable code that is useful for the developer.
- Themes: Themes uses jQuery UI tooltips which may need to be updated to use bootstrap tooltips. On pages like order history and addresses, empty status messages now appear inside the block. The Classic theme has been updated to support the new password policy.
- All modules located in the “modules” directory will be installed automatically during the installation process.
- The Upgrade section now contains all upgrade scripts.
- The default shipping method is store pickup.
- The live exchange rate service no longer exists.
- The RegistrationController and AuthController will handle the logic for the client’s logic and registration. As the registration URL has changed, this may affect third-party themes and modules.
Will PrestaShop 1.7 modules and themes run on PrestaShop 8?
Some modules that work with PrestaShop 1.7.8 may also work with PrestaShop 8. However, some of them may need to be updated, especially if they are affected by code changes or PHP 8 compatibility.
Themes created for PrestaShop version 1.7 will continue to work with this new version of PrestaShop 8 without any issues.
Is an upgrade necessary for my eshop?
When the first major stable release is released, then you should definitely upgrade to PrestaShop 8. If you upgraded your store to the latest version 1.7.8, then upgrading from 1.7.8 to 8.0 should be a relatively easy process. Beta releases always come with experimental features that need to be updated. Therefore, it is not a good practice to upgrade a working eshop with the beta version.
Our team undertakes the upgrade of your eshop as well as the technical support of your store. All you have to do is contact us.
