Adobe Commerce: Evolution, Architecture, and Certification JourneyPermalink

The Name Change That Still Feels StrangePermalink

When Magento Commerce became Adobe Commerce, I’ll admit it took me quite a while to adjust. Even now, after considerable time has passed, I sometimes catch myself still thinking “Magento” when I mean to say “Adobe Commerce”. The rebrand made sense from a corporate perspective after Adobe’s acquisition, but for those of us who lived and breathed Magento for years, it felt like losing part of our identity. The name change wasn’t just about updating our vocabularies—it represented a shift in the platform’s direction and market positioning.

From Monolith to Composable: A Necessary EvolutionPermalink

Adobe Commerce is undergoing a significant architectural transformation, moving from its traditional monolithic structure to a composable, modular architecture. This shift represents one of the most fundamental changes in the platform’s history for the near future, and currently affects most new projects I came across. It’s also excluding the type of clients I worked with so far, as the transition increases the complexity of maintaining and upgrading codebases. And it’s not just about the codebase, but also the cost of hosting the platform. Adobe is clearly aiming to serve larger, enterprise level clients. For us developers, this means embracing new ways of communication and collaboration.

Frontend Evolution: PWA Studio and AEMPermalink

On the frontend side, Adobe has been pushing PWA Studio as a modern, React-based solution for creating progressive web applications. While PWA Studio offers improved performance and mobile experiences, the real enterprise play is Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) as a frontend. AEM integration allows businesses to leverage Adobe’s powerful content management capabilities while maintaining Adobe Commerce as the commerce engine.

Backend Transformation: OAuth Over ExtensionsPermalink

The backend story is perhaps even more interesting. Adobe is steering away from the traditional extension model toward OAuth-based third-party integrations. This approach has several advantages:

Benefits of OAuth-based integrations:

• Better security: OAuth provides standardized, secure authentication without exposing system credentials
• Cleaner upgrades: External services don’t interfere with core platform updates
• Scalability: Third-party services can scale independently of the commerce platform
• Maintainability: Reduces code conflicts and compatibility issues

Challenges with this approach:

• Network latency: API calls introduce additional response time
• Complexity: Developers need to manage distributed systems
• Debugging difficulties: Troubleshooting across multiple services is more challenging
• Cost considerations: Separate hosting and maintenance for external services

The Certification MarathonPermalink

I recently passed the Adobe Commerce Master Architect exam, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most challenging certifications I ever faced. The exam covers an enormous size of topics, from basic commerce concepts to advanced architectural decisions.

What made it particularly difficult for me was the questions on enterprise features that I hadn’t worked with extensively in real-world projects. Content Staging and Customer Segments, for example, are powerful features that many mid-market implementations don’t utilize. Studying these features in theory is vastly different from implementing them in production environments. And during the exam, I faced particular naming conventions and best practices that required deep understanding and practical application. It’s nearly impossible to memorize class names or method signatures without hands-on experience. The exam demands knowing database table names and relationships, class names, method signatures, and best practices. This knowledge can only be gained through hands-on experience.

I almost arrogantly assumed that I knew everything about Adobe Commerce, but when I tried the practice exam, I realized how much I still had to learn despite working with Magento since 1.3 (from 2009). I passed the practice exam, but with only one point above the passing score. Only 5 days before the exam, I realized I needed to study harder. I barely slept for 5 days, studying and practicing until the exam day. This exam taught me humility and the importance of continuous learning.

The two-year renewal period for Adobe Commerce certifications adds another layer of commitment. While it ensures certified professionals stay current with platform updates, it also means a continuous investment in learning and re-certification.

Looking ForwardPermalink

Adobe Commerce’s evolution reflects broader trends in enterprise software—moving toward composable architectures, API-first approaches, and seamless integrations within larger digital experience platforms. While changes like the rebrand and architectural shifts can be jarring for long-time practitioners, they position Adobe Commerce to compete effectively in an increasingly complex digital commerce landscape.

For those considering the certification path, my advice is to gain hands-on experience with enterprise features whenever possible. The Master Architect exam isn’t just about knowing the platform. It’s about understanding when and how to apply its most sophisticated capabilities, and remembering the nuances and naming of each feature.