Exam Objectives and Scope

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Section 1: Magento Architecture (6%)

1.1 Determine advanced uses of the Magento configuration system

Understand how to create a custom config file. Demonstrate an understanding of the Magento Configuration files framework

Understand how to create a custom config file with validation and a unique node that is overridden on merging

Understand how to create a config file with a remote schema

1.2 Demonstrate an ability to design complex customizations using plugins and di.xml

Plugins sort order, plugin on plugin scenario, plugin debugging techniques. Demonstrate an understanding of virtual types, shared objects, object instantiation process, proxies, factories

How does an around plugin modify the plugin execution order?

How do you debug a plugin that is not executed?

Demonstrate Plugin on Plugin examples

Which classes are instantiated outside of the ObjectManager so they cannot be customizing using di.xml?

Demonstrate a use case for a virtual type (different instances of a class with a different set of arguments)

1.3 Demonstrate understanding of Magento events processing

Demonstrate an understanding of the events processing flow. Influence of Staging on the event processing

What is a modification of the event processing mechanism introduced by the staging module?

1.4 Demonstrate an ability to use the Magento command-line interface

Create a new CLI command, emulate different areas within it

Create a new CLI-command, configure it in di.xml, add optional/required options/keys

Environment specification using Area class

Environment emulation for a section of code

Section 2: Magento UI (7%)

2.1 Demonstrate understanding UiComponents architecture

UiComponent workflow, initialization, execution, configuration structure, data loading process

Retrieving a UiCompnent's instance from the uiRegistry

Understand the difference between executing a data provider component and loading data

Describe the role of UiComponent PHP classes

Understand the uiClass instance, extending uiComponent

2.2 Demonstrate advanced use of Magento layouts

Non-standard layouts, custom handles, debugging layouts

Add a custom handle, obtain a list of handles loaded for a page

Obtain the layout XML for a page

Containers elements with a wrapping DIV tag

Dynamically modify the layout tree

2.3 Demonstrate an ability to operate with Magento blocks and templates

Block caching, fallback debugging, email templates, translations

Cache all instances of the block, specific instance

Assign an object to the email template. Render different images depending on a locale in the email template

Identify the location of block instantiation

Print out all places where Magento looks for a template

Demonstrate an understanding of different types of translations working together (inline, phrase in JavaScript code, CSV file)

Section 3: Working with Databases (14%)

3.1 Demonstrate understanding of the architectural layers of the database access classes, including models, repositories, and data mappers

Models, resource models, and collections in Magento, their impact on performance. Repositories, SearchCriteria, WebAPI, WebAPI access, extension attributes

How to create an entity that supports extension attributes

How to implement SearchCriteria processing in the repository::getList method

How to perform bulk save operations in Magento

How to extend the Magento data object (Data API class) with an attribute that has values in a remote system

How to extend exisitng WebAPI calls with a new parameter

How to create a dynamic WebAPI ACL

The difference between extension attributes and custom attributes

3.2 Demonstrate understanding of the staging workflow

Staging modification to the Magento database operations (row_id, entity managers)

How does data versioning work?

Different possibilities of data versioning (row/table/database level) and how this is implemented in Magento

The role of the entity manager

High level staging implementation overview

3.3 Demonstrate an ability to use different types of setup scripts in Magento

Schema and data setup scripts, uninstall scripts, recurring scripts, uninstall schema vs. uninstall data

What happens when an uninstall script is executed: data version change, deleted tables, etc.

Recurring scripts and their order in the setup:upgrade process

Accessing areas and system configuration values in setup scripts

Section 4: Using the Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) Model (10%)

4.1 Describe the EAV data access process in Magento

Getting an attribute instance, impact of attribute sets, large number of attributes and attribute sets

What is the impact of 10,000 attribute sets? 1,000 attributes in a set?

How to get information about an attribute

How to perform attribute operations programmatically: assign it to a set/group, update properties, etc.

4.2 Describe the database tables for EAV entities and how to create them

The EAV database structure, performance considerations, entity-level attribute properties (catalog_eav_attribute)

Where are catalog-specific attribute properties stored and what are they used for?

How does Magento store the attribute to attribute group association?

What backend types are available? How do you add a new backend type?

Specifics around static attributes

4.3 Demonstrate an ability to operate with attribute options

Different ways to store attribute options. Using eav_attribute_option_ tables*

Config base, database base options

The eav_attribute_option_ table: tables that contain shared options between different entities, pros and cons of using the table

4.4 Demonstrate an ability to use non-catalog EAV entities

Adding an attribute to Customer, Customer Address and Sales entities. Making an attribute visible in the Admin or the storefront. Pitfalls in attributes operations in non-catalog EAV attributes

Adding an attribute to customers, saving and loading the attribute, problems related to the save process. What is the role of attribute sets and groups for customer attributes?

Adding an attribute to customer addresses, the role of the ""is_system"" property and why it only works for the Customer Address entity

How to make a customer or customer address attribute visible in the My Account, Checkout, and Admin pages

What is the purpose of the SalesSetup class and why do you use the addAttribute method for sales entities?

Section 5: Developing with Adminhtml (5%)

5.1 Demonstrate ability to use ACL

Complex cases of ACL setup. WebAPI ACL, ACL process customization and debugging

How to debug an ACL record

How does a row-based ACL or IP-based ACL work in Magento?

The connection between admin ACL and WebAPI ACL

Different ways to access WebAPI resources including admin access

5.2 Demonstrate understanding of the admin login process and admin actions processing

Admin login, customizing and debugging issues related to admins logging into Magento, the Admin Action class

Debugging the login process

Logging in an admin user programmatically

Customizing the login process: for example, adding 2-factor authentication

Operations performed by the Magento\Backend\App\Action class, for example, the secret key

5.3 Demonstrate an ability to create complex forms and grids

Complex forms with custom elements and with tabs. Complex grids with custom columns and inline editing customizations

Create custom elements for forms

Create a form with tabs

Create a form with a grid inside of a tab

Forms for editing related/nested data

Customization of inline editing in a grid; for example, a file uploader

Bookmark filters selection for a grid

Grid meta information: adding a new column that requires a join to another table

Section 6: Customizing the Catalog (23%)

6.1 Demonstrate an ability to understand and customize Magento products

Selecting the right product type for a given requirement (configurable with custom options, bundle with grouped). Deciding to use non-standard products: for example, for licenses, subscriptions, courseware, or glasses. Product relations (related, upsells).

Select a product type for a subscription/subscription bundled with a physical product

Select a product type for courseware

Select a product type for glasses with a prescription

Compare custom options with configurable products

Configurable product with custom options for the associated simple products

Bundled product with custom options for its associated simple products

What is the related products database structure? Understand the performance impact of having many related products

Compare related with upsells

Programmatically access related products, custom options, configurable parameters

Dynamic related products

6.2 Demonstrate an ability to perform complex operations with the Magento pricing framework

Understand the pricing calculation and rendering framework. Which classes are involved in rendering/calculation? What is the role of indexing? How do different price modifiers work together?

How is a price calculated on the product detail page, the product listing page? Price calculation classes. Relation to the price indexer

**The Magento\Framework\Price* component and its extension in the Catalog module**

How to render a product price: which class to use, which data needs to be provided

Indexed price vs. prices calculated on the fly

Price configuration: tier prices, special price, custom option, configurable adjustment, catalog rules, cart rules

How to change the price rendering process for a given product type/product instance

How to add a custom price adjustment to modify the calculation process. What happens if the price index is not aligned with this change?

6.3 Customize catalog price rules

Programmatically create a catalog price rule, the impact of catalog price rules on performance, extending catalog price rule conditions with custom entities

6.4 Determine how to use Magento categories

Advanced category features: hierarchy, custom attributes, impact on performance

What happens if a project has many categories?

Dynamic rules for the order of products in category

The category is_anchor attribute and its effect on performance

6.5 Demonstrate an understanding of catalog indexers

The indexing framework, the price indexer, the inventory indexer, the EAV indexer. How does Magento use indexed data?

Estimate indexing customization efforts when making architectural decisions. Estimate indexing process complexity and time for different given conditions. The impact of indexing for frequent catalog updates.

What steps does Magento perform when indexing? What is the role of the indexer_state table

How to register a new indexer

How does the price indexer work? Which events trigger it? How do different product types declare their indexers? How important is an order of indexers in price indexing?

Inventory indexer overview, inventory indexing for different product types

What is the scope of a price in the price index? How difficult is it to extend the scope of an index?

Impact of many stores/websites on price indexing

Custom price modifiers: Pros and cons of customizing the index versus adjusting the native features like price rules or custom options

6.6 Demonstrate understanding of catalog staging and its impact on the system

Flow modifications introduced by staging (triggers, row_id, data versions). Staging-related modifications of the indexing process

Issues related to different row_id and entity_id

Catalog triggers

6.7 Demonstrate an understanding of the product search framework

How to customize Elastic search

6.8 Demonstrate understanding of importing products and categories in Magento

Frequent imports, massive imports, import with many attributes

Issues related to a frequent import, for example every minute

Compare importing products using the native import, save by model, or custom SQL

Specifics of importing a catalog with many attributes and attribute sets

Importing categories and product relations

Section 7: Customizing the Checkout Process (17%)

7.1 Understand the Magento quote architecture and customizing quote-related functionality

Quote-related objects, total models and the price calculation process, the add to cart process, custom add to cart operations, customizations of the price calculation, taxes and discount, various display settings

The quote merge functionality

Programmatically add a free gift when a certain condition is met

Programmatically set a price for a product

Taxes with discounts calculation

The impact of many shopping cart price rules on performance

Programmatically create shopping cart price rules

Importing coupon codes

Extend the shopping cart price rules with custom entities

Programmatically separate line items in the shopping cart so there are two line items instead of one with qty=2

Adding a new total model and evaluating its impact on taxes and discounts

Shipping discounts behavior and customizations

WebAPI for quote operations. Create a quote, add an item, create a coupon, add a discount

7.2 Demonstrate an ability to customize and extend the checkout process

Checkout steps, the REST API, customizations of the checkout API, the order placement process. The impact of many concurrent order placements

Adding a step to the checkout after the payment step, or between the payment and shipping steps

Implementing a ""one-click"" checkout, evaluate possible pitfalls such as discounts being applied or canceled when the order is placed

The checkout REST API: Modifying the native flow (separate calls to save payment and to place the order)

Extending the checkout REST API. Adding new parameters to different API endpoints. Using extension attributes

Issues related to simultaneous order placement, inventory locking

Determining the exact moment when the stock is decremented during an order placement

Customizing the order placement such that it uses message queues

Horizontal sharding of orders tables to improve order placement capacity. What challenges need to be resolved?

7.3 Create and debug shipping and payment methods in Magento

Different types of payment methods: gateway, offline, hosted. The gateway payment methods framework. The payment method availability logic. The shipping rates calculation process, debugging shipping rates and table rates customizations

The gateway framework vs. AbstractMethod

The structure of offline payment methods. What makes them "offline"?

Partial invoices/refunds for payment methods

Add a hosted-type payment method (redirects, custom order review page)

Add a new shipping method. Customize the logic for getting a list of available shipping methods

The shipping rate calculation flow. Debug shipping rates, identify plugins that that influence the shipping rate calculation process

Customizing table rates. Add a new "column" to the "table", change the logic of selecting the rate.

Gateway shipping methods. Remote call flow. How to avoid the remote call if it is unnecessary

Section 8: Magento Commerce Features (13%)

8.1 Demonstrate an ability to use message queues

Create a listener/publisher. Use cases for using message queues

How to register a listener/publisher for a queue

How to configure a queue

What is a use case to use message queues?

8.2 Demonstrate understanding of customer segmentation

Describe the customer segments functionality, its use cases, impact on performance, and programmatical operations with customer segments

Programmatically create a customer segment

Extend customer segments with new entities or attributes

Understand the database structure of customer segments

8.3 Demonstrate understanding of advanced capabilities in Magento Commerce

Store credits, reward points, RMA, gift cards

Compare RMA with refunds

Customizing the RMA process

Customizing store credits/reward points accrual/spending

8.4 Demonstrate understanding of target rules

Customer rules database structure, use cases, comparison to other product relations, operate with target rules programmatically

Target rules vs. related products

Extending target rules with a custom attribute or a custom entity

Create a rule programmatically, understand the database structure of a rule

What is the performance impact of having many target rules in the system?

How does editing a product or adding new products affect existing target rules?

Section 9: Understanding Magento Security (5%)

9.1 Demonstrate understanding of frontend security with Magento

Filter input and escape output; password and sensitive data hashing; validate user file uploads; how to prevent cross site scripting vulnerabilities

How to validate field values before inserting them into the database

How to escape output to remove HTML tags

Using secure encryption and hashing functions to store sensitive values in the database

Validate file uploads, the file type, the file contents, and the file metadata

9.2 Demonstrate understanding Adminhtml security with Magento

CSRF tokens; stored XSS; adminhtml secret key; security configuration; securing email from injection; preventing admin privilege escalation

How to prevent CSRF attacks; the importance of the form_key field in forms

How is the admin secret key generated in URLs?

Security related admin configurations

Security by obscurity, the custom admin path

9.3 Demonstrate understanding of different types of attacks and preventing them with Magento

Remote code execution; local and remote file inclusions; session hijacking; SQL injection; insecure functions; directory traversal attacks

PHP functions that should never be used, per Magento recommendations (eval, serialize, etc.)

How to prevent directory traversals attacks when uploading a file

Importance of the HttpOnly property when setting a cookie

Serving Magento from the base vs. the pub/ directory

Retrieving the user IP from the REMOTE_ADDR header vs. the X-Forwarded-For header

File operations influenced by user-submitted request parameters, how to stop directory traversal attacks and restrict access to dirs/files

How to write secure SQL queries