Backend - Get Started

This guide explains how to get the backend running locally.

Precise Alloy is a public starter template for teams building websites with Optimizely CMS. It is meant to be copied, renamed, and adapted to each project. Some teams will use every part of this setup, and others will replace pieces of it. Treat the values in this repository as working examples, not hard rules for every implementation.

The source repository for this template is precise-alloy.

What You Need

Install the following tools before you begin:

1. Visual Studio 2022 or later, or Rider 2024.3.2 or later.

2. .NET SDK that matches the version pinned in the repository's global.json file.

3. SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition or later, or another SQL Server instance you can use for local development.

4. Git so you can clone the repository and work with branches.

You will also need a local database and media files. This template provides a sample database-and-blobs package here: db-and-blobs.

Local Setup

Follow these steps to run the backend locally:

1. Clone the repository.

   git clone https://github.com/precise-alloy/precise-alloy.git

2. Restore the sample database and blobs, or prepare your own local Optimizely CMS database if your team uses a different starting point.

3. Open the solution in your preferred IDE.

4. Update local configuration in PreciseAlloy.Web/appsettings.Development.json.

   At minimum, review these settings:

   • ConnectionStrings:EPiServerDB
   • EPiServer:Find:ServiceUrl
   • EPiServer:Find:DefaultIndex

   Replace any sample values with settings that are valid for your own machine and services.

5. Restore NuGet packages and build the solution.

6. Run the PreciseAlloy.Web project.

   The default launch profile uses https://localhost:5888/.

What To Expect

If setup is successful, you should be able to:

• open the local website in your browser
• access the Optimizely CMS site backed by your local database
• continue with backend development and integration work

If the site does not start, check the database connection string first. Most local setup issues come from missing database files, invalid SQL Server credentials, or search service settings that still point to placeholder values.

Project Resources

Next Steps

Once the site is running, these guides are the best place to continue:

• Development for branch naming, deployment notes, and day-to-day workflow
• Integration for frontend and backend integration guidance