Advanced Customization

Welcome to the advanced customization section of our Knowledge Base. Here you'll find detailed guides and examples on how to tailor the platform to your specific needs, going beyond the standard configuration options.

Modifying User Interface Elements

You can deeply customize the look and feel of the application by leveraging CSS variables and custom stylesheets. We provide a robust theming system that allows for significant visual changes.

CSS Variables

Key visual aspects are controlled by CSS variables. You can override these in your custom stylesheet.


:root {
  --primary-color: #ff6b6b; /* Example: Change primary theme color */
  --background-color: #f0f0f0; /* Example: Change background */
  --text-color: #2c3e50; /* Example: Change default text color */
}

Applying Custom Stylesheets

To apply your custom styles, you can either link a separate CSS file or inject styles directly into the DOM. It's recommended to use a separate file for better organization.

If your custom stylesheet is located at /custom/styles.css, you can include it like this:


<link rel="stylesheet" href="/custom/styles.css">

Extending Functionality with Hooks

Our platform utilizes a hook system that allows you to inject custom logic at various points in the application's lifecycle without modifying core files.

Example: Customizing a Data Validation Hook

Suppose you need to add a custom validation rule before saving a particular type of record. You can define a new hook handler.

Before:


// Existing validation logic
function validateRecord(record) {
    if (!record.name) {
        throw new Error("Record name is required.");
    }
    // ... other validations
    return true;
}

After adding a custom hook:


// Registering a custom validation hook
registerHook('beforeRecordSave', (record) => {
    if (record.type === 'special' && record.value < 10) {
        throw new Error("Special records must have a value of at least 10.");
    }
    console.log("Custom validation hook executed for record:", record.id);
    return true; // Indicate success
});

// The system automatically calls registered hooks
function validateRecord(record) {
    // ... core validations
    triggerHook('beforeRecordSave', record); // Hook is called here
    // ...
    return true;
}

Ensure your hook handlers are idempotent and handle potential errors gracefully.

Customizing API Endpoints

You can create your own API endpoints or modify existing ones to serve custom data or logic. This typically involves defining routes and handlers in your application's extension directory.

Creating a New API Endpoint

To create a new endpoint at /api/v1/my-custom-data, you might define it as follows (syntax may vary based on the underlying framework):


// Example using a hypothetical routing system
router.get('/api/v1/my-custom-data', (request, response) => {
    const customData = {
        message: "This is your custom data!",
        timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
    };
    response.json(customData);
});

Advanced Theming with JavaScript

Beyond CSS, you can also dynamically alter the UI using JavaScript. This is useful for interactive elements or complex theming logic.

Example: Toggling Dark Mode

Implement a toggle switch to switch between light and dark themes.


function applyTheme(themeName) {
    if (themeName === 'dark') {
        document.body.classList.add('dark-mode');
        localStorage.setItem('theme', 'dark');
    } else {
        document.body.classList.remove('dark-mode');
        localStorage.setItem('theme', 'light');
    }
}

// Add CSS for dark mode
// In your custom stylesheet:
// .dark-mode {
//     --primary-color: #ff9f43;
//     --background-color: #2d3436;
//     --text-color: #ecf0f1;
//     --header-color: #30336b;
//     --footer-color: #1e272e;
// }

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
    const savedTheme = localStorage.getItem('theme') || 'light';
    applyTheme(savedTheme);

    const themeToggle = document.getElementById('theme-toggle');
    if (themeToggle) {
        themeToggle.addEventListener('click', () => {
            const currentTheme = document.body.classList.contains('dark-mode') ? 'dark' : 'light';
            applyTheme(currentTheme === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark');
        });
    }
});

Always provide a way for users to override automatic theme detection or user preferences.

Best Practices for Customization

Isolate Customizations: Keep your custom code in separate files and directories to avoid conflicts with updates.
Use Version Control: Track all your customization changes using Git or another version control system.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes, test all aspects of the application to ensure nothing has broken.
Document Your Changes: Maintain clear documentation for your customizations for future reference.