Corrison API

Introducing Corrison: The Flexible Django eCommerce Platform Built for Multi-Domain Deployment

Building an eCommerce platform that can be deployed across multiple domains while maintaining code consistency is a challenge many developers face. Today, I'm excited to introduce Corrison, an open-source Django-based eCommerce platform designed specifically with reusability and customization in mind.

Why I Built Corrison

In my experience developing web solutions, I repeatedly encountered the same challenge: I wanted similar functionality but with unique branding. The traditional approach of creating separate codebases for each project became unsustainable. This led to the development of Corrison - a platform that provides enterprise-level eCommerce functionality while remaining flexible enough to adapt to different business needs.

Key Design Principles

1. Service-Oriented Architecture

At its core, Corrison separates business logic from presentation through a comprehensive service layer. This means:

Cleaner Code: Views remain thin and focused on presentation
Reusability: Business logic can be shared across different views and contexts
Testability: Services can be tested independently of the web framework
Maintainability: Changes to business rules don't require modifications to views

2. Themeable by Design

The platform includes a sophisticated theming system that goes beyond simple color changes:

Dynamic CSS Variables: Colors, fonts, and spacing are controlled through a central theme model
Live Preview: Changes can be previewed in real-time before activation
Component Styling: Every UI element can be customized without touching the code
Multiple Themes: Support for creating and switching between different themes

3. Modular Architecture

Corrison has been set up using focused Django apps, each responsible for specific functionality:

corrison/
├── accounts/    # User management
├── cart/        # Shopping cart functionality
├── checkout/    # Order processing and payments
├── products/    # Product catalog
├── blog/        # Content management
└── theme/       # Theming and customization

Technical Highlights

Corrison combines battle-tested technologies with modern development practices:

Django 5.x: Leveraging the latest features for authentication, image upload and delivery plus more

Astro Framework: Fast and SEO friendly the frontend of the project uses Astro

Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework for rapid UI development

Stripe Integration: Industry-standard payment processing

Performance Optimisation

The platform includes several performance optimizations out of the box:

# Optimized database queries
products = Product.objects.select_related('category') \
                        .prefetch_related('variants', 'attributes')

# Session-based cart for guests
cart = self.cart_service.get_cart(request)

# Efficient template caching
{% cache 3600 "product_list" category.slug %}

Multi-Environment Configuration

Corrison uses a sophisticated settings structure that makes deployment across different environments seamless:

Base Settings: Shared configuration across all environments
Environment-Specific: Development, staging, and production settings
Site Settings: Domain-specific configuration for multi-site deployment

Real-World Applications

Corrison has been designed to handle various eCommerce scenarios:

1. Multi-Brand Companies

Deploy the same codebase across different brand domains with unique:

• Visual styling and branding
• Product catalogs
• Pricing strategies
• Content and messaging

2. International Markets

Easily adapt the platform for different regions:

• Currency and language support
• Region-specific product availability
• Local payment methods
• Compliance with local regulations

What's Next?

I am actively developing new features for Corrison that I can use when setting up a new site. As it develops I may even get to use it to set up sites for clients. The opportunity for rapid web development means I can set up landing pages for promotions or special events in under 24 hours, which is amazing.

Corrison represents a modern approach to building eCommerce, websites and microsites. One that embraces reusability without sacrificing customisation. Whether I am building a single online store or managing multiple eCommerce sites, Corrison provides the foundation I need to make managing them all manageable.