Adlibris

Fullstack Developer 2021-02 2021-10

Context

Adlibris is the largest online bookstore in the Nordics with a growing ecosystem of digital services and applications. In 2021, I joined the Storefront team as a Fullstack Developer to support the ongoing modernization of the customer‑facing platform.

The team was in the middle of two major initiatives:

• gradually migrating the storefront from jQuery to React
• refactoring parts of a long‑lived backend monolith into clearer, more maintainable services

At the same time, Adlibris was evaluating options for a future content management system, and several foundational pieces — identity, authentication flows, and content modeling — needed attention to support both the evolving storefront and a new mobile app under development.

Problem

The Storefront team needed to modernize both the frontend and backend while continuing to deliver features. Key gaps included:

• no modern OpenID Connect/OAuth2 identity service for the storefront or the new app
• missing integration points needed by the Account Management team
• the need to explore structured content modeling as part of evaluating new CMS options
• deployment automation that needed to support new services
• a frontend split between legacy jQuery and new React components

The challenge was to strengthen the foundation while the storefront was actively being rebuilt.

Approach

Backend Development

• Implemented an OpenID Connect/OAuth2 identity service using IdentityServer4 intended for both the new app and the storefront
• Built supporting APIs in ASP.NET Core and .NET 5 used by the Storefront and Account Management teams
• Contributed to refactoring efforts in the backend monolith

  Frontend Development

• Contributed to the gradual migration from jQuery to React
• Implemented React components used in the evolving storefront
• Delivered smaller UI improvements in JavaScript and jQuery where needed

  System Integration

• Delivered an IdentityServer4 solution prepared for integration with both the new app and future storefront authentication flows
• Built a proof‑of‑concept for structured content modeling in Contentful as part of evaluating future CMS options
• Ensured smooth communication between backend services and Azure‑hosted infrastructure

  Automation

• Used Octopus Deploy to automate deployments for new and existing services
• Improved deployment consistency across environments

Outcome

• Delivered a production‑ready IdentityServer4‑based authentication service intended for both the new app and the storefront
• Built supporting APIs used by the Storefront and Account Management teams
• Produced a Contentful proof‑of‑concept that informed Adlibris’s evaluation of future CMS platforms
• Contributed to the React migration and backend refactoring efforts
• Strengthened deployment automation for Storefront services

Reflection

This project combined identity engineering, API design, frontend modernization, and architectural exploration. It reinforced the value of improving foundational systems while incrementally modernizing a large, customer‑facing platform and the importance of stepping in to solve the problems that need solving, even when they fall outside the original plan.