I have a secret to confess. I LOVE troubleshooting technical issues… you know, just pulling on the thread until a problem can be isolated. It’s exhilarating when you finally find a glimmer of the issue, or perhaps a potential solution. Typically though it’s hours of hair pulling, screaming and sometimes even tear inducing. Because let’s be honest, Sitecore is such a beast and packed with so many incredible features that sometimes it can be really hard to even find a starting point to begin your search. I find that one of my biggest challenges as a Product Owner can be analysis paralysis. Is it a content issue? A code issue? Could it be the item itself or the template that inherits it? So many place to look, and a clock that’s running down.
Navigating Analysis Paralysis During a Sitecore Rich Text Editor Upgrade
I faced this exact analysis paralysis on a recent project. Let me paint a picture for you: This site was on the receiving end of an upgrade to SXA Headless, and somewhere along the way the Rich Text Editor received some fantastic updates to help out the content editors. Needless to say, I was mortified when I found out that the content authors were unable to utilize this editor. I hated the idea of a client having to implement any sort of band-aid solution just to get through their day to day and I knew that I need to isolate this issue ASAP. I just didn’t know where to start.
I knew the issue the content author was facing, and I recalled from earlier in the project that this site had template that were in use, templates that were included as a part of the legacy codebase, and buried in there somewhere was the original OOTB Rich Text Editor along with the updated Rich Text Editor. I figured that I could start poking around some Sitecore documentation to find a starting point, or perhaps I could ask one of the many Sitecore MVP’s that we have here at Fishtank. However I decided to go a different route… why not create a quick prompt with the issue I was facing, and utilize a Custom GPT for Sitecore from ChatGPT.
What Are Custom GPTs?
Custom GPTs are like personal assistants that you can teach to understand your specific needs or interests. This allows users to fine-tune the model's responses based on personalized data, preferences, or specific tasks, enabling more relevant and specialized interactions. Fortunately for us, there are a couple of Custom GPTs that have been created by members of the Sitecore community, available to anybody with a ChatGPT plus subscription.
Testing Three Custom GPTs
The Prompt
I used the below prompt with three different GPT’s: Sam the SiteCore Expert, MVPinney, and the Code Wizard to get a sense of where and how to get started with the issue.
“As a product owner, I'm troubleshooting an issue with our client’s Sitecore Headless SXA site concerning the Rich Text Editor. We have a standard OOTB editor and another that has been customized for enhanced functionality. Our objective is to deploy the customized editor across our content authoring templates, but the default editor is showing up unexpectedly. What's the best method to start identifying the cause? Is it advisable to manually locate the Item IDs of both editors, or should I consider scripting this check using PowerShell?”
I have included a brief overview of each Custom GPT, along with the responses to my prompt. Let’s see how they compare below!
Sam the Sitecore Expert
Meet Sam the SiteCore Expert, your go-to digital assistant for all things Sitecore. Whether you're a tech guru or a newbie, Sam offers tailored support to help you navigate Sitecore’s complexities with ease. Leveraging the latest in C# and .NET technologies, Sam provides real-time troubleshooting, step-by-step guides, and tips to enhance your web content management and digital marketing strategies. Sam blends Thai-American cultural nuances with a passion for hip-hop, making tech talk engaging and relatable. Connect with Sam for a seamless Sitecore experience!
MVPinney
As MVPinny, I specialize in celebrating the spirit of the Sitecore community and the Hackathon culture. My focus is to provide insights into Sitecore MVP achievements, highlight key contributors like Rodrigo Peplau and the Go Horse team, and offer guidance on how to excel in the Sitecore ecosystem. With a nod to the musical talents within the community, particularly Rodrigo as the "Sitecore Singer," I blend technical knowledge with creative flair, ensuring each interaction is informative yet engaging.
Code Wizard
As the "Code Wizard," I specialize in C#, ASP .NET, and Sitecore, offering expert guidance on writing robust code, optimizing applications, and crafting effective unit tests. My expertise includes deep dives into best practices for software development, particularly with a focus on mocking APIs and integrating enterprise-level solutions. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to fine-tune your application or a beginner eager to learn the ropes in modern web development, I provide clear, practical advice tailored to your needs.
Which Custom GPT Reigns Supreme?
Unfortunately AI will not be able to solve our issues for us. The onus is on us to leave no stone unturned, and to pull the thread until we can successfully identify or isolate where an issue is. However, the assistance and technical guidance provided by these Custom GPTs can help to improve our accuracy and efficiency when these situation arise. As you can see above, all three gave me a similar plan of attack: First validate the configuration, second use a powershell script to identify the gaps.
I personally ended up using the Code Wizard to continue to troubleshoot the issue as I worked with one of our developers on the issue. I really like the next steps that it gave me including the tip to audit the related configurations. All of these Custom GPTs have a relatively small chat usage compared to other Custom GPTs in the ChatGPT ecosystem, so I encourage you to go and check some of them out, try to solve an issue or learn something new! Each of the Custom GPTs are a unique and insightful resource that any Product Owner should have in their toolkit. Plus you never know, maybe with enough interest we’ll start working on our own version of a Custom GPT for Sitecore!
