Owain Williams

📰 OC.UFMFallbacks Package

Owain.Codes announced the release of a new UFM package for fallback values in Umbraco, allowing users to set a primary value for a label that defaults to another property if empty. This package supports chaining properties, HTML string manipulation, and output truncation. For more features, visit GitHub.

📰 OC.UFMMembersLookup package

Umbraco Flavored Markdown (UFM) is utilized in Umbraco 17 for property descriptions and advanced labels in the CMS backoffice. Owain.Codes encountered an issue with Member Pickers and created a package to display member property information using {mnl:pickerAlias.propertyalias}. The package is now available via NuGet.

📰 Auto-Updating Your GitHub README with Your Latest Blog Posts

Owain Williams describes a method to automate the updating of a GitHub profile README with the latest blog posts using a Python script and GitHub Actions. The setup involves fetching posts from an RSS feed, updating the README, and committing changes daily without manual intervention, ensuring the profile remains current and relevant.

📰 How I used Umbraco.AI for free

Owain.Codes discusses his experience with Umbraco.AI, a free, open-source AI integration for Umbraco CMS. He faced challenges during a demo, particularly with API access and permissions. After resolving issues with Google Gemini's free tier, he modified the source code to include the latest model, gemini-3-flash-preview, and submitted a pull request for updates.

📰 Tracking Bouldering Sessions with a Garmin Watch App and Umbraco Dashboard

Owain.Codes developed a Garmin Connect IQ watch app to track bouldering sessions at The Climbing Hangar, which uses a color grading system instead of traditional V grades. The app logs problem details, sends session data to an Umbraco-based API, and provides a dashboard for visualizing performance metrics and statistics.

📰 Upgrading Umbraco 13 to Umbraco 17 issue

Owain.Codes discusses an upgrade issue encountered while transitioning a project from Umbraco 13.13.0 to Umbraco 17.1.0. After upgrading the database, he faced a 403 Forbidden error due to insufficient permissions for the user account. By adjusting the user group in the database, he successfully initiated the upgrade.

📰 When GitKraken Desktop Runs Slow

Owain.Codes discusses performance issues in GitKraken Desktop, attributing slowdowns during startup, pull requests, and merge conflicts to interference from MemoryBytes antivirus. By adding local Git repository folders to the antivirus exclusion list, performance improved significantly, restoring the tool's intended speed. This common practice enhances development workflows without compromising system security.

📰 OC.HiddenDashboard - Umbraco Package

Owain.Codes developed a hidden dashboard for Umbraco 17, accessible via a Konami code. The package includes a playable Pac-man game and allows users to hide their own packages. The secret code is now configurable through AppSettings. Documentation is available on GitHub: OwainWilliams/OC.HiddenDashboard.

📰 When Passion Isn’t Enough: Choosing Wellbeing Over the “Perfect” Job

Owain Williams shares his journey of recognizing burnout despite having a "dream job" in the Umbraco community. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, stepping away from unsustainable roles, and rediscovering passion through reflection. Ultimately, he advocates for prioritizing mental health and leaning into personal strengths over external comparisons.

💬 10% discount on community swag store this Friday

💬 Learn how to use the Management API with TypeScript by Owain Williams

📰 Has the Umbraco Community lost it's Spark?

Owain Williams reflects on the decline of community engagement during Umbraco Tees Day, noting a stark reduction in shared celebrations compared to previous years. With the community dispersed across various platforms, he questions whether the vibrant Umbraco community spirit has faded or simply shifted. He invites thoughts on the future of the community.

📰 When the Umbraco Community responds.

The Umbraco community, once a tightly-knit group, is now experiencing fragmentation across various platforms, leading to concerns about its evolving nature. While some appreciate improvements in structure, others lament the loss of spontaneous interactions and in-person connections. The challenge lies in fostering a welcoming environment for both newcomers and veterans.

💬 umbPublisher 1.2.0 is now available

💬 Umbraco Tees Day happening this FRIDAY

💬 umbPublisher for Obsidian version 1.1.0 is out now

💬 Obsidian Umbraco 15 plugin now live!

📰 Working Around Umbraco's RenderController Async Limitation

Owain Williams discusses the challenges of implementing asynchronous operations in Umbraco's RenderController, which requires a synchronous Index() method. He proposes a Synchronous Wrapper Pattern that allows for asynchronous processing while satisfying Umbraco's routing constraints. This method enables efficient handling of multiple async service calls, though it carries potential deadlock risks and performance limitations.

📰 Codegarden 2025

Owain Williams reflects on his experience at the Codegarden event, highlighting social gatherings, engaging talks, and the relaxed atmosphere. He enjoyed pre-party festivities, participated in morning runs, and appreciated the supportive community. Despite train issues affecting his departure, he expressed gratitude for the connections made and enthusiasm for future events.

💬 UmbracoTees day announced for July 18th