Help shape Orchard Core's new website, a new website using Orchard Core - This week in Orchard (17/07/2026)
When you add a custom settings page, does it look like it belongs in the admin UI?
When you utilize workflow activities, does JavaScript syntax have to be the only option?
After checking out this week's Orchard news, both have better answers.
Thanks to Mike Alhayek, admin forms across settings and configuration pages now use the same ocat-* CSS class conventions, replacing legacy Bootstrap and Orchard-specific helpers. And all workflow tasks that previously only supported JavaScript now also support Liquid, with a new LiquidTask added to match ScriptTask.
Also this week: Nick Jackson's Orchard Core website redesign is open for community feedback, and GoRide joins the showcase of sites running on Orchard Core.
Read on for the details, or jump to the section that matters to you!
Orchard Core updates
OCAT CSS Classes for Admin Editors
This change by Mike Alhayek focuses on improving the consistency and maintainability of the Orchard Core admin UI by standardizing form layouts, enhancing accessibility, and refining the structure of several view files. The main changes include removing the TheAdminThemeOptions and the CssOrchardHelperExtensions, so admin editor views now use static CSS classes prefixed with ocat- (Orchard Core Admin Theme) instead of C# helper methods that injected CSS classes at runtime.
For example, in BooleanField.Edit.cshtml, the Orchard.GetFieldWrapperClasses() helper was replaced by ocat-wrapper and Orchard.GetEndClasses() by ocat-end-offset.
The docs about the Admin Theme Conventions mention the available OCAT CSS classes for Admin Editors, the Content Part and Field Wrapper classes with some examples about how to use OCAT classes in custom views.
The release notes for Orchard Core 3.0 list the CSS helper extensions that were removed along with the new CSS classes to use instead.
Enable Liquid Support for Workflow Tasks alongside JavaScript
Thanks to Mike Alhayek, all workflow tasks that previously only supported JavaScript now also support Liquid. Additionally, LiquidTask was added to mimic ScriptTask.
As you can see, the SetProperty task now includes a Syntax selector for switching between JavaScript and Liquid.
All affected workflow edit views (ForEachTask, ForLoopTask, IfElseTask, SetOutputTask, SetPropertyTask, WhileLoopTask, and the new LiquidTask) have been updated to use the ocat-* CSS class conventions mentioned previously required by the admin theme.
You can also find a new AI agent skill called OrchardCore Admin Edit Views under .agents/skills/ to document the ocat-* CSS class patterns so future AI-assisted development correctly uses the two-column admin edit view layout.
Demos
Help Shape Orchard Core's New Website
Nick Jackson presents a demo of the proposed Orchard Core website redesign, outlining design decisions, targeted audiences, content structure, and plans for feedback and further development.
The redesign targets two audiences: .NET developers evaluating the framework, and the business decision-makers (agency owners, CTOs, clients) who need reassurance that Orchard Core is a safe, mature choice. Nick explained the design reasoning in detail: the visual style intentionally mirrors the existing admin UI for consistency, the layout is clean and modular to match the product itself, the color palette leans on Orchard Core's green tones for a trustworthy feel, and icons and stock photography were minimized in favor of real screenshots and contributor data. His post on GitHub also includes a factual comparison table against Umbraco and ABP, positioning Orchard Core as a combined CMS/application framework that's free and community-led.
The stated goals are to drive more installs/trials and to reassure business stakeholders about cost, governance, and longevity, with a toggle letting visitors switch between developer-focused and business-focused messaging.
See the preview and share your feedback on direction, accuracy, and tone.
Watch it on YouTube and check out the pull request!
News from the community
A new website using Orchard Core: GoRide
GoRide is a hyperlocal marketplace, their mission is to bring merchants together to offer you the best possible bike rental fleet. Check out their Orchard Core site here!
For more Orchard Core sites in the wild, visit Show Orchard, a community showcase of representative Orchard CMS and Orchard Core websites maintained by Lombiq Technologies. Show Orchard itself runs on Orchard Core on DotNest. Read the case study on how we migrated it from Orchard 1!
If you're considering a similar migration, the Lombiq team is available to help. Get in touch!
Orchard Harvest 2026 Program
The Orchard Harvest 2026 conference will be held in Vancouver, and we look forward to seeing you all this autumn in Canada. Our confirmed dates for this year are September 10th and 11th.
Don't miss this limited-time offer: just $280 for two days of all-access learning and networking. Secure your early-bird tickets to the conference now!
The full Orchard Harvest 2026 program is live! Be sure to check out the conference's updated official website for the program!
As we move forward, we will keep community members informed of the details, and you will find every detail in this newsletter, too!
Don't miss the biggest Orchard Core event of the year!
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