Detailed guide for a developer working with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) with Edge Delivery Services

1. Project Setup
a. Create a GitHub repository using the AEM boilerplate template
b. Clone the repository locally
c. Install the AEM CLI for local development
d. Set up your content source (SharePoint or Google Drive)
e. Configure fstab.yaml to connect your content source
f. Install the AEM Sidekick browser extension

2. Configuration
a. Customize head.html for your project's needs
b. Create a 404.html page for custom error handling
c. Set up robots.txt to control search engine crawling
d. Configure redirects using a redirects spreadsheet
e. Set up helix-query.yaml for content indexing
f. Create helix-sitemap.yaml for automated sitemap generation

3. Project Structure
a. Organize your code in the following structure:
- /scripts: For JavaScript files
- /styles: For CSS files
- /blocks: For custom block components
- /icons: For SVG icons
b. Implement the main scripts.js and styles.css files
c. Create a delayed.js for non-critical scripts

4. Block Development
a. Create custom blocks in the /blocks directory
b. Implement block.js for functionality and block.css for styling
c. Use auto-blocking in scripts.js for dynamic block creation
d. Leverage the Block Collection for common components

5. Performance Optimization
a. Follow the E-L-D (Eager-Lazy-Delayed) loading approach
b. Optimize images and use lazy loading
c. Minimize CSS and JavaScript file sizes
d. Implement critical CSS for above-the-fold content
e. Use async and defer attributes for script loading
f. Regularly test with PageSpeed Insights to maintain a 100 Lighthouse score

6. Content Authoring
a. Set up document templates in Word or Google Docs
b. Implement metadata tables for SEO and page properties
c. Use section breaks (---) to structure content
d. Create reusable fragments for common elements

7. Preview and Publishing
a. Use the AEM Sidekick for previewing and publishing content
b. Implement a staging environment for testing before production
c. Set up GitHub Actions for automated deployments

8. CDN Integration
a. Choose a CDN provider (Cloudflare, Fastly, Akamai, or AWS CloudFront)
b. Configure CDN settings according to AEM requirements
c. Set up push invalidation for content updates
d. Implement custom headers if needed

9. Authentication and Access Control
a. Configure user roles in the project configuration file
b. Implement authentication flow using Microsoft or Google authentication
c. Set up access control for preview and publish actions

10. Data Handling and Integration
a. Use spreadsheets for structured data storage when needed
b. Implement server-side processing for data manipulation if required
c. Integrate with external APIs or services as necessary
d. Consider using Edge Functions for server-side logic

11. Monitoring and Analytics
a. Implement Real User Monitoring (RUM) for performance tracking
b. Set up logging for error tracking and debugging
c. Integrate with analytics tools (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics)

12. Multilingual Support (if needed)
a. Set up content structure for multiple languages
b. Implement language switching functionality
c. Configure hreflang tags in the sitemap

13. Testing and Quality Assurance
a. Perform cross-browser and device testing
b. Implement accessibility features and test with screen readers
c. Conduct performance testing and optimize as needed
d. Set up automated tests for critical functionality

14. Documentation and Training
a. Create developer documentation for custom components and workflows
b. Provide content authoring guidelines for non-technical users
c. Document deployment and maintenance procedures

15. Ongoing Maintenance
a. Regularly update dependencies and AEM components
b. Monitor performance and make optimizations as needed
c. Continuously improve based on user feedback and analytics data

Throughout the development process, make use of AEM's extensive documentation, community resources, and support channels. Leverage the Block Party for community-contributed components and stay updated with the latest AEM features and best practices.

Remember to follow AEM's performance guidelines, content modeling best practices, and security recommendations to ensure a robust, efficient, and secure website. If you need to handle user input or data submission, consider implementing custom solutions using Edge Functions or integrating with external services that comply with your project's requirements and data handling policies.