Are you planning to develop a Shopify app but don't know where to start? This guide will show you how to use Shopify CLI to set up and launch your own Shopify app. Follow these steps to get started on your Shopify development project.
Step 1: Install Shopify CLI
To get started, make sure you have Shopify CLI version 2.0 or higher installed. This command-line interface is essential for managing Shopify apps efficiently.
Step 2: Log in to your Shopify account
Open your terminal and type shopify login to log in. Shopify will prompt you to log in to your partner account. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete authentication.
Step 3: Create a new application
Head over to Shopify.dev/apps/getting-started to get started building your new app. Shopify will walk you through the steps needed to set up your app, including choosing a programming language (e.g. Ruby).
Step 4: Initializing the Application
In the terminal, type shopify app create to initialize your app. Shopify CLI will create all the necessary structure for your app, including essential configuration files and folders.
Step 5: Configuring the development tunnel
To test your app in development, you'll need to set up a development funnel. Shopify CLI often suggests using tools like ngrok for this. Make sure you don't have any other funnels running that might interfere.
Step 6: Installing dependencies and starting the server
Navigate to your application folder, usually called web , and install the necessary dependencies with npm install . Once the installation is complete, start your server with npm start .
Step 7: Install the app on a test store
Once everything is set up and running, you can install your app on a test Shopify store to see it in action. Make sure that API calls work properly with the development funnel set up.
Conclusion
Developing a Shopify app can seem complex, but with Shopify CLI, the process is simplified and guided. Take the time to properly set up each step to avoid common mistakes, and you'll quickly have a working app that you can test and tweak as needed.
