Shopify's app ecosystem is a $billions opportunity. With over 1.7 million merchants, there's massive demand for apps that solve specific problems. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of Shopify app development.

Types of Shopify Apps

Public Apps

Listed on the Shopify App Store. Available to all merchants. Revenue share with Shopify (15-20%).

Custom Apps

Built for specific merchants. Not listed publicly. No revenue share.

Private Apps

Legacy option. Limited API access. Being phased out in favor of custom apps.

Getting Started

1. Create Partner Account

Sign up at partners.shopify.com. It's free and gives you access to development stores.

2. Set Up Development Store

Create unlimited test stores through Partner Dashboard. These are free and can be transferred to clients.

3. Choose Your Stack

Shopify recommends Remix (React) with the official CLI. Node.js, Ruby, and PHP are also supported.

Key Concepts

OAuth Authentication

Apps use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate with merchant stores. Understand scopes and permissions.

Shopify Admin API

GraphQL and REST APIs for managing products, orders, customers, and more.

Storefront API

Build custom storefronts and checkout experiences.

Webhooks

Subscribe to events (orders created, products updated) for real-time data.

Best Practices

  • Follow Shopify's design guidelines (Polaris)
  • Optimize for performance
  • Handle rate limits gracefully
  • Implement proper error handling
  • Store data securely

Monetization

Apps can use subscription pricing, one-time charges, or usage-based billing through Shopify's billing API.