As web developers, a lot of us have gotten used to the idea of using code to build websites from scratch. After all, we are programmers so programming is expected to come with the job. Over the past year, I have been learning web development and developing web applications using React.js and Django. This stack along with many other popular web stacks provides the capability and flexibility to build almost any web application you can conceive. This rises the question "why learn to use a no-code platform like Shopify?" Well, if you like money or are considering going into freelancing, then it may be worth your time. I recently began playing around with Shopify for this very purpose. If you go on just about any freelancer platform you can expect to find a large quantity of Shopify jobs and the number is continually growing. In this article, I hope to make a point of why you should consider adding Shopify to your arsenal in 2023 and how that process may feel to someone already experienced in web development.

The benefits of using Shopify for web development

The main benefit of no-code platforms like Shopify is the speed at which you can design and deploy a website. Not only can you create professional-looking e-commerce websites In a short amount of time, but with the loads of pre-designed themes and templates Shopify provides, the learning curve is relatively flat. Even after deployment, Shopify continues to ease the burden. It is extremely straightforward to maintain and make any needed tweaks to websites.

While convenience may be the main selling point here Shopify is much more capable than that. The platform does a really good job implementing standard e-commerce features like cart management and payment processing. This makes it easier to see value in Shopify as a programmer because we can all appreciate the idea of not reinventing the wheel. In addition to basic e-commerce functionality, Shopify and its vast app store make it easy to add features like product reviews and ratings with little to no work.

The drawbacks of using Shopify for web developers

By this point, Shopify may sound magical to you; some even wonder if there is any sense in learning web development from scratch. With the "old school" method of developing a website using nothing but code, one thing you are guaranteed is complete control. While Shopify uses its own proprietary language (Liquid) for creating templates, you are restricted in terms of what you can actually modify. This can be annoying at times, especially if you're already used to having ultimate authority over every detail of a website's appearance and functionality.

Another issue to consider with Shopify is that you'll be reliant on their servers and infrastructure. This can become a concern if you have clients with high traffic volumes or other specific requirements. While Shopify offers a wide range of built-in features, you may find that you need to use third-party apps to customize your website in some way and this can result in additional costs.

Tips for web developers learning Shopify

If you do decide to use Shopify as a web developer, here are a few tips that can make the process feel more natural. Firstly, consider becoming proficient in using Shopify's built-in Liquid template language. This will allow you to customize templates and create custom functionality within the constraints of the platform.

Another tip that will help you excel is to make use of Shopify's API and webhooks to integrate external systems. This allows you to bring in data or functionality from other sources, such as CRMs or custom inventory management systems

Finally, it's important to manage your client's expectations when using Shopify. The platform certainly has a lot of features, however, there may be certain things that are not possible or are more difficult to implement than would be in standard development. This should be communicated to your clients upfront to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.

Should you learn Shopify In 2023

In conclusion, Shopify as a web development platform has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it offers fast development and easy-to-implement e-commerce functionality. On the other hand, it has limitations in terms of codebase control and it brings the potential for additional costs.

Overall using Shopify as a web developer has been a positive experience for me. Once you get the ball rolling and begin learning it's easy to start creating websites in a fraction of the time it would usually take. Due to Shopify not requiring too much time or effort, I believe it would be a worthy addition to your stack if you have an interest in e-commerce. I hope this blog post has been helpful in giving you a better understanding of this amazing platform from a web developer's perspective. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, please feel free to leave a comment below!