Shopify has evolved with practices for optimizing the theme development experience, especially for customers. However, working perfectly with a Shopify developer is entirely dependent on proper communication so that project goals can be defined throughout the development process.
It is also crucial to take adequate time for reviewing the portfolios and subsequently grasp the communication skills.
Therefore, it’s required to hire Shopify experts with proper skills and experience who can perform the process proficiently. In this article, we will unfold the techniques needed to work with Shopify developers.
What is the responsibility of a Shopify developer?
A Shopify developer is designated to create and customize e-commerce stores with the assistance of the Shopify platform. Businesses looking to build scalable online stores often hire Shopify developers for their specialized expertise. They are specialized web developers who work on various tasks both internally and externally. Some of their major responsibilities include:
- Creating custom themes that align with brand identity
- Modifying the Shopify app to smooth operations
- Integrating payment flows within the app
- Ensure mobile responsiveness and multiple-browser compatibility
- Work on dynamic sections, including customer reviews and others
Basic Web Development
As a Shopify store is a kind of web development, thus, it is crucial to determine the basics of web development. Web development is based upon three major skills, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
These skills set the basics of Shopify web development, as well as form several features and functions. There are various code camp websites through which any developer can gain knowledge on this.
Ideal Practices for Shopify Theme Development
For providing optimal customer experience and making businesses fulfilled, discoverable, and fast, several aspects should be considered. Shopify developers integrated some practices to be followed to create an optimized theme. The practices include:
- Creating customizable theme templates allows businesses to meet their goals.
- Performance should be optimized through themes, and performance is the major element for any business to be successful.
- Enhancing accessibility is another crucial point for providing an inclusive experience to customers.
- Use the best methods to design themes, and the designs should meet the business requirements.
Tools used for the development
With the potential developmental tools, a team will be able to build a strong process with inclusive practices. The tools are
Version Control
This software tool is generally used for tracking source and compiled code. It’s also helpful for managing the changes to the files over time. Since the software keeps all the detailed information about any modifications to the files, it helps the developers to cooperate effectively while recovering from the mistakes easily. In addition, more than one developer can work simultaneously on the same project, as version control can effectively manage conflicting changes and merge them smoothly.
File Transformation
This software enables the developers to work with the preferred codes within the organizational strategies. This system helps to convert files from one format to another automatically, enhancing data compatibility and effectiveness. It can include several operations, including converting stylesheets as well as integrating SVGs into HTML. Image optimizations can also be conducted through automating data exchanges.
Strategies for ideal theme development
Besides using the proper tools as mentioned above, a Shopify development partner must focus on some strategies for theme development, which are applicable for the themes created for a Shopify theme store or a specific business. The strategies are highlighted as below:
Performance-oriented
Themes should be created innovatively so that the customers, including the businesses, can have some benefits in terms of getting a reliable shopping experience rapidly.
If the themes can reduce the usage of JavaScript, then it is considered fruitful. Themes must have relied on other modern web browsers for their functionalities.
Objectiveness
The themes should be created to equip a business with a set of tools to meet its business needs. The style and layout of each theme must be optimized for a specific business. Nevertheless, specified themes offer valuable impacts in business as compared to generic themes. Depending on their preferences, the businesses can use the themes.
User Experience
The themes should be created by maintaining top-notch quality, as the development of Shopify theme stores has the power to shape and lead the industry due to its demands. Thus, customer preferences must be prioritized.
Mobile accessibility
To provide the best experience to customers and businesses, themes must be created with accessibility features. In addition, throughout the theme creation process, the designs should be designed to fit on mobile devices, as the majority of the online traffic is held by mobile phones.
Effortless Customization
Theme customization must be easier to use, as the themes are used by businesses to convey their brands to potential customers. Themes should be flexible with thoughtful integration so that businesses can be able to make customizations and sell their products effortlessly.
Importance of Shopify API
As we know, Shopify app development is the process of creating apps to increase the strength of an online store on the Shopify platform.
However, for ideal Shopify app development, a developer must be acquainted with backend development while determining the basics of coding with JavaScript along with NodeJS. However, exploring backend development becomes easier with other programming languages, such as Python and Ruby, considering the majority of developers know the use.
After understanding the backend process, knowing about the Shopify API comes in front, which is used generally for the authentication process. Although adopting this can entail some hurdles, focusing on the auth process works perfectly with any language.
Brief of Shopify Liquid
It is a template language created by Shopify itself. After having adequate knowledge of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, a developer must grasp Shopify Liquid. It is a language based upon HTML, allowing for the insertion of dynamic data such as product information into standard HTML.
The developers need to access data for the specific Shopify store while also creating customizable and interactive storefronts.
Since Shopify Liquid is an integral part of Shopify web development, it is important for developers to learn about Shopify Liquid thoroughly.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discovered the responsibilities of a developer to develop a Shopify website. The ideal practices for Shopify theme development that must be followed by a developer. The relevant tools and strategies have also been discussed.
Also, the importance of Shopify Liquid and Shopify API for web development has been mentioned to grasp the idea of working with the developers.
