Shopify CLI for App Development

Shopify CLI manages the entire app lifecycle through configuration-as-code. All settings live in TOML files under version control.

Quick Start

# Create new app
shopify app init

# Link existing app to local project
shopify app config link

# Start local development (isolated to your dev store)
shopify app dev

# Deploy configuration and extensions
shopify app deploy

Configuration as Code

shopify.app.toml Structure

name = "My App"
client_id = "abc123..."
application_url = "https://myapp.com"
embedded = true

[access_scopes]
scopes = "read_products,write_orders"

[auth]
redirect_urls = ["https://myapp.com/api/auth/callback"]

[webhooks]
api_version = "2024-01"

[[webhooks.subscriptions]]
topics = ["app/uninstalled"]
uri = "/webhooks"

Key Fields

Warning: Changing handle permanently changes your app's URL in Shopify admin, breaking existing bookmarks.

Development Workflow

Local Development with shopify app dev

The app dev command creates an isolated preview on your chosen dev store:

• Changes visible only on YOUR dev store (safe for teams)
• Real-time sync of config and extensions
• App URL updated only for preview (doesn't modify TOML)
• Preview persists after stopping until shopify app dev clean

Networking Options

Team Workflow

1. Share single development app (commit shopify.app.toml)
2. Each developer creates their own dev store
3. Run shopify app dev selecting personal dev store
4. Changes isolated - no conflicts between team members

Multi-Environment Setup

Manage dev/staging/prod from single codebase using named config files:

shopify.app.toml              # Default (development)
shopify.app.staging.toml      # Staging
shopify.app.production.toml   # Production

Create Environment Configs

# Link to staging app (creates shopify.app.staging.toml)
shopify app config link
# Select staging app, name it "staging"

# Link to production app
shopify app config link
# Select production app, name it "production"

Switch Environments

# Set default for session
shopify app config use staging

# Override for single command
shopify app deploy --config production

See: references/multi-environment.md for detailed setup guide.

Deployment

App Versions

shopify app deploy creates an immutable app version - a snapshot of config + extensions.

# Deploy and release immediately
shopify app deploy

# Deploy without releasing (for testing)
shopify app deploy --no-release

# Release a previous version
shopify app release --version <version>

# List all versions
shopify app versions list

Important: deploy pushes config and extensions only. Deploy your web app separately to your hosting provider.

CI/CD Integration

# Non-interactive deployment (for pipelines)
shopify app deploy --config production --force

See: references/ci-cd.md for GitHub Actions examples.

Helper Scripts

This skill includes automation scripts in scripts/:

Script Dependencies

Python scripts require additional packages for TOML handling:

# Install Python dependencies (from skill's scripts/ directory)
pip install -r scripts/requirements.txt

# Or install manually:
pip install tomli tomli-w  # tomli only needed for Python < 3.11

Usage Examples

Copy scripts to your project or run from skill location:

# Set up dev environment from scratch
./dev-setup.sh

# Initialize multi-environment configs
./init-multi-env.sh

# Validate config before deploy
python validate-config.py shopify.app.toml

# Deploy to staging with confirmation
./deploy-env.sh staging

# Test webhook locally
python webhook-test.py --topic orders/create --address http://localhost:3000/webhooks

Common Tasks

Add New Permission Scope

1. Edit shopify.app.toml: add scope to access_scopes.scopes
2. Run shopify app dev - scope auto-accepted on dev store
3. Deploy to staging: shopify app deploy --config staging
4. Deploy to production: shopify app deploy --config production

Add Webhook Subscription

[[webhooks.subscriptions]]
topics = ["orders/create", "orders/updated"]
uri = "/webhooks/orders"

Test Webhooks Locally

# Using CLI directly
shopify app webhook trigger --topic orders/create --address http://localhost:3000/webhooks

# Using helper script (more options)
python scripts/webhook-test.py --topic orders/create

Clean Up Dev Store

# Restore dev store to released version, remove preview extensions
shopify app dev clean

Warning: dev clean deletes data tied to preview-only extensions (e.g., discounts using unreleased functions).

Troubleshooting

Tunnel Issues

If Cloudflare tunnel blocked by firewall:

shopify app dev --tunnel-url https://your-ngrok-url.ngrok.io

Permission Denied on Dev Store

Access scope changes require re-installation or shopify app dev (auto-accepts on dev stores).

Extension Not Appearing

1. Check extension registered: shopify app info
2. Verify extension TOML in extensions/ directory
3. Restart shopify app dev if extension added during session

Reference Documentation

• Command Reference - All CLI commands
• Multi-Environment Setup - Dev/staging/prod workflows
• CI/CD Integration - Pipeline automation
• Local Development - app dev deep dive