Shopify Developer – customise Shopify to suit your needs

What exactly is a Shopify developer used for, and what opportunities does working with one open up for me? These are common questions that we’d like to answer in this blog post.

The wide range of applications for Shopify

Shopify is one of the largest online platforms for e-commerce. More than 1.75 million retailers currently use the platform as a shop for online sales. One of the reasons for the large number of retailers on the platform is that it can be used by anyone, as it is very easy to use – whilst at the same time offering experienced and discerning users the option to customise the platform to suit their individual needs.

For new retailers on a tight budget, setting up a new shop is very straightforward by choosing a ready-made design template (Shopify theme). The shop can then be customised and enhanced with apps, even without any programming knowledge.

However, for larger online shops and experienced users, Shopify also offers the option to edit the relevant code and make customisations and extensions. Such changes are usually carried out by a Shopify developer or a Shopify agency.

Shopify theme customisations using the Liquid language

The theme files can be edited by experienced Shopify developers, giving you the option to customise any theme in any way you wish. Shopify templates are a mix of HTML, CSS and JavaScript, but with the addition of Liquid code. Liquid is Shopify’s scripting language, which bridges the gap between the front-end HTML, the back-end and Shopify’s data. Whilst Liquid is relatively easy to learn, it can only be used correctly with increasing experience in its application and implementation. Shopify themes generally follow a specific structure. Pages and features are divided into different sections. Incorrect use of the Liquid language can quickly lead to slow loading times or errors in your shop, so you should leave these changes to professional Shopify developers.

Using a development environment

Editing a single line of code in a file can affect the entire website. As with other platforms and server-side web development frameworks, individual code snippets are used to generate many HTML pages. For this reason, it is crucial that all advanced development work is carried out by Shopify developers who are familiar with the basic functions (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), but above all with Liquid and the Shopify platform. To be on the safe side, all changes should be thoroughly tested by such an expert in a development environment at the same time. To this end, a duplicate of the shop is usually created for programming purposes.

(Almost) limitless possibilities thanks to Shopify developers

Of course, there is much more to say about Shopify development, such as working with sections. This enables Shopify developers to set up pages with content sections that can later be easily customised and configured by non-developers. Sections are a powerful way to quickly create user-friendly CMS pages and a great way to organise the code. In addition, there is the Shopify API itself, which enables Shopify developers to make even more extensive customisations to the shop.

Choosing a suitable Shopify developer

If you’re planning to customise your theme or make other personalised changes to your Shopify shop, we always recommend choosing an experienced Shopify developer who has the relevant expertise. Take a look at their previous work. A good developer will be able to provide you with relevant references. Carrying out a thorough check beforehand will pay off later on when it comes to the quality and stability of your shop.

Frequently asked questions about Shopify developers

Our Shopify developers

As an official Shopify Partner, we at Golden Web Age can guarantee you a completely hassle-free service. We are a Shopify agency specialising in UX/UI web design and conversion optimisation.

Our Shopify developers are experienced experts and have already successfully implemented the specific requirements of numerous clients.

Whether you’re just starting out with your e-commerce business or want to revamp and scale up your existing shop, we can set up your Shopify shop for you, make customisations to Shopify and design an irresistible front-end for your customers.

Please feel free to get in touch for a free introductory chat, during which we’ll explain exactly how we can help you set up and optimise your online shop.