The Bird's Eye View
When building Shopify stores, it's easy to get lost in the details - pixel-perfect designs, micro-interactions, individual feature requests. But stepping back to see the full picture often reveals the decisions that will matter most in six months or a year.
The Build vs. Buy Decision
For every feature, you have a choice: build it custom, use a Shopify app, or find a third-party service. Here's my framework:
Build Custom When:
- The feature is core to your competitive advantage
- No existing solution fits your exact workflow
- You need complete control over data and performance
Use Apps When:
- The problem is well-solved by the ecosystem
- Speed to market matters more than customization
- The app vendor has strong support and updates
Data Architecture Matters
How you structure your data in Shopify determines what's possible later:
Metafields: Use them liberally, but plan your namespaces. A consistent metafield strategy makes integrations and theme updates far easier.
Metaobjects: Perfect for custom content types. But don't abuse them - they're not a database replacement.
External Data: When Shopify's limits constrain you, know when to reach for external APIs and services.
Future-Proofing
The decisions that age well:
- Modular theme sections that can be rearranged
- Clear separation between content and presentation
- Documentation for custom code and integrations
- Graceful fallbacks when third-party services fail
Planning a major build or migration? Let's discuss architecture.