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At this point, we are all aware that artificial intelligence (or AI) has been empowering a lot of technologies, including e-commerce. And, Shopify continues to stand at the forefront as one of the most powerful platforms for building online stores. As we step into 2025, the demand for skilled Shopify developers is growing, making it an exciting time to dive into this dynamic field. But... how? Where do you even start? With so many tools, trends, and technologies emerging, the learning curve can feel... a little bit.. overwhelming. But do not worry! I have put together this beginner-friendly roadmap to guide you through the essentials of Shopify development in 2025. Let's get started! How to learn Shopify development in 2025? While I'm bias towards reading this article, I've made a video version of this article just in case you prefer to listen and watch. But, honestly, reading this Shopify development roadmap is totally worth it. What is Shopify development? Since this is a beginner roadmap, it's best to know and understand the meaning behind "Shopify development". So.. what is it? Shopify development is a form of building, customizing, and optimizing online stores by creating themes, developing custom apps, or integrating third-party solutions to enhance the store's functionality and the user experience. Now, there are three categories of Shopify development: Shopify app developmentThis allows developers to extend the core functionality of Shopify online storesShopify theme developmentThis involves building the visual aspects of a Shopify store. You'll work on elements like hero sections, navigational bars, and various content blocks that customers interact with when they visit an online store.Shopify storefront developmentWhile it's quite similar to theme development, storefront development allows you to create online stores with no limitations. In this case, Shopify acts as the backend, handling product data, collections, and more, while the frontend is built separately, often referred to as headless e-commerce. What to learn before diving into Shopify development Now that you know what is Shopify development, let's go through the essential things you need to know before you start diving into Shopify development. You see, Shopify development is more than just coding—it’s about understanding the platform’s ecosystem, its tools, and how to create solutions that meet both business and customer needs. Therefore, the first thing that you need to know is eCommerce (I know I didn't say this in the video, but if I did that video is gonna be more than 10-minutes). eCommerce: Since Shopify is an eCommerce (electronic commerce) platform, it's important that you know what eCommerce is and how it works. At its core, eCommerce refers to the buying and selling of goods or services online. Simple right? Not really, because there's more to it. You need to familiarize yourself with the key concepts of eCommerce like product listings, shopping carts, payment methods or gateways, shipping integrations, and customer experience optimization.Having knowledge about all of these things will help you build features and functionalities that align with real-world business needs. By grasping the basics of eCommerce, you'll not only become a good Shopify developer but you'll also gain the ability to develop online stores that drive sales, that engage with customers, and that stand out in a very competitive digital marketplace. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These are the building blocks of web development. Understanding them will allow you to create beautiful and functional components for both Shopify apps and themes. Shopify Liquid: This is a templating language used to create dynamic content on Shopify. Learning Liquid will enable you to transform static pages into dynamic ones using objects, tags, and filters. APIs: Understanding APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) is crucial since they allow different software components to communicate. As a Shopify app developer, you'll frequently interact with Shopify's API. Development Tools: Familiarize yourself with a code editor (like VS Code) and various browsers for testing your applications and themes. How to Learn Shopify Development in 2025 There are numerous ways to learn Shopify development effectively: Shopify Developers' Documentation This is a well-structured resource full of thorough explanations and step-by-step guides on building Shopify apps and themes. If you’ve tried it before and found it lacking, you might be surprised at how much it has improved recently. But, if it's still not good enough for you, then combining this resource with video tutorials is definitely a perfect match. Speaking of tutorials, that's the next way to learn Shopify development. YouTube Tutorials WeeklyHow official YouTube channel If reading isn’t your strong suit, plenty of channels offer tutorials on Shopify development. Channels like ours: WeeklyHow provide valuable insights and tips. (Shameless plug, I know 😂) Subscribe to WeeklyHow At WeeklyHow, we have covered many topics about Shopify ranging from Dropshipping to Shopify development. There are times when we also cover Shopify app/theme development on our live stream sessions. We highly recommend joining us! AI Tools Tools like ChatGPT or Claude can be beneficial for learning. You can ask them questions about code snippets or concepts you don’t understand. While they have limitations, they can certainly help clarify your doubts. Recently, we have published a video about "Code vibing" and it is certainly an experience that new learners should experiment. Watch my experience below: My Recommended Learning Path If you’re new to Shopify development, here’s a structured learning path to follow: Start with the basics of programming to understand concepts like input/output, variables, functions, and logic statements. Since you will learn JavaScript anyway, you might as well use it as a way to learn programming. Once you're comfortable with programming, move on to HTML and CSS. Learn how to create components like buttons, navigational bars, or cards. You might even want to explore Figma to enhance your design skills. Create a Shopify development store and explore the admin interface. Familiarize yourself with the settings, themes, and products sections (Everything). Since you will be working with Shopify, it is a must to know your way around Shopify. Delve into Shopify Liquid. Learn about objects, tags, and filters to create dynamic content. We have a video about Shopify Liquid that you will definitely find useful. Don't hesitate to check it out. Finally, consider building a Shopify theme from scratch. This will help you grasp the structure of online stores and identify potential functionalities that could improve a store's performance. Finally finally, after learning Shopify theme development, you can continue by learning Shopify app development. Learn how to CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) products, collections, or pages. Expanding Your Skills Beyond Basics As you grow in your Shopify development journey, you’ll find that there’s more to learn: Web Frameworks: Familiarize yourself with frameworks like React or Vue.js, as they are commonly used in modern web applications. Version Control: Learn Git for version control to manage your code effectively. Market Research and SEO: If you plan to publish your apps or themes, understanding market research and SEO is crucial for visibility. Personal Advice for Aspiring Shopify Developers As someone who has navigated the waters of Shopify development, here are some personal insights: Don’t rush through the learning process. Take your time to understand each concept thoroughly. Practice consistently. Build small projects to apply what you learn in real-world scenarios. Engage with the community. Join forums or Discord servers to connect with other developers and share your experiences. Stay curious and keep learning. The tech landscape is ever-evolving, and it's important to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies. Conclusion Embarking on a journey to learn Shopify development in 2025 can be both exciting and challenging. By following the roadmap outlined above, you'll be well on your way to mastering the skills needed to thrive in this dynamic field. Remember, the key to success is persistence and a willingness to adapt. Welcome to the Shopify community, and best of luck on your development journey!