Liquid Weekly Podcast: Shopify Developers Talking Shopify Development

• Episode 038 - Jan Frey on How to Become a Shopify Developer in 2025

  In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page welcome back Jan Frey, one of the greatest Shopify development teachers on the web with the incredibly helpful and popular YouTube channel Coding with Jan.The conversation covers a range of topics including the current landscape of Shopify development, strategies for finding clients, the importance of professionalism, and the evolving role of AI in web development. Jan shares insights on his new JavaScript training program aimed at helping developers enhance their skills, while also discussing the significance of soft skills in client interactions. TakeawaysFinding clients often comes from referrals and established relationships.Professionalism is key in differentiating yourself as a developer.AI tools can enhance productivity but should not replace human developers.Soft skills are just as important as technical skills in client interactions.Building a solid portfolio and online presence is crucial for new developers.JavaScript is essential for Shopify development and should be learned thoroughly.Understanding the Shopify admin and Liquid is vital for effective development.Networking and community engagement can lead to more opportunities.Creating content can help establish authority and attract clients.Continuous learning and adapting to new tools is necessary for success in development.Introducing the .dev Assistant VSCode Extension - https://shopify.dev/changelog/introdu...[action required] Checkout APIs will be shut down April 1, 2025 - https://shopify.dev/changelog/checkou...[action required] AMAZON_PAY enumerated in DigitalWallets - https://shopify.dev/changelog/amazonp...[action required] Metafield description input field removal - https://shopify.dev/changelog/metafie...New customer address capabilities in the Admin API - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-cus...Timestamps00:00 Exploring Shopify Development and Educational Initiatives01:25 The Evolution of Development in 202504:23 Finding Clients and Building a Portfolio07:21 Soft Skills in Development and Client Interaction13:15 Navigating Cold Outreach Strategies17:30 Building a Professional Online Presence22:59 The Importance of Referrals and Networking31:52 Establishing Technical Knowledge in Development38:49 The Future of Development in an AI World40:47 The Role of AI in Web Development46:04 Essential Skills for Freelance Developers47:03 Mastering JavaScript for Shopify52:56 Shopify Updates and Changes01:01:35 Personal Highlights and Future CollaborationsFind Jan OnlineYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CodingwithJanLinkedIn:   / jan-frey   Twitter (X): https://x.com/Coding_with_Jan Website: https://codingwithjan.com/Freemote: https://www.freemote.com/Javascript Training: https://www.codingwithjan.com/javascr... ResourcesLuck Sail:    • The little risks you can take to incr...   Dev ChangelogPicks of the WeekKarl: Ruby on Rails and Web Assembly - https://web.dev/blog/ruby-on-rails-on...Jan: Working with Shopify Academy - https://www.shopifyacademy.com/Taylor: GoRuck Weighted Vest - https://www.goruck.com/products/train...Signup for Liquid Weekly NewsletterDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week - https://liquidweekly.com/

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• Episode 037 - Ruben Bristian with Krown Themes

  In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page welcome Ruben Bristian, co-founder of Krown Themes, to discuss the intricacies of Shopify theme development. Ruben shares his journey from WordPress to Shopify, the challenges of adapting to Liquid, and the importance of understanding merchant needs. The conversation delves into the theme development process, including design collaboration, quality assurance, and the impact of new Shopify features. Ruben emphasizes the balance between creating user-friendly themes for merchants while also considering the developer experience. The episode concludes with insights on the evolving landscape of Shopify themes and the importance of accessibility and market trends in development.Takeaways- The importance of understanding merchant needs in theme development.- Accessibility is a continuous improvement area in theme design.- Quality assurance involves feedback from support teams and demo stores.- The development process is iterative and involves collaboration with designers.- Shopify themes must balance simplicity and functionality for merchants.- New features in Shopify can impact existing themes significantly.- Developers should consider the user experience when building themes.- Market trends influence the features included in themes.- Ruben's team focuses on creating unique solutions for niche markets.Timestamps00:00 Ruben Bristian's Journey to Shopify Development09:18 The Evolution of Shopify Themes19:11 Theme Development Process and Challenges29:16 Focus on Merchant Needs and Accessibility32:34 Adapting to Shopify Updates35:56 Feature Selection and Merchant Needs39:13 Building Unique Features and Market Gaps42:06 Submission Process to Shopify44:29 Development Tools and Frameworks49:17 Collaboration and Design Process57:35 Personal Updates and Picks of the Week59:15 Shopify's Theme Submission Process and Naming ChallengesFind Ruben Online- Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubenbristian/- Website - https://www.krownthemes.com/- Shopify listings - https://themes.shopify.com/designers/krownthemesDev Changelog- Flow: Template extensions no longer block deploys - https://shopify.dev/changelog/flow-template-extensions-no-longer-block-deploys- Liquid arrays now support the find, find_index, has, and reject filters - https://shopify.dev/changelog/liquid-arrays-now-support-the-find-findindex-has-and-reject-filters- No-op for unchanged metafields and metaobjects - https://shopify.dev/changelog/no-op-for-unchanged-metafields-and-metaobjects- Reserved prefix protection for metafields and metaobjects - https://shopify.dev/changelog/reserved-prefix-protection-for-metafields-and-metaobjectsPicks of the Week- Ruben - Newborn! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant- Karl - Severance on Apple TV - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severance_(TV_series)- Taylor - Person of Interest - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest_(TV_series)Signup for Liquid Weekly NewsletterDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week - https://liquidweekly.com/

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• Episode 036 - Paolo Vidali with Hidden Gears

  In this episode of the Liquid Weekly podcast, host Karl Meisterheim and co-host Taylor Page welcome Paolo Vidale, founder and CEO of Hidden Gears, to discuss the intricacies of technical debt, quality assurance, and the evolution of Shopify development.Paolo shares his journey into development, emphasizing the importance of understanding technical debt both in-house and inherited from previous projects.The conversation delves into the philosophy of quality assurance, the challenges of JavaScript, and innovative approaches like inside-out re-theming to manage technical debt effectively. The episode concludes with insights on the latest changes in the Shopify ecosystem and personal picks from the hosts.Takeaways:• Technical debt is a crucial aspect of development that can accumulate over time.• Quality assurance should be viewed as a philosophy rather than just a task.• Diligence in testing involves anticipating user behavior and potential errors.• Inside-out re-theming allows for gradual improvements without complete overhauls.• JavaScript can introduce complexities, especially with conflicting libraries from apps.• Effective QA processes can prevent surprises and ensure a smoother development experience.• Collaboration with app developers can lead to better product outcomes.• Accessibility testing is an essential part of the QA process.• Understanding the implications of headless architecture is vital for successful implementation.• Using tools like Nacho Nacho can help manage SaaS subscriptions effectively.Timestamps:• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction• 01:15 Paolo's Origin Story in Development• 07:40 Transitioning to Shopify and E-commerce• 09:59 Balancing Marketing and Development• 12:31 Quality Assurance in Development• 17:08 Understanding Quality Assurance• 21:14 Design QA vs. Development QA• 25:06 Accessibility and ADA Testing• 29:19 Navigating Complexity in Design and Accessibility• 30:10 Tools for Accessibility Testing• 33:18 Quality Assurance in Development• 34:32 Diligence and Destruction in QA Testing• 39:23 Understanding Technical Debt• 49:02 Inside-Out Re-theming for Technical Debt• 54:17 JavaScript Challenges and Solutions• 57:13 Dev Changelog and Picks of the WeekFind Paolo Online:• Website: https://www.hiddengears.com• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hiddengears• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolovidali/• Twitter(X): https://x.com/paolorobotResources:• ARIA DevTools: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/aria-devtools/dneemiigcbbgbdjlcdjjnianlikimpck?hl=en• Browserstack: https://www.browserstack.com/• Deque University: https://dequeuniversity.com/• WAVE: https://wave.webaim.org/• JAWS Inspect: https://www.tpgi.com/arc-platform/jaws-inspect/Dev Changelog:• Removing unnecessary RELEVANCE sort options: https://shopify.dev/changelog/removing-unnecessary-relevance-sort-options• Events and Origins in Store Credit Account Transactions: https://shopify.dev/changelog/events-and-origins-in-store-credit-account-transactions• Attribute Marketing Consent to Retail Locations: https://shopify.dev/changelog/track-the-retail-locations-where-your-customers-update-their-marketing-consentPicks of the Week:• Paolo: Saas and AI Marketplace (https://nachonacho.com/)• Karl: Logseq (https://logseq.com/)• Taylor: Wahl Clipper/Trimmer (https://amzn.to/4keu34q)Signup for Liquid Weekly Newsletter:Don't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week: https://liquidweekly.com/

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• Episode 035 - Developer Community with Brian Gonzales

  In this episode, Karl and Taylor engage in a lively conversation with Brian Gonzales, a graphic designer, web developer and founder of Solver Collective. Brian shares his origin story, detailing his transition from Drupal to Shopify and his passion for building a Shopify developer community in Portland. He discusses the pivotal moments in his career, including his passion for retail and the importance of in-person connections. The conversation explores the challenges and successes of fostering local meetups, navigating Shopify's support and sponsorship, and the importance of creating a technically focused community Takeaways - Brian is a graphic designer and web developer from Portland. - Brian founded an agency called Solver Collective. - He transitioned from Drupal development to Shopify in 2018. - He emphasizes the importance of community in the Shopify space. - In-person connections are vital for building strong networks. - Community building requires clear messaging and purpose. - Building a community takes time and persistence. - Navigating brand guidelines can be challenging but necessary. - Community events foster connections and knowledge sharing. - Personal connections enhance professional networking. - Swag can be a fun way to engage community members. - Creating a fun atmosphere at events can enhance participation. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Early Morning Energy 02:57 Parenting and Work-Life Balance 06:01 Basecamp and Project Management Tools 08:59 Guest Introduction: Brian Gonzales 12:01 Brian's Superhero Origin Story 15:01 Transitioning to Shopify Development 18:51 The Journey Begins: From Fear to Opportunity 25:09 Navigating Career Choices: The Temptation of the Porn Industry 30:32 Building Community: The Importance of In-Person Connections 37:24 Reviving a Dormant Group: The Birth of a New Community 43:18 Fostering Technical Engagement: A Focus on Developers 49:46 Creating Value: Engaging the Community through Participation 50:05 The Quest for Swag and Community Engagement 52:16 Navigating Shopify Collaborations 56:30 Building Community Connections 01:01:01 Change Log Insights and Updates 01:05:03 Personal Picks and Recommendations Find Brian Online - Solver Collective: https://solvercollective.com/ - PDX Shopify Website: https://shopify.pdxmeetup.com/ - PDX Shopify Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/pdx-shopify-meetup/ Dev Changelog - Support added for $app in product queries by metafield: https://shopify.dev/changelog/support-added-for-app-namespaces-in-product-queries-by-metafield - InventoryItem Queryable and Updatable with Products Scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/inventoryitem-queryable-and-updatable-with-products-scopes - Apps will be reviewed for necessary scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/apps-will-be-reviewed-for-necessary-scopes - shop.metaobjects is now just metaobjects in liquid: https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopmetaobjects-is-now-just-metaobjects-in-liquid - [Action Required] New Catalog APIs: https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-catalog-apis - [Deprecation] Payout statuses In Transit and Scheduled have been merged: https://shopify.dev/changelog/payout-statuses-in-transit-and-scheduled-have-been-merged Picks of the Week (Karl) Banana Chips! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096EVMTE (Taylor) Buckeye Express Carwash (Brian) - Polyphia: https://polyphia.com/ Signup for Liquid Weekly Newsletter Don't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week - ⁠https://liquidweekly.com/

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• Episode 034 - Guest Matthew Smith of Sections Pro on Shopify Theme Blocks

  In this episode of the Liquid Weekly podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page welcome Matthew Smith, a Shopify developer and creator of the app Sections Pro. The conversation delves into Matt's journey into Shopify development, the challenges of balancing a full-time job with app development, and the exciting new features of Shopify's theme blocks. In this conversation, Taylor Page and Matt Smith discuss various aspects of app development within the Shopify ecosystem, including the importance of usability, theme customization, pricing strategies, and the role of ROI in app success. They also delve into support strategies for app developers, the challenges of navigating Shopify's review system, and the future of Shopify's tech stack. The discussion highlights the need for developers to understand their audience and the market dynamics to create successful applications. Takeaways Matt started his journey in Shopify development around 2000. Sections Pro emerged from Matt's experiences with previous app failures. The app development process involves learning from failures and iterating. Fast deployment is crucial for maintaining productivity in development. Theme blocks allow for more flexibility and reusability in Shopify themes. Current limitations of theme blocks include their inability to coexist with section-defined blocks. The future of theme blocks looks promising as Shopify continues to improve UX. Matt emphasizes the importance of community feedback in app development. The conversation highlights the balance between speed and user experience in app design. Matt's approach to development is consistent and incremental, focusing on daily progress. If you build an app, you don't use your app. It's important to showcase the value of your app to users. Apps that demonstrate ROI tend to perform better in the market. Support should be minimized to enhance user experience. Reviews are crucial for app visibility and success. Understanding customer needs is key to app development. Pricing strategies should reflect the value provided to users. Partnerships and integrations can enhance app functionality. Navigating Shopify's review system can be challenging for developers. The tech stack should align with Shopify's evolving vision. Find Matt Online Matt's website: https://matthewsmith.com/ Twitter (X): https://x.com/matthewsmith Sections Pro: https://www.sectionspro.com/ Sections Pro (app store): https://apps.shopify.com/sections-ai Resources Theme Blocks developer preview (announcement):: ⁠https://www.shopify.com/partners/blog...⁠ Reference theme discussions: ⁠https://github.com/Shopify/reference-...⁠ Dev Docs on Theme Blocks: ⁠https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/...⁠ Quick start (with code examples): ⁠https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/...⁠ Dawn commit: ⁠https://github.com/Shopify/dawn/commi...⁠ Dev Changelog Continuous cart authentication: ⁠https://shopify.dev/changelog/continu...⁠ New Buyer Consent Requirement: ⁠https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-buy...⁠ Performance, integration and category-specific requirements come into practice: ⁠https://shopify.dev/changelog/perform...⁠ Picks of the Week (Karl) Music Go Round: ⁠https://musicgoround.com/⁠ (Matt) Over the air tv and antenna: ⁠https://www.thefreetvproject.org/what...⁠ (Taylor) Sam's Club Membership: ⁠https://www.samsclub.com/join⁠ Signup for Liquid Weekly Newsletter Don't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this delivered right to your inbox each week - https://liquidweekly.com/

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