10 Pitfalls Beginners Encounter in Shopify Theme Development and How to Overcome Them

How to get out

• "Show me if there's anything inside" and the charm: Get into the habit of checking for existence with `if` statements. This alone will dramatically reduce errors.

{% if product.title %} ... {% endif %}

• "If it's not there, just show this" to insure yourself: The `default` filter allows you to display a substitute character even if the data is empty.

{{ product.title | default: "No product name" }}

How to get out

• Load it the Shopify way: When loading CSS or JS files, be sure to`asset_url`Let's add it.

{{ 'style.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}

• Create a "territory" for your code: To avoid conflicts with other app code, enclose your JavaScript in an immediate execution function to isolate it.

How to get out

• Let's break down the model theme Dawn: Shopify provides it for you"Dawn"The theme is a great example. Take a look at the code and try to replicate it.
• Build it yourself from super simple parts: The quickest way to understand is to start by creating a simple section with just a heading and some text.

How to get out

• Use the magic of automatic photo resizing: By using Liquid's `img_url` filter, Shopify will automatically provide you with a properly sized image.

• Lazy Loading Images: Just add `loading="lazy"` to the `` tag and your page will load faster.

How to get out

• To be able to change it from the admin panel: Call URLs from the `routes` object and recurring text from a configuration file. You can easily modify it from the admin panel without touching the code.

How to get out

• Using Shopify's official integration: Safely manage your development and production themes with the touch of a button.
• Just remember the basic commands: First of all, all you need to remember is `git commit` (save) and `git push` (upload)!

How to get out

• Prepare a theme for "try-on": When trying out a new app, always copy (duplicate) your current theme first! If any problems arise, you can quickly revert to the original.
• Use your browser's "detective tool" to find the culprit: Using Developer Tools can give you clues as to which CSS or JavaScript is causing the problem.

How to get out

• Magic spell to reveal everything inside: Using the `json` filter will dump all the data contents. This is the best way to check "What kind of data can I use?"
• Shopify Sensei's automated checks: Running the `shopify theme check` command will automatically tell you what's wrong with your theme and what needs to be improved.

How to get out

• Always think "smartphone first": During development, make it a habit to always check your browser display at smartphone size.
• Learn techniques to adapt your appearance to different screen sizes: CSS media queries (`@media`) are essential knowledge for responsive design.