Skip to main content
Blue Gen Coders Logo
 

Setting Up Your Shopify Theme Development Environment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting Up Your Shopify Theme Development Environment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to the first blog in our Shopify Theme Development series! If you’re ready to dive into Shopify theme development, the first step is to set up a proper development environment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential tools and installations you need to get started. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be all set to start creating your own custom Shopify themes.

In this blog, we’ll cover the following key installations:

  1. Node.js: A JavaScript runtime that enables you to run JavaScript on your local machine and manage packages.
  2. Shopify Theme Kit: A powerful tool that allows you to develop Shopify themes locally.
  3. Visual Studio Code: A code editor that provides a great environment for editing and managing your theme files.

Step 1: Installing Node.js

Node.js is essential for running various development tools, including the Shopify Theme Kit. It also acts as a package manager, allowing you to install and manage dependencies for your Shopify theme development.

To install Node.js:

  1. Visit the official Node.js website.
  2. Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  4. Verify the installation by opening your terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and typing:
node -v
npm -v

You should see the version numbers of Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager), confirming that both are installed correctly.

Step 2: Installing Shopify Theme Kit

Shopify Theme Kit is a command-line tool that helps you build Shopify themes with ease. It allows you to upload, download, and watch your theme files in real-time as you develop.

To install Shopify Theme Kit:

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Run the following command to install the Shopify Theme Kit:
npm install -g @shopify/themekit

Once the installation is complete, verify it by running:

theme

You should see a list of commands and options available within Theme Kit.

Step 3: Installing Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, lightweight, and powerful code editor that supports a wide range of programming languages and tools. It’s an excellent choice for editing Shopify theme files.

To install Visual Studio Code:

  1. Visit the Visual Studio Code website.
  2. Download the installer for your operating system.
  3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  4. Once installed, open VS Code and customize it with extensions such as “Liquid” for Shopify’s templating language and “Prettier” for code formatting.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you prefer a visual guide, check out our YouTube video tutorial where we walk you through each of these steps in detail. The video will help you set up your development environment and get you ready for the exciting journey of Shopify theme development.