Building a Shopify App: React & Node.js vs. Node.js & Express

[jenn11]

This is a general question as I'm building an app with the former though my experience is more robust with the latter. I read in the Github code for Express that it was deprecated due to security issues. Is this still the case and is it recommended to use Node/React or is it just as valid to use Node/Express?

[katiedavis]

Hi @jenn11!

React is a front end library and express is a framework for node. Can you point me to the documentation you read?

[jenn11]

@katiedavis sure, here's the tutorial https://help.shopify.com/en/api/tutorials/build-a-shopify-app-with-node-and-express and the archived Github project https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-node-app.

edit: I also found this Github project using Express that has been deprecated as well: https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-express

[OTM]

Hi, @jenn11 ,

This is Evita from On The Map.

Have you tried using Shopify App CLI. Shopify App CLI helps you build Shopify apps faster. It automates many common tasks in the development process and lets you quickly add popular features, such as billing and webhooks.

Best,
Evita

[katiedavis]

Hey Jenn! There's no security issue that I know of using express. The express project was deprecated in favour of the koa package:

https://github.com/Shopify/quilt/tree/master/packages/koa-shopify-auth

if you'd like a tutorial using that package feel free to checkout this tutorial:

https://developers.shopify.com/tutorials/build-a-shopify-app-with-node-and-react

[uriab]

Hi Katie,

is the app cli up to date with the latest oauth cookie issues update?

and - do you have a recommended example for a non-embedded app which does not use next.js? (It really slows down the development process).

Thanks!

[Dragino]

 As @katiedavis mentioned

I would also welcome a demonstration of a new way to authenticate a non-embedded app in node.js. Replacement for https://shopify.dev/tutorials/build-a-shopify-app-with-node-and-express.

Thank you.