App Bridge rollout meter : 100%
Revised Launch Date : Thursday, November 8th, 2018.
We’re excited to announce that we're launching a new way for apps and channels to be embedded directly into the Shopify admin, including Shopify mobile and POS. This new library is called Shopify App Bridge. This consolidated tooling brings together the functionality previously provided by the Embedded App SDK and the POS App SDK and makes building and testing embedded apps easier through:
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Modern development workflows (npm, TypeScript support, and more!)
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Support for Redux DevTools
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More and better error reporting
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Strict versioning using semver
This update is currently being rolled-out to all current consumers of the EASDK, and since it’s backwards compatible, no new work is needed to get it set-up. It’ll also be available as open source on GitHub soon as well.
The titlebar has had a much needed redesign, adding extra space for future features and separating primary actions from secondary (screenshot below).
Embedded apps using App Bridge will also be able to access a new navigation menu builder, available as a new app extension in the Partners dashboard.
These improvements will help cut down your development time and ensure your app renders consistently across platforms—desktop, mobile, and Shopify POS.
For more information, please check out the docs here.
EDIT:
Some people have been emailing in asking about the why of these changes, specifically the change to the title bar structure.
We're working towards a future that includes more titlebar actions, with deeper, more extensible connections into the product. Offering support, leaving reviews, and a ton of other ideas are on the table. The old title bar just didn't give enough space to offer the kind of improvements that we're working on, so it made sense to release it with App Bridge.
The only method that was removed was ShopifyApp.Modal.input, due to it's exceptionally low use (only 77 total clients). In it's place, iFrame Modals can be used,
We're always looking for feedback; post it in the forums, or email us and we can set up a call — we're happy to talk about the future of the platform and want to make sure your voice is heard.
Hey Shayne,
Thanks for enabling the beta on my store 🙂 I've been using this today, and wanted to give you a heads up on a couple of issues I've seen:
1) The "Print" functionaltity of buttons added to the top bar no longer works. Examples: The Shopify Order Printer app no longer can call print with the new App Bridge.
I also ran a test on one of my apps, adding the Print button code as outlined in the EASDK documentation here: https://help.shopify.com/en/api/embedded-apps/embedded-app-sdk/features#printing
<script type="text/javascript">
ShopifyApp.print = function(){
console.log('Print clicked!');
window.print();
}
ShopifyApp.ready(function(){
ShopifyApp.Bar.initialize({
buttons: {
primary: {
label: 'Print',
print: true
}
}
});
});
</script>
And that does not work either.. I don't get anything logged in the console, so ShopifyApp.print is never being called. You may have a general incompatability issue on that feature.
2) The browser url does not update after the initial loading of the app. I've only tested in Chrome so far, but it seems the navigation history is not being pushed to the browser url. It loads and displays the correct url on login, but any additional page you navigate to does not update the url. No console errors or anything else.. testing with stable apps.
Hope the feedback helps 🙂
Bjorn
Hey Shayne,
Found another issue on my test account. The issue is that the new button/nav bar from the previously accessed app is displayed when logging into another app, until the new app is "ready".
Steps to reproduce:
1- Login to any app that adds buttons to the top bar. Wait for the app to finish loading and make note of the buttons shown:
2- Go to Shopify Admin -> Apps
3- Login to any other embedded app
4- You'll notice that while the app is loading up, the buttons from previous app are displayed.
Hope it's useful. I have to admit, it worries me that I've found 3 issues on my beta and I'm not even looking for them.. just stuff I notice as I'm going about my normal business.. and this is rolling out to merchants already 😕
Either way, have a great Friday! 🙂
