Making API Call from Shopify Frontend

[erebor]

Hi all,

New Shopify developer here, any help would be much appreciated!

I have written some code directly in my (development) front end Shopify code base which checks for when a customer lands on a product page and when a customer leaves a product page. When a customer lands on the product page, I use Liquid objects to gather data from the product the customer is viewing and then package everything into a variable.

I want to then take this data and send it to some backend code that will make an authenticated external API patch request, with the the product data variable passed into the body of the request.

This second step is where I am having trouble. Since it is such a simple backend function, I tried to set it up an AWS as a Lambda function with an API gateway trigger. I then created a proxy app directly through the shopify partner dashboard and used the API gateway endpoint as the Proxy URL.

I then realised in order to install the proxy app on my development store, I needed to setup a App URL/Redirect URL and an OAuth handler. So I attempted to create another API Gateway endpoint linked to another Lambda set up specifically for handling OAuth callbacks. I used this new API Gateway endpoint as the redirect URL but it still doesn't seem to be working properly.

My question is - is there a simpler way for me to achieve this? I am thinking a better idea would be to create and host a Shopify app through the Shopify CLI - which seems like it might remove some of the difficulties with the installation/OAuth handling? Or am I on the wrong tracks?

Any suggestions would be very welcome!

Thanks

[Dotsquares · Accepted solution]

Hi @erebor 

Employing Shopify CLI to develop and host a Shopify app of one's own design is a more effective method compared to doing OAuth manually through AWS Lambda.

Your existing configuration of AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and a Proxy App is overcomplicating things, particularly authentication. Shopify CLI + Shopify App Hosting reduces the complexity by elegantly handling OAuth, authentication, and API calls.

1)Easier Solution: Develop a Shopify App through Shopify CLI
2)Shopify's Integrated Authentication
3) Create Your Backend API Endpoint
4) Pass Product Information from Shopify Liquid to Your App
This approach eliminates the complexity of AWS Lambda while significantly simplifying Shopify API authentication.
Please let me know if this works or if you need detailed assistance.

[erebor]

Hi @Dotsquares ,

Thanks for this! I will have a go at setting up and hosting an app.

Do you recommended any particular hosting platform for the app?