Developer needs to get up-to-speed on Shopify quickly!

[bbdigital]

I am a web developer with 24+ years experience. I am familiar with most common web languages and technologies (HTML5, PHP, VBscript, Javascript, jQuery, CSS, SASS, MySQL, MS SQL, etc.). I have also done a fair amount of custom WordPress development (building themes, customizing templates, etc.).

I am now being tasked with running a fairly large, existing Shopify store on behalf of a client. I will not be fulfilling orders and so forth, but will be doing maintenance and adding new features based on what the team wants to do. I really have no experience with Shopify. I need to get up to speed as quickly as possible on the technical in's and out's. I don't want to watch a bunch of videos explaining why I should choose Shopify, or strategies I should take as a retailer. I just need the technical details as an administrator of a Shopify site.

Could anyone recommend a website, series of videos, online training... anything, that would help? I would pay for online training if it was the best option. Thank you so much!

[MikeKenway]

I am so, so sorry if this doesn't help (I'm barely a developer, but I work with one often and I understand code enough to be dangerous - haha!)

That said, Liquid supports...a lot of what you're already well versed in. My friend and I accomplish literally everything that we want to do using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Liquid adds a bunch of objects/variables you can call to for easy dynamic content, but I don't think there's a whole lot beyond those 3 languages you'd need? 

At least not knowing exactly what kind of customizations you're looking to make. 

http://shopify.dev/ has every object you can call to and a bunch of documentation on how to work with Liquid (and some beginning documentation to start reading up on Hyrdogen for when it's released).

I hope that helps? I'd be happy to help find resources if there's something specific you're looking to dive into!

[bbdigital]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Its good to know that exists. Also, to your point, I think its important that I find out what the existing Shopify site is actually using. What apps, theme, is it using Liquid, etc.? That should let me hone in on what I'll need to work on rather than trying to learn everything all at once.

[MikeKenway · Accepted solution]

Absolutely!

Everything in Shopify, by pure nature, uses Liquid unless it's been built as a headless site. In which case...the only real way to know what's going on is to dive into the code and look at it yourself. 

If they're using a 3rd party Shopify theme, most of the good theme developers provide documentation and resources on their own websites to help with development. Native Shopify Themes are usually pretty simple, so the sky is the limit on what you can do with those. 

Apps are a bit trickier, and every single one is going to operate differently, but thankfully they *usually* don't need much work if they're functioning as intended. 

Let me know if I can do anything else for you, good luck on the project, and welcome to Shopify!

[MorbidKoder]

Heeeey!!!!
We have very similar posts! 
In your previous journey from years ago, have you learned any lessons on how to create a dev site and not destroy the production site?