Deprecating REST API

[Snodgers]

I'm not sure I can find a clear answer on this. Is Shopify completely deprecating the REST API next year?

Obviously, I understand that they don't want to maintain both REST and GraphQL. However, REST has been around longer and is significantly more popular than GraphQL. GraphQL also has several issues, including:

• Security — GraphQL exposes public APIs to exfiltration, tampering and denial-of-service from bad actors.
• Performance — GraphQL exposes all APIs to bad performance even from friendly actors.
• Complexity — GraphQL exposes developers – especially backend developers – to enormous complexity.

For simple queries, I don't see the advantage of GraphQL. Do most Shopify developers need really advanced queries?

[LetterT]

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@Snodgers wrote:

I'm not sure I can find a clear answer on this. Is Shopify completely deprecating the REST API next year?

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Not sure about completely, but it has a wide ranging effect 😭​

All public apps that are built on existing GraphQL product APIs or REST product APIs must migrate to the new GraphQL product APIs by February 1, 2025.

https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/graphql/migrate/new-product-model

[Snodgers]

Yes and custom apps must migrate by April 1, 2025.

Also, the documentation says this:

Developers should expect that the GraphQL API will be the only supported API over the long term and will be made aware of these timelines as they become available.

Why won't Shopify be open about this? They are clearly removing the REST API and have no intention of supporting it.

I would like a straightforward answer.

[hattmall]

Custom applications that do not need more than 100 variants don't need to migrate to GraphQL in April 2025. Needless complexity of GraphQL wille end many popular public apps. GraphQL creates far more problems than it solves for most scenarios and is already falling out of favor in many companies. Shopify is not likely to harm so many of their merchants by fully ending REST support. Shopify may do what some others have done and maintain REST wrappers of their GraphQL API, which is what developers have to do anyway. If they don't expect a 3rd party tool to fill this gap quickly.