how can I use node & react template for shopify-cli v3 ?

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

Developers are seeking ways to use Node.js and React templates with Shopify CLI v3, as official documentation primarily focuses on Remix.

Main Issue:
Using npm init @shopify/app@latest -- --template=node produces multiple errors including missing dependencies (cross-env, vite, @vitejs/plugin-react) and permission issues.

Proposed Solutions:

  • Use the last available Node template version: npm init @shopify/app@3.47.5 (note: this template hasn’t been updated since version 3.47.5)
  • Run Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to a drive with full permissions to resolve EPERM symlink errors
  • Manually install missing dependencies as they appear

Current Status:
The Node/React template appears to have compatibility issues with newer Shopify CLI v3 versions and may not be actively maintained. Some users continue experiencing errors even after applying suggested fixes. The discussion remains open with no definitive resolution for seamlessly using Node templates in current CLI versions.

Summarized with AI on October 30. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hello,

I am new to the shopify app development and am trying to learning how to develop applications in node and react stack using the shopify cli template.

The official documentation only has tutorial and proper documentation for using Remix. Can someone please help me out how can I use the node templates?

If I use npm init @Shopify_77 /app@latest it gives two options to choose from

  • Use Remix template (recommended)

  • Start by adding your own extension

therefore I tried using npm init @Shopify_77 /app@latest -- --template=node but that gives all sorts of errors.

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surajaubergine_1-1697458835096.png1848×1053 113 KB

I resolved these errors by npm i cross-env & npm i vite

surajaubergine_2-1697458931526.png
surajaubergine_2-1697458931526.png1848×1053 206 KB

Resolved these errors with npm i @vitejs/plugin-react but that gave this error!

surajaubergine_3-1697459226443.png
surajaubergine_3-1697459226443.png1848×1053 321 KB

I removed the node_modules folder and used the npm install command but that doesn’t work

I am not sure if it is compatible with Shopify cli v3 or not.

I saw a few tutorials that say I’ll be prompted to add the ngrok token, even that didn’t happen.

So please help!!

2

You can get the last node template by using:

npm init /app@3.47.5

It has not been updated since then

3

ragavi_0-1716272208705.png
ragavi_0-1716272208705.png1424×388 68.6 KB

got this error after using that command, is there any other way that I could use node and express templates in shopify

4

If you encounter an EPERM: operation not permitted, symlink error when running npm init @Shopify_77 [email removed] – --template=node, follow these steps:

  1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator:

    • Search for “cmd” or “Command Prompt” in the Start Menu.
    • Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.

  2. Navigate to Your Main Drive:

    • For example, C: drive where you have full permissions

npm init @Shopify_77 [email removed] – --template=node

5

I just started to use shopify for my ecommerce should i switch to readymade react templates ?