Built for Shopify Guidelines

This skill enforces Shopify's Built for Shopify (BFS) quality standards during development to ensure apps meet the highest quality bar for the Shopify App Store.

Reference: https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements

Quick Compliance Checklist

Use this checklist when reviewing code or building features:

BFS Compliance Review:
- [ ] App is embedded in Shopify admin (App Bridge)
- [ ] Uses session token authentication
- [ ] Primary workflows stay within Shopify admin
- [ ] No additional login/signup required
- [ ] Uses theme app extensions (not Asset API for writes)
- [ ] Meets Web Vitals targets (LCP ≤2.5s, CLS ≤0.1, INP ≤200ms)
- [ ] Uses Polaris components matching admin styling
- [ ] Mobile responsive design
- [ ] Uses nav menu (s-app-nav) and contextual save bar
- [ ] Error messages are red, contextual, and helpful
- [ ] No dark patterns or pressure tactics
- [ ] Premium features are disabled and labeled
- [ ] Promotional content is dismissible

1. Integration Requirements

Embedding (MANDATORY)

Apps MUST be embedded in the Shopify admin:

<!-- Add to <head> of every document -->
<script src="https://cdn.shopify.com/shopifycloud/app-bridge.js"></script>

// Use session token authentication
import { authenticate } from "@shopify/shopify-app-remix/server";

export async function loader({ request }) {
  const { session } = await authenticate.admin(request);
  // ...
}

Primary Workflows

All primary app workflows MUST be completable within the Shopify admin:

No external website required for core functionality
Third-party connection settings must be accessible in-app
Simplified monitoring/reporting on app homepage

Clean Installation

For storefront apps, use theme app extensions instead of Asset API:

<!-- extensions/theme-extension/blocks/my-block.liquid -->
{% schema %}
{
  "name": "My App Block",
  "target": "section",
  "settings": []
}
{% endschema %}

Do NOT use Asset API to create, modify, or delete theme files (reading is allowed).

2. Performance Requirements

Web Vitals Targets (75th percentile)

Metric	Target	Description
LCP	≤ 2.5s	Largest Contentful Paint
CLS	≤ 0.1	Cumulative Layout Shift
INP	≤ 200ms	Interaction to Next Paint

Optimization Strategies

// Lazy load heavy components
const HeavyChart = lazy(() => import('./HeavyChart'));

// Use React.memo for expensive renders
const ExpensiveList = memo(({ items }) => (
  // ...
));

// Avoid layout shifts with skeleton loaders
<Suspense fallback={<SkeletonPage />}>
  <AppContent />
</Suspense>

Storefront Performance

Must not reduce Lighthouse score by more than 10 points
Checkout requests: p95 ≤ 500ms, failure rate ≤ 0.1%

3. Design Requirements

Familiar (Match Shopify Admin)

Use Polaris web components to match admin styling:

<!-- Use s-page for page structure -->
<s-page>
  <s-title-bar title="My Page">
    <s-button slot="primary-action">Save</s-button>
  </s-title-bar>
  
  <s-layout>
    <s-layout-section>
      <s-card>
        <s-text>Content in cards</s-text>
      </s-card>
    </s-layout-section>
  </s-layout>
</s-page>

Rejection reasons to avoid:

Custom button colors (use Polaris defaults)
Serif/script fonts
Non-standard background colors
Content not in card containers
Poor contrast (must meet WCAG 2.1 AA)

Navigation

Use App Bridge nav menu:

<s-app-nav>
  <s-nav-item href="/dashboard" selected>Dashboard</s-nav-item>
  <s-nav-item href="/settings">Settings</s-nav-item>
</s-app-nav>

Do NOT:

Create custom navigation menus
Use emojis in nav items
Have separate "Home" link (app name should link to home)

Contextual Save Bar

Use for all form inputs:

import { useAppBridge } from "@shopify/app-bridge-react";
import { SaveBar } from "@shopify/app-bridge/actions";

function SettingsForm() {
  const app = useAppBridge();
  
  const showSaveBar = () => {
    const saveBar = SaveBar.create(app, {
      saveAction: { disabled: false, loading: false },
      discardAction: { disabled: false, loading: false },
    });
    saveBar.dispatch(SaveBar.Action.SHOW);
  };
  // ...
}

Modals

Use s-modal with proper slots:

<s-modal heading="Confirm Action">
  <p>Modal content here</p>
  <s-button slot="secondary-action">Cancel</s-button>
  <s-button slot="primary-action" variant="primary">Confirm</s-button>
</s-modal>

Mobile Responsiveness

No horizontal scrolling on mobile
Content must wrap/stack appropriately
All content accessible (no hidden without expand mechanism)

4. Helpful UX Requirements

Onboarding

Concise, guiding merchants to completion
Dismissible after completion
No requirement to install additional apps
Justify any merchant information requests

Homepage

Must include:

Theme block/embed status (if applicable)
Relevant metrics/analytics
Dynamic content (not just static links)

Error Messages

<!-- CORRECT: Red, contextual, persistent -->
<s-text-field 
  label="Email"
  error="Please enter a valid email address"
/>

<!-- WRONG: Using toast for errors -->
<!-- WRONG: Non-red error colors -->
<!-- WRONG: Top-of-page errors for field issues -->

5. User-Friendly Requirements (No Dark Patterns)

Prohibited Practices

Don't	Why
Countdown timers for upgrades	Pressures merchants
"No thanks, I prefer less sales"	Guilt/shame language
Auto-appearing modals/popovers	Distracts merchants
Guarantee outcomes ("increase sales 18%")	False claims
Review incentives ("5-star for Pro")	Manipulative
Non-dismissible promotions	Overwhelms merchants
Shopify-like icons/colors	Impersonation

Premium Features

<!-- Features must be visually AND functionally disabled -->
<s-card>
  <s-text variant="headingMd">Advanced Analytics</s-text>
  <s-badge tone="info">Pro Plan</s-badge>
  <s-button disabled>View Analytics</s-button>
  <s-link url="/upgrade">Upgrade to unlock</s-link>
</s-card>

Shopify Plus-only features must be hidden (not just disabled) for non-Plus merchants

6. Category-Specific Requirements

If Building: Ads/Analytics/Affiliate Apps

// MUST use Web Pixel extensions, NOT script tags
// extensions/web-pixel/src/index.ts
import { register } from "@shopify/web-pixels-extension";

register(({ analytics }) => {
  analytics.subscribe("page_viewed", (event) => {
    // Track event
  });
});

If Building: Email/SMS Marketing Apps

Sync customer data to/from Shopify
Use Shopify segments via customer segment action extension
Use visitors API for identifying store visitors

If Building: Discount Apps

# Use discount functions or native APIs
# Do NOT use draft orders for custom discounts
# Use discountRedeemCodeBulkAdd for multiple codes

mutation {
  discountRedeemCodeBulkAdd(
    discountId: "gid://shopify/DiscountCodeNode/123"
    codes: [{ code: "CODE1" }, { code: "CODE2" }]
  ) {
    bulkCreation {
      id
    }
  }
}

If Building: Subscription Apps

Use Selling Plan API, Subscription Contract API, Customer Payment Method API
Use theme app blocks for product pages
Display subscription info clearly (name, price, savings)
Use Customer Account UI extensions for subscription management

If Building: Fulfillment Apps

Wait for merchant fulfillment requests before fulfilling
Respond to fulfillment requests within 4 hours
Respond to cancellation requests within 1 hour
Add tracking info within 1 hour of fulfillment creation
99% completion rate, 99.9% callback success rate

If Building: Returns Apps

Sync all return lifecycle events:

returnCreate, reverseDeliveryCreateWithShipping
reverseFulfillmentOrderDispose, returnLineItemRemoveFromReturn
returnCancel, returnClose, refundCreate

Code Review Checklist

When reviewing Shopify app code for BFS compliance:

Technical:
- [ ] App Bridge script in <head>
- [ ] Session token auth (no cookie auth)
- [ ] Theme app extensions (no Asset API writes)
- [ ] Web Pixel extensions (no script tags for tracking)
- [ ] Proper API usage for app category

UI/UX:
- [ ] Polaris components throughout
- [ ] s-app-nav for navigation
- [ ] Contextual save bar for forms
- [ ] s-modal with proper slots
- [ ] Responsive design
- [ ] WCAG 2.1 AA contrast

Content:
- [ ] No outcome guarantees
- [ ] No pressure tactics
- [ ] Dismissible promotional content
- [ ] Disabled + labeled premium features
- [ ] Clear error messages (red, contextual)
- [ ] Helpful onboarding
- [ ] Dynamic homepage content

shopify-built-for-shopify