10 Newbie Mistakes to Avoid as an Aspiring Shopify Developer
Ralph Sanchez
10 Newbie Mistakes to Avoid as an Aspiring Shopify Developer
1. Editing the Live Theme Directly
The Wrong Way: Using the Online Code Editor
The Right Way: Using a Safe Workflow
2. Overloading the Store with Apps
The Problem with 'App-First' Thinking
Auditing and Choosing Apps Wisely
3. Ignoring Performance and Site Speed
Common Performance Killers
Best Practices for a Fast Store
4. Neglecting SEO Best Practices
Hardcoding URLs and Content
Forgetting Semantic HTML and Alt Text
5. Writing Messy, Undocumented Code
The Importance of Code Structure
Using Comments Effectively
Conclusion
References
10 Newbie Mistakes to Avoid as an Aspiring Shopify Developer
Starting your journey as a Shopify developer feels like stepping into a world of endless possibilities. But here's the thing - every developer before you has stumbled over the same rocks on this path. The good news? You don't have to.
Learning from others' mistakes is the fastest way to level up your skills. While mastering the essential technical skills takes time, avoiding these common pitfalls will help you build better stores from day one. Whether you're teaching yourself or learning through top Shopify developer communities and resources, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do.
For business owners reading this, understanding these mistakes helps you hire expert Shopify developers who actually know their stuff. Let's dive into the ten mistakes that can make or break your Shopify development career.
1. Editing the Live Theme Directly
Picture this: You're making a quick fix to a client's store. You type one wrong character. Suddenly, their entire website crashes during Black Friday. That's the nightmare of editing live themes.
The Wrong Way: Using the Online Code Editor
The Shopify admin's built-in code editor seems so convenient. It's right there, ready to use. But here's why it's a trap for new developers.
First, it encourages you to work directly on the live theme. There's no undo button if you mess up. Second, it lacks the features that make coding efficient - no syntax highlighting, no auto-complete, no error checking. You're basically coding blindfolded.
Think of it like performing surgery with a butter knife. Sure, you might get the job done, but why risk it when better tools exist?
The Right Way: Using a Safe Workflow
Professional developers never touch the live theme directly. Here's what they do instead.
Start by duplicating the theme. This gives you a safe playground where mistakes won't cost sales. Better yet, use the Shopify CLI to download the theme to your computer. Now you can use a proper code editor like VS Code, which catches errors before they happen.
The real game-changer? Version control with Git. Every change gets tracked. Made a mistake? Roll it back in seconds. Want to try something risky? Create a branch. It's like having a time machine for your code.
When you're ready to go live, preview your changes first. Test everything. Then push to the live theme with confidence. This workflow might seem like extra steps now, but it'll save you from those 3 AM panic calls when something breaks.
2. Overloading the Store with Apps
Apps are like candy for new Shopify developers. There's an app for everything! Want a popup? There's an app. Need reviews? App. Custom checkout fields? You guessed it - app.
But here's what happens when you go app-crazy. Each app adds its own code to your store. Some load multiple JavaScript files. Others inject CSS that conflicts with your theme. Before you know it, your store takes 10 seconds to load and looks like a digital Frankenstein.
The Problem with 'App-First' Thinking
New developers often reach for apps because they seem easier than coding. Why write custom Liquid when an app does it in two clicks?
Here's why: Most simple features don't need an app. Want to add a size chart? That's 20 lines of Liquid. Need a basic popup? JavaScript can handle it. Custom product badges? Pure CSS.
Every app you install is another monthly fee for your client. Another potential security risk. Another thing that can break during updates. Apps should solve complex problems, not simple ones.
Auditing and Choosing Apps Wisely
Sometimes you genuinely need an app. Complex inventory management, advanced analytics, or sophisticated email marketing - these justify the app approach.
When choosing apps, be picky. Check the reviews, but look deeper than star ratings. How often is it updated? Does the developer respond to support requests? Install it on a test store first.
Here's a pro tip: Regularly audit your apps. Every three months, review what's installed. Is that countdown timer still being used? Did the client stop using that wishlist feature? Remove what's not essential. Your store's performance will thank you.
3. Ignoring Performance and Site Speed
Speed kills - or in this case, slow speed kills conversions. New developers often build beautiful stores that load like molasses. They focus on making things look perfect while forgetting that users won't wait around to see it.
A one-second delay in page load can drop conversions by 7%. That's real money walking away because your hero image is 5MB.
Common Performance Killers
The biggest culprit? Images. That gorgeous lifestyle photo might look amazing, but if it's 3MB, it's destroying your load time. New developers upload images straight from the photographer without compression.
JavaScript is another silent killer. Every slider, animation, and interactive element adds weight. Loading multiple font families? That's more HTTP requests. Using complex animations everywhere? Your mobile users are suffering.
Then there's the theme itself. Some developers stuff everything into one massive CSS file. Others load resources that aren't even used on the page. It's like packing for vacation and bringing your entire closet.
Best Practices for a Fast Store
Start with images. Always compress them before uploading. Tools like TinyPNG can reduce file sizes by 70% without visible quality loss. Use the right format - JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency.
For your code, think minimal. Minify your CSS and JavaScript. Combine files where possible. Use lazy loading for images below the fold - why load product images at the bottom of the page before users even scroll there?
Here's a simple rule: If it doesn't improve the user experience, it's probably hurting performance. That fancy cursor effect might look cool, but is it worth an extra second of load time?
Test your speed regularly. Google's PageSpeed Insights gives you a reality check. Aim for scores above 70 on mobile. Remember, most of your traffic is probably on phones with sketchy connections.
4. Neglecting SEO Best Practices
SEO feels boring compared to building cool features. But here's the truth - a store nobody can find is a failed store, no matter how amazing it looks.
New developers treat SEO like an afterthought. They build first, optimize later. By then, fixing SEO issues means rewriting half the theme. Do it right from the start.
Hardcoding URLs and Content
This mistake makes me cringe every time. A developer hardcodes "/products/blue-widget" directly in the theme. Then the merchant changes the product handle, and suddenly you've got broken links everywhere.
Always use Liquid variables. Instead of hardcoding, use
{{ product.url }}. When the merchant updates the handle, every link updates automatically. Same goes for collection URLs, page URLs, even blog posts.Hardcoded content is just as bad. Writing "Free Shipping on Orders Over $50" directly in the theme? What happens when the merchant changes their policy? Now they need a developer for a simple text change. Use theme settings or metafields instead.
Forgetting Semantic HTML and Alt Text
Google can't see your beautiful product photos. It reads code. That's why semantic HTML matters so much.
Use proper heading tags. Your page should have one H1 (usually the product or collection title). Use H2s for major sections, H3s for subsections. Don't use headings just to make text bigger - that's what CSS is for.
Alt text isn't optional. Every product image needs descriptive alt text. "IMG_1234.jpg" tells Google nothing. "Blue ceramic coffee mug with floral pattern" tells the whole story. Plus, it helps visually impaired users understand your content.
Meta descriptions matter too. Don't let Shopify auto-generate them. Write compelling descriptions that make people want to click. Include your target keywords naturally, not stuffed in like a turkey.
5. Writing Messy, Undocumented Code
Your code works. Great! But can another developer understand it? Can you understand it six months from now? Messy code is technical debt that compounds over time.
New developers often write code like they're the only ones who'll ever see it. Spoiler alert: you won't be. Whether it's a colleague, a freelancer, or future you, someone will need to understand your logic.
The Importance of Code Structure
Organization isn't optional in professional development. Your theme files should follow a logical structure that any Shopify developer can navigate.
Use Shopify's standard file structure. Don't create custom folders that break conventions. Keep your snippets organized by function - all product-related snippets together, all collection snippets together.
Name files clearly. "thing.liquid" tells nobody anything. "product-size-chart.liquid" explains itself. When you're scanning through 50 files looking for that one piece of code, clear names save hours.
Break complex templates into smaller pieces. Instead of one massive product template with 500 lines, use snippets. "product-images.liquid", "product-info.liquid", "product-recommendations.liquid" - each piece has one job and does it well.
Using Comments Effectively
Comments are love letters to your future self. That clever piece of code that seems obvious today? In three months, you'll stare at it wondering what you were thinking.
Comment the why, not the what.
// Loop through products is useless - we can see it's a loop. But // Loop through products to find matching color variants for the swatch display explains the purpose.Document complex logic. If you're doing something unusual, explain it. Maybe you're working around a Shopify limitation. Maybe the client had a specific requirement. Future developers need this context.
Here's a simple rule: If you had to think about it while writing it, comment it. Your future self (and your teammates) will thank you.
Conclusion
Every expert Shopify developer started exactly where you are now. The difference? They learned from their mistakes - and hopefully, you can learn from theirs without making them yourself.
These ten mistakes aren't just random pitfalls. They're the difference between amateur work and professional development. Avoiding them sets you apart from the crowd of developers who learned the hard way.
Start implementing these practices today. Set up a proper development workflow. Audit those apps. Compress those images. Write clean, documented code. Your clients will notice the difference, and your stress levels will thank you.
Remember, becoming a skilled Shopify developer isn't just about learning new techniques. It's about developing professional habits that make you reliable, efficient, and valuable. Every mistake you avoid is a step closer to mastery.
The Shopify ecosystem keeps evolving, and new challenges will always emerge. But with these fundamentals in place, you'll be ready to tackle whatever comes next. Now stop reading and start building - the right way.
References
Like this project
Posted Jul 4, 2025
Accelerate your journey to becoming a Shopify expert by avoiding these 10 common mistakes. Learn best practices for theme editing, app usage, and client work.
