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Shopify CLI Rewrite and Modernization

1 post · Jan 2023

What this trail covers

Shopify has rewritten and modernized its CLI from Ruby to Node.js, aiming to reduce system requirements, improve developer experience, and align with web technologies. The new CLI is built on a shared NPM package (`@shopify/cli-kit`) for consistency, embraces functional programming principles, and utilizes a monorepo structure for atomic contributions. Cross-OS support is ensured through dedicated modules, comprehensive testing, and clear instructions. Future work includes removing the remaining Ruby dependency for theme developers.

All Shopify trails
  1. From Ruby to Node: Overhauling Shopify’s CLI for a Better Developer Experience - ShopifyThis post details the decision to rewrite the Shopify CLI from Ruby to Node.js, driven by a desire for fewer system requirements, a better developer experience, and alignment with web technologies. It explains the technical rationale behind choosing Node.js over Go or Rust (familiarity for internal teams) and highlights the benefits of Node's module system for building a modular architecture. Key architectural decisions include establishing a foundation for consistency via a shared NPM package (`@shopify/cli-kit`), ensuring cross-OS support through dedicated modules and CI testing, and consolidating components into a monorepo. The post also discusses the adoption of functional programming principles to improve code reasoning and testability.