Can an option be added to return the behaviour of being able to preview an app on multiple different stores?
I understand that its so an app can be worked on whilst not affecting the production build, but shouldn’t you just have multiple apps, one for development, staging, and production? Even with these changes I wouldn’t feel safe working in a dev env on a published production app, and would prefer sticking to a multi app setup.
Hi @Taj_Bowness –
Can you clarify what behavior you are referring to? Are you talking about the app dev command or installing the app on multiple stores?
The changes to the dev command specifically were designed to allow multiple team members to work on an app in isolation. Can you describe more about your workflow and what you are trying to achieve?
Thanks,
Nick
Hey @NickWesselman,
Apologies, I’m referring to the app dev command. I’m hoping to be able to access the app in its new preview state on different stores. Currently, I have to re-spin up the app multiple times and change the dev_store_url field in shopify.app.toml to preview the app on a different store.
I don’t just use one store as I have multiple dev stores that are each configured differently. And with my test runners, they each user their own store, and when I need to regenerate session data for each I have to preview the app on each store to generate a session for each.
Hopefully that makes sense, let me know if you need me to clarify anything.
Also, is the “Dev console” that appears in the admin only for extensions? I feel it should only appear if the app is configured for extensions, otherwise its just a popup that gets closed immediately, as it has no real purpose for other apps.
Thanks
Hi @Taj_Bowness –
Thanks for the insight. Like I mentioned, we designed the new dev for better isolation, but there may be ways we could better support a use case like yours. Is your use of multiple stores part of your core development loop, or a testing process you run as part of your release?
One note is that you can remove the dev_store_url from the toml now, and use the --store argument on app dev to make this easier. The last store you used will also be remembered in .shopify/project.json.
The Dev Console is meant to communicate that you have active app previews on a store. This could include app configuration changes, not just extensions. We have plans to add more functionality here, like ending the app preview.
-Nick
Hey @NickWesselman,
Yeah, absolutely. Both, but mostly testing.
Ideally, just a config option in shopify.app.toml to toggle it would be great. I’m not in a team of people but I do recognise its usefulness and do appreciate it!
With the Dev Console, what does ending the app preview mean? Just ending the app dev process?
Will ideas for future Dev Console changes be gathered via the dev community here? If so, will there be a dedicated thread to collect proposals and discussion?
Thanks!
Hi @Taj_Bowness –
We don’t want to put store details back in the app.toml, but as I said, the --store argument should allow you to run dev multiple times against different stores.
You can see a description of the new dev and app previews here:
-Nick