Static entry in the navigation bar for external app

Partner Discussions
1

Hi

Ran into a problem with needing a menu entry for an external application, this has no JavaScript running in the shopify ecosystem.

I found the entry in the app configuration to add the entry but it has been disabled, seems to assume that you are always configuring a JavaScript and can call App Bridge navigation menu web or React component which, of course, I can’t since my app is totally external.

Screenshot from 2025-03-31 15-19-43
Screenshot from 2025-03-31 15-19-43912×375 49 KB

I’ve talked with support and once we got through all the no go solutions like re-writing my app in JavaScript and having a second app just to add a menu entry it has, hopefully, been pushed up to higher levels and might get acted on.

What do other people think of this problem and the static link options being removed for remote apps?

2

Hey @Julian_Blundell,

can you share the tech stack you are currently using for your app?
I would imagine that you could just inject the app bride script and a few lines of “static” JS to get back your menu funcionality.

Kevin :hatching_chick:

3

Hi Kevin
I’m using a PHP framework, Codeigniter, with twig templates, some javascript.
The difficulty is that until the user logs into the app, by clicking onthe link to the application it cannot modify anything in shopify, it is a bit of a chicken and egg type problem
Jules

4

Hey @Julian_Blundell,

gotcha - so your app is non-embedded and completely external?

Kevin :hatching_chick:

5

Yes, that is correct, its pretty complex and needs all the room it can get