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Episode 034 - Guest Matthew Smith of Sections Pro on Shopify Theme Blocks

Episode 034 - Guest Matthew Smith of Sections Pro on Shopify Theme Blocks

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page welcome Matthew Smith, a Shopify developer and creator of the app Sections Pro.

The conversation delves into Matt's journey into Shopify development, the challenges of balancing a full-time job with app development, and the exciting new features of Shopify's theme blocks.

They discuss the limitations of current blocks, the potential of theme blocks for creating reusable components, and the paradigm shift in theme development that these changes represent.

 The episode highlights the importance of consistency in development and the evolving landscape of e-commerce tools.

Takeaways

  • Matt started his journey in Shopify development around 2000.
  • Sections Pro emerged from Matt's experiences with previous app failures.
  • The app development process involves learning from failures and iterating.
  • Fast deployment is crucial for maintaining productivity in development.
  • Theme blocks allow for more flexibility and reusability in Shopify themes.
  • Current limitations of theme blocks include their inability to coexist with section-defined blocks.
  • The future of theme blocks looks promising as Shopify continues to improve UX.
  • Matt emphasizes the importance of community feedback in app development.
  • The conversation highlights the balance between speed and user experience in app design.
  • Matt's approach to development is consistent and incremental, focusing on daily progress. If you build an app, you don't use your app.
  • It's important to showcase the value of your app to users.
  • Apps that demonstrate ROI tend to perform better in the market.
  • Support should be minimized to enhance user experience.
  • Reviews are crucial for app visibility and success.
  • Understanding customer needs is key to app development.
  • Pricing strategies should reflect the value provided to users.
  • Partnerships and integrations can enhance app functionality.
  • Navigating Shopify's review system can be challenging for developers.
  • The tech stack should align with Shopify's evolving vision.

Timestamps

00:00 Understanding Shopify Development and Community Engagement

00:43 The Evolution of Sections Pro

03:46 Balancing Full-Time Work and App Development

06:34 Technical Challenges in App Development

09:55 Optimizing Performance and User Experience

12:57 Productivity Tips for Developers

14:37 Navigating Age and Experience in Development

18:50 Exploring Shopify Theme Blocks

27:46 Understanding the Limitations of Theme Blocks

 32:35 The Future of Theme Blocks and App Integration

36:49 Pricing Strategies for App Developers

42:04 Navigating App Development Challenges

43:33 Support Strategies for App Developers

45:34 The Importance of User Reviews

49:08 Tech Stack Considerations for Shopify Apps

53:07 The Future of Shopify's Development Frameworks

55:20 Final Thoughts and Picks of the Week

Find Matt Online

Matt's website: https://matthewsmith.com/

Twitter (X): https://x.com/matthewsmith

Sections Pro: https://www.sectionspro.com/

Sections Pro (app store): https://apps.shopify.com/sections-ai

Resources

Dev Changelog

Picks of the Week

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