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Take your Shopify Plus store to the next level with Shopify Functions.
Shopify Scripts and Shopify Functions are both used to add custom functionality to Shopify stores, but they are implemented in different ways. Shopify Scripts are written in Ruby and are executed on the server side, while Shopify Functions are written in any language and deployed as part of an app. Read more about functions here.
Please note Shopify Scripts and the Script Editor app are available to Shopify Plus merchants only. The Script Editor app is no longer available for download from the Shopify App Store and will be depreciated which is a huge shame because it’s very, very useful. By August 13, 2024, Shopify Scripts will no longer work and will need to be replaced by functions – read more here.
Migrating Shopify Scripts to Shopify Functions
First, Shopify Plus merchants need to identify the functionality that they want to migrate. This could be a discount code, shipping rule, or any other custom functionality that they have implemented using Shopify Scripts.
Bear in mind that when you made the original script – it may have been developed this way based upon Shopify was at that time. E.g. stacked discounts could only ever be done via scripts but now they can be done via native discount codes. A Shopify Plus expert can say what is required and what can be met with other functionality.
Once merchants have identified the functionality needed, the code will need to be rewritten. Since Shopify Functions are written in multiple languages, using a custom app you will need to hire an experienced Shopify Plus developer. Contact us today to see how we can help your business migrate.
With Shopify Functions, experienced developers can use the Shopify CLI tool to create a new app and generate a skeleton for your new function.
After the function is written, developers will test it to make sure it works correctly. This can be done in a development store with no impact to existing customers.
Once the app function has been tested and merchants are satisfied that it works correctly, developers can deploy it to the Shopify Plus store and monitor.
Finally, developers need to update the merchant’s Shopify store to use the new function instead of the old script. This may involve a period of time where we need to monitor the live environment after deployment to ensure smooth running of the function(s).
Why Migrate to Shopify Functions?
On August 13, 2024, Shopify Scripts will be deprecated and will no longer be supported or work. Therefore it is important for merchants to migrate existing Scripts to Shopify Functions before this date.
Overall Shopify Functions has many benefits which include providing a better user experience and providing more functionality and control to developers to create apps for specific customisations. Whilst it may seem like a pain it’s 100% essential to plan ahead and not wait until the last moment. Deploying functions isn’t something which can be done overnight. Although by next year we do expect many fully functional generic apps which may be able to help you deploy your functions without the need for a custom app.
Installed as part of an app, Shopify Functions are configured alongside other features directly into a merchant’s Shopify admin. This means that merchants don’t need to use code when creating or modifying customizations. The WebAssembly platform running Shopify Functions in theory offers better performance than Shopify Scripts, executing code in under 5 milliseconds. Although we have never had any major issues with well written scripts performing too slow.
Due to this, Shopify Functions can (we are told) sustain large sales events such as flash sales with no decrease in performance. Shopify Functions also enables developers to code and unit test in local environments where they can distribute Shopify Function customizations as part of an app, rather than copying and pasting Ruby code into each Shopify Plus store. All this of course will depend on the code developed and the host in use.
One example of Shopify Functions is that merchants are able to carry on native Shopify server-side business logic for customising discounts on orders, products or shipping. Developers can therefore build dedicated apps for Shopify checkout.
We recommend migrating delivery or payment customizations to Shopify Functions-based apps first, before using them along with line-item discount scripts. When developers have migrated the key delivery and payment Shopify Functions, they can then progress to discount Shopify Functions.
Can Both Shopify Scripts and Shopify Functions Be Used?
Shopify Scripts and Shopify Functions can still be used at the same time in a single store. If a merchant’s scripts can’t currently be replaced by using Shopify Functions, then it is advised to continue using Shopify Scripts until Shopify Functions APIs meet the needs.
Our developers can provide more information on how Shopify Scripts and Shopify Functions interact, simply contact us below for help with Shopify Plus stores.
Are Custom Shopify Functions needed or can commercial apps be used?
We expect some decent Shopify apps to hit the market to cater for generic needs but we are yet to see this. Note that we envisage 50% of our client base will need custom apps to cater for their needs with this change.
Are Shopify Functions for Shopify Plus Only?
Yes – as things stand only Shopify Plus stores can use Functions or apps which use functions.
Contact Us Today to Begin the Migration
It may take some time and effort to migrate existing scripts to functions, but the migration is essential unless you want to lose functionality currently supplied by scripts.
Get in touch today. As experienced Shopify Plus developers we can help merchants successfully migrate from Shopify Scripts to Shopify Functions.
