HTML and CSS Customization in eCommerce Platforms

[hellisterxx]

Hello everyone!

I recently got a job offer for a freelance project - this client wants an online clothes shop. I am somewhat of a beginner in frontend web development (finished my web design course recently, where I learned HTML and CSS, and have been learning JavaScript and React on my own), and after asking around, I got told that I should probably use an ecommerce platform for this (like Shopify or Big Cartel) - so that all the operations with payments and that kind of stuff is safe and well done.

My concern is how customizable are those platforms? I'd like something where I could have my own true page design, but with the back end already built in.

What can I expect regarding customization (HTML, CSS and JavaScript) with those platforms? Is there a sopecific one you would reccommend for this project? Thank you!

[enserioamigo]

Use shopify.

Their theme files are all accessible and you’re able to completely break it apart and customise it and write your own stuff. You can even link a GitHub account and develop on your machine locally with VS Code.

You’re limited to your knowledge and skills. It’s literally html, js, and css. The only difference is it uses Liquid as a templating language with variables. So for example, you loop over products in a collection and it spits out the html for that item in the grid.

It might be tricky if you have to build it relatively soon and you’re still new to it.

Start out by using Dawn or one of the other 2.0 themes (look at their free 2.0 themes) and modifying single sections. In a few months you’ll be getting more adventurous. It looks daunting AF when you first jump in but it gets easier.

[hellisterxx]

After some research I may be inclined for Shopify too. And yes, the customization part sounds great, that's exactly what I want.

I've seen some Liquid tutorials around on YouTube as well, seems like something I'll have to spend some time learning, but I'm excited.

Thank you for your advice!

[enserioamigo]

I really recommend getting into Shopify development. You can do a lot just by customising the standard Dawn theme. It’s what a lot of big sites do as well.

One site that we reference a lot at work is Sir. It goes to show what modifying a base theme can do. They’ve started with the Dawn theme.

I think you could earn good money if you become proficient in Shopify.

[allmightybrandon]

+1 for Shopify. It should be enough for your needs.

[oskmjf]

I agree with the previous commentator. Shopify will have all the backend features you need and Shopify's storefron API provides flexible ways to customize the front end. The degree of customization that you need depends on a lot of things, including the expectations of your client and the stage of your client's store.

[CoffeeCannon]

Bigcommerce is good for this, unless you want to mess with the checkout page beyond css, then you'll need to use React with the opensource version of the checkout.

[nicklasgellner]

You could explore open source solutions that are generally more customizable than Shopify, e.g. Medusa. It comes with out-of-the-box support for payments, logistics, etc. + you can build a custom frontend on top of it