Generating apps with Sidekick

You can use Sidekick to generate apps in your Shopify admin to help you manage your store. Describe your idea, and Sidekick builds and refines the app based on your prompts. After you install a generated app, you can review its permissions and uninstall it as you would for any other app.

Review the following examples of apps that Sidekick could help you create:

• An app that can recommend which products you need to reorder based on your sales velocity.
• An app that generates discounted checkout links and QR codes for selected products.
• An app that searches for customers and creates custom discounts.
• An app that creates a task tracker for your team.

Considerations for creating an app

Before using Sidekick to create an app, review the following considerations:

• Generated apps can change customer-facing data in your store. Test the app thoroughly before installing it.
• Generated apps are shared at the store level. To generate or edit apps, staff members need the App development > Develop permission.
• After your initial prompt, Sidekick creates a plan and generates the app. For complex apps, Sidekick might build the app in stages.
• Hourly and weekly limits apply to generating apps. Your hourly limit refreshes every hour and your weekly limit refreshes every 7 days. More complex apps use more of your limit than simpler ones. Sidekick notifies you when you're approaching your limit.

Limitations of Sidekick apps

Review the following limitations of using Sidekick to generate apps in your Shopify admin:

• Sidekick can only access your store's Admin API, which includes the following elements:
  • Orders
  • Products
  • Customers
  • Discounts
  • Content (such as metaobjects, files, menus, and blog posts)
  • Analytics
• Generated apps only work within the Shopify admin. They aren't visible to customers and can't access functions or use data outside the Shopify admin, such as themes, checkout, or customer account apps.
• App generation is only available when you use Sidekick in the Shopify admin from a desktop web browser. It isn't available in the Shopify app on iPhone, Android, or tablets, or in the mobile web admin.

Generate an app with Sidekick

To begin generating an app, start a conversation with Sidekick and describe the app that you want to create.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Sidekick, or click the icon.

2. Start app generation using one of the following methods:

   • Click the icon in the Sidekick chat window and select Generate an app.
   • Type "@app" in the chat window and select Generate an app.
   • Enter a prompt in the chat window asking Sidekick to generate an app.

3. If you're prompted to turn on Generate app mode, then select Yes, turn on Generate app mode.

4. Enter your prompt to describe the app that you want Sidekick to generate.

5. Review and refine the generated app in the app editor.

6. To install the app in your admin, click Install in the chat window.

Using the app editor

After Sidekick generates your app, the app editor opens beside the chat window. You can use the editor to review, refine, and test your app:

• Refine app with Sidekick: Describe changes in the chat window, and Sidekick updates the code.
• View and edit code: Switch between the code editor and app preview to read and edit the app code.
• Target a specific section: Click the icon in the app editor to select a part of the app for Sidekick to edit.
• Preview across screen sizes: Switch between or view to preview your app layout at different sizes.
• Manage versions: Sidekick creates a new version each time it updates the app. You can choose between versions in the app editor and restore an earlier version if needed.

Editing an existing app with Sidekick

You can review apps that you've previously generated with Sidekick. If you've already installed the app, then you can find it in the Apps page in your Shopify admin. If you're still working on an app with Sidekick, then you can return to the same conversation and continue editing the app.

Edit an installed app

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps and select the app that you want to edit.
2. Click the icon and select Edit with Sidekick.
3. Make changes to the app using the app editor.
4. Click Install to install the latest version of the app.

Edit an in-progress app

1. From your Shopify admin, click Sidekick conversations, or go to Sidekick and select a previous conversation.

2. Click the icon to filter previous conversations.

3. Click the relevant conversation to view the conversation history.

4. Click Preview to open the app in the app editor.

5. Make changes to the app using the app editor.

6. Click Install to install the latest version of the app.