[Case Study Interview] Shopify App Development Completed in "One Week"? A Look into the Development Process Using Gadget

Many developers want to create Shopify apps but face challenges such as "the API is too complex," "infrastructure setup is troublesome," or "setting up React and Node.js is difficult."

We interviewed Hideya Kato, CEO of ReWire Inc., the company behind Shopify apps like "DokoPoi" and "AtoPla," about the popular development platform, **Gadget**.

"With Gadget, a Shopify app can be completed in just one week."
For those of you who are half in doubt, wondering if it's really that amazing, we'll share the honest, real-world experiences of a development professional.

What is ReWire Inc.?

ReWire is a company specializing in Shopify app and store development, and has developed and provided numerous popular apps, including "DokoPoi" (a Shopify points app).

With extensive experience in the Japanese Shopify market, they are a highly reliable development company known for their technical prowess and product quality.

Our interviewee was Hideya Kato, the company's CEO and an active engineer. We were able to hear firsthand accounts of the real-world experiences from the front lines of developing proprietary apps to meet customer needs every day.

What is Gadget? The "Behind-the-Scenes Tool" for Shopify App Development

Gadget is a cloud-based full-stack development platform specifically designed for Shopify app development.

• Automatically generates data models optimized for the Shopify API

• Authentication and Webhook integration can be built with a single click

• Infrastructure (hosting, DB) and CI/CD are ready from the start

• Intuitive UI development is possible based on React / TypeScript

• Beginning to support feature extensions using AI

In short, it's a service that "handles all the foundational aspects of a Shopify app." Its biggest strength is allowing developers to concentrate on coding.

What led to the adoption of Gadget?

Kato-san: "Shopify app development is tedious because the specifications are so rigid (laughs)."

The Shopify API has a peculiar structure, and setting up webhooks and OAuth authentication can be particularly complex. Furthermore, just getting the infrastructure and deployment environment ready can take several days.

Amidst these challenges, he learned that "with Gadget, development can start with everything already optimized for Shopify," which led him to decide on its adoption.

App actually created: "App Unity Safe Delete"

The Shopify app that Mr. Kato actually released using Gadget is **"App Unity Safe Delete"**. This app allows users to add a withdrawal function to Shopify, enabling them to delete their own accounts.

This app was reportedly completed and launched in about a week.

Kato-san: "I developed it to meet an existing need, and with Gadget, I can really focus on implementing features, so it's incredibly fast."

Summary of Gadget's Advantages

On the other hand, things to note about Gadget

Every tool has its challenges. According to Mr. Kato, the following points should be noted:

• Not completely flexible: Some granular control via CLI or Shopify Functions may not be supported

• Platform dependency: Caution is needed for future migrations (e.g., to your own AWS)

In other words, it is ideal for those who "prioritize productivity over complete flexibility" or "want to build and try out one app first."

Conclusion: Gadget is a development tool "worth trying"

Gadget is a tool that significantly lowers the barrier to Shopify app development.

• Want to start development without worrying about infrastructure or API specifications

• Want to launch a minimum viable app in a short period

• Want to produce multiple apps with a small team or as a solo developer

For such individuals, it is undoubtedly worth trying at least once.

"I want to get hands-on and build something."
"I don't want to waste time on unnecessary initial setup."

If this describes you, give Gadget a try.