Shopify shares with you how we approached building iOS widgets and some of the challenges we faced.
Overview
This article discusses the development of iOS widgets at Shopify, focusing on the importance of widgets for merchants, the decision to use SwiftUI over React Native, and the challenges faced during the building process. It also covers data fetching strategies, UI design, testing optimizations, and future plans for widget enhancements.
What You'll Learn
1
How to effectively fetch and manage data for iOS widgets
2
Why to choose SwiftUI over React Native for widget development
3
How to design reusable UI components for different widget sizes
4
How to implement a caching strategy to optimize network calls in widgets
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Understanding of SwiftUI and iOS development principles
- Familiarity with Xcode and WidgetKit
Key Questions Answered
What are the main benefits of using widgets for Shopify merchants?
Widgets provide merchants with quick access to analytics, allowing them to monitor key metrics without needing to open the app. This 'at a glance' information helps merchants make informed decisions about their business operations more efficiently.
Why did Shopify choose not to use React Native for widget development?
Shopify opted for native development with SwiftUI due to limitations with React Native in handling app extensions, memory constraints, and the lack of official support for widgets in the React Native community. SwiftUI's architecture is better suited for the widget's needs.
How does Shopify ensure that widget data is up-to-date?
Shopify widgets fetch data independently from the app to ensure freshness. They utilize a caching strategy to minimize unnecessary network calls and maintain performance, updating every 15 minutes to provide timely information to merchants.
What challenges did Shopify face when building the UI for widgets?
Shopify aimed to create a consistent UI across different widget sizes while minimizing discrepancies. They developed a single view for all sizes and implemented a Metric Cell component to display various metrics, adapting the layout based on the widget's size.
Technologies & Tools
Frontend
Swiftui
Used for building the user interface of the widgets.
Frontend
Widgetkit
Framework used for developing and managing widgets on iOS.
Backend
Shopifyql
Querying language used to fetch business analytics data for the widgets.
Key Actionable Insights
1Implement a caching strategy to reduce network calls in your widgets.By caching data locally and only fetching new data when necessary, you can improve performance and reduce the load on your backend services. This is especially important for applications that require real-time data updates.
2Design your UI components to be reusable across different widget sizes.Creating a single view that adapts to various sizes can streamline development and ensure a consistent user experience. This approach minimizes the need for duplicate code and simplifies maintenance.
3Regularly gather user feedback to enhance widget functionality.Understanding how merchants interact with your widgets can guide future improvements and feature additions, ensuring that the product evolves to meet user needs effectively.
Common Pitfalls
1
Failing to optimize data fetching can lead to performance issues.
If widgets continuously fetch data without a caching strategy, it can overwhelm the backend and degrade user experience. Implementing a caching mechanism is crucial to avoid unnecessary network calls.
2
Not considering the limitations of app extensions can cause development challenges.
Understanding the constraints of memory and processing power in app extensions is essential. This knowledge helps in making informed decisions about the architecture and technology stack used for widget development.
Related Concepts
Ios Widget Development
Swiftui Best Practices
Data Fetching Techniques
User Experience Design