I need help with integrating Shopify into our existing Java web application. Our company is setting up a Shopify store and we want to show the product catalog on our main website which runs on JSP technology.
I found a Java library called Shopify4J that seems useful for making API requests to get product data. But I’m confused about how the authentication works. Some tutorials mention that you need to build a Shopify app first before you can access the API endpoints.
Is it possible to directly fetch product information from Shopify using their REST API in an external Java application? Or do I need to first develop a Shopify app that acts as a middleware between our website and the Shopify store?
Any guidance on the proper approach would be appreciated since I’m new to working with Shopify’s ecosystem.
You can access Shopify data in your Java application primarily by creating a private app through your Shopify admin panel. This will provide you with the necessary API credentials to make direct REST calls without developing a full-fledged app. This approach is particularly effective for merely displaying the product catalog. If you’re considering more advanced features or integrations with multiple stores, then building a proper Shopify app could be a worthwhile investment. While I’m not familiar with Shopify4J, Shopify’s Admin API is user-friendly and works well with standard Java HTTP clients. Just remember to implement proper caching to avoid hitting rate limits, depending on your subscription plan. If you decide to store product data locally, ensure you set up webhooks to maintain data synchronization.