Tapcart Developer Tools
Developer Tools gives your brand the flexibility to go beyond Tapcart's standard app templates. Build custom experiences, embed web content, stream analytics data, and integrate with your existing tech stack, all within your mobile app.
In this article:
Overview of each Developer Tool
When to use each tool
How to get started
Prerequisites: Developer Tools is available as an add-on to your Tapcart plan. If you don't see Developer Tools in your dashboard, contact your Account Manager or visit Settings → Plans to add it.
Custom Blocks
Custom Blocks let you build fully custom UI components using JavaScript that live inside your app screens. Use them to create interactive elements that aren't available in the standard Tapcart template builder.
Common use cases:
Custom product finders or quizzes
Interactive size guides
Custom countdown timers or promotional banners
Embedded third-party widgets (reviews, loyalty points, etc.)
How it works: Custom Blocks are built in the Tapcart dashboard's code editor or managed via the Tapcart CLI. Once created, blocks are placed on any app screen using the drag-and-drop editor. Blocks run in an isolated sandbox within your app and can communicate with the app through the Tapcart SDK.
For developer documentation on building Custom Blocks, visit the Tapcart Developer Docs.
Web Bridge SDK
The Web Bridge SDK lets you embed full-page web experiences from your Shopify store (or any URL) inside your mobile app. These pages render within the app and communicate natively, creating a seamless experience for your customers.
Common use cases:
Subscription management pages (e.g., Recharge, Bold)
Loyalty program dashboards (e.g., Smile.io, LoyaltyLion)
Account management or order tracking portals
Any page on your website that requires authenticated access
Key benefits:
Full feature parity with your website, if it works on your site, it works in the app
Supports authentication pass-through so users stay logged in
Minimal maintenance, updates to your website are reflected in the app automatically
Insights Data Streaming
Data Streaming lets you export customer shopping session data from your Tapcart app into your own data warehouse or analytics platform. Use it to build custom reports, feed machine learning models, or enrich your customer profiles.
Two access methods:
Real-time event stream: Tapcart publishes events in real-time using a pub/sub model. Subscribe to receive up-to-the-second data on app activity (page views, add-to-carts, purchases, etc.).
Processed data tables: Access pre-processed data tables via BigQuery, updated daily. This is ideal for reporting and analysis that doesn't require real-time data.
Sandbox Environment
The Sandbox Environment is a safe testing space where you can experiment with new features, design changes, and code before pushing anything live to your production app.
Use the sandbox to:
Test new Custom Blocks without affecting your live app
Preview screen layout changes before publishing
Debug integration issues in an isolated environment
Getting Started
Enable Developer Tools,:If not already enabled, go to Settings → Plans → Add Ons in your Tapcart dashboard and add Developer Tools.
Explore the code editor: Navigate to the Custom Blocks section to start building your first block, or use the Tapcart CLI for a local development workflow with hot reloading.
Read the developer docs: Visit the Tapcart Developer Documentation for API references, SDK guides, and example projects.
Use the sandbox: Build and test in the sandbox before deploying to your production app.
More Questions
To learn more about Tapcart Developer Tools, reach out to us with general questions at [email protected].
Have a developer question? Shoot us an email at [email protected] and a member of our team will get back to you.