> This page is for Developer. > For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.bigcommerce.com/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.bigcommerce.com/_mcp/server. # Introduction to Building Apps Using BigCommerce's powerful APIs, SDKs, and toolkits, developers can build apps that are installable on BigCommerce stores. Once approved, apps can be sold (or made available free of charge) to all BigCommerce merchants on the [App Marketplace](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/). This is the first article in a comprehensive developer's guide to building BigCommerce apps. It provides a brief, high-level introduction for developers new to the platform. If you already have experience developing for BigCommerce, feel free to [skip ahead](#next-steps) or check out the [quick start tutorial](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/quick-start). If you are interested in building Catalyst-compatible apps or integrations, please jump to [Building for Catalyst](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/building-for-catalyst). ## About BigCommerce apps Let's first take a look at how apps are discovered, displayed, and managed on BigCommerce stores. ### Discovery Approved apps are listed on the [App Marketplace](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/) for merchants to browse, search, and install. ![App Marketplace](/_fern-img/020997e126562a801b7e12319211b92de1e45a332605bc460295f369b5ea44ce.webp) ### Management Apps installed on a store are managed in the store's control panel under **Apps** > [**My Apps**](https://login.bigcommerce.com/deep-links/manage/marketplace/apps/my-apps/drafts). Here, store users can launch or uninstall the app. ![App Management](/_fern-img/d88af01f21c1097b7f7d5f5d75ec1cfee5152e421f7897e9331937186506c2a7.webp) ### Display When a merchant launches an app, BigCommerce makes a request to the app's `/load` callback and displays the app's UI in an iFrame. ![App Display](/_fern-img/8de32f4354f8073e1dd49ccb2d6065953f08664487fc05644610bea0142f1910.webp) ## Use cases What can developers do with BigCommerce apps? ### Integrate with business systems Use [BigCommerce APIs](/developer/api-reference/about-our-apis) to integrate stores with business systems such as the following: * [ERP systems](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/categories/erp/) * [Order management platforms](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/categories/catalog-order-management/) * [Accounting software](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/categories/accounting-tax/) * [Shipping and Fulfillment services](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/categories/shipping-fulfillment/) [Learn more about BigCommerce's APIs](/developer/api-reference/about-our-apis). ### Connect to sales channels List products on external [sales channels](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/categories/sales-channels/) with [Channels Toolkit](/developer/docs/integrations/channels/channels-toolkit-reference). [Learn more about connecting apps to sales channels](/developer/docs/integrations/channels). ### Add and manage scripts Create and manage scripts with [Scripts API](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/scripts) and [Script Manager](https://support.bigcommerce.com/s/article/Using-Script-Manager). [Learn more about creating scripts](/developer/docs/integrations/scripts). ### Create custom widgets Create [widgets](https://support.bigcommerce.com/s/article/Page-Builder#builder) for merchants to install and configure. [Learn more about creating widgets](/developer/docs/admin/widgets-and-scripts). ## Getting started Here's how to get started with BigCommerce development: 1. [Create a BigCommerce sandbox store](/developer/docs/overview/sandboxes). 2. [Apply to be a Partner](https://www.bigcommerce.com/partners) to get paid for your apps. 3. [Create a Developer Portal account](https://build.bigcommerce.com/) to register and submit apps. 4. [Join the Developer Community](https://support.bigcommerce.com/s/community) to get help from other BigCommerce developers. 5. [Check out the Marketplace](https://www.bigcommerce.com/marketplace/) to get inspiration on what to build. ## Next steps * [Decide which type of app to build](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/guide/types-of-apps) * [Start building apps with Node, React, Next.js, and BigDesign](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/quick-start) ## Resources ### Sample apps * [Node / React / Next.js](https://github.com/bigcommerce-edu/starter-sc-app-next) * [Python / Flask](https://github.com/bigcommerce/hello-world-app-python-flask) * [PHP / Silex](https://github.com/bigcommerce/hello-world-app-php-silex) * [Ruby / Sinatra](https://github.com/bigcommerce/hello-world-app-ruby-sinatra) * [Laravel / React](https://github.com/bigcommerce/laravel-react-sample-app) ### Tools * [Node API Client](https://github.com/bigcommerce/node-bigcommerce/) * [Python API Client](https://github.com/bigcommerce/bigcommerce-api-python) * [PHP API Client](https://github.com/bigcommerce/bigcommerce-api-php) * [Ruby API Client](https://github.com/bigcommerce/bigcommerce-api-ruby) * [Ruby OmniAuth Gem](https://github.com/bigcommerce/omniauth-bigcommerce) * [BigDesign Developer Playground](https://developer.bigcommerce.com/big-design) * [Figma Component Library](https://www.figma.com/community/file/1359989842592268260/bigdesign-component-library) ### Blog posts * [How to Test App Authentication Locally with ngrok](https://medium.com/bigcommerce-developer-blog/how-to-test-app-authentication-locally-with-ngrok-149150bfe4cf) (BigCommerce Developer Blog) * [Building a BigCommerce App Using Laravel and React](https://medium.com/bigcommerce-developer-blog/building-a-bigcommerce-app-using-laravel-and-react-711ceceb5006) (BigCommerce Developer Blog) * [BigDesign Tutorial](https://medium.com/bigcommerce-developer-blog/bigdesign-build-native-looking-uis-with-the-bigcommerce-design-system-fb06a01a24f2) (BigCommerce Developer Blog)