> 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.

# Course Overview and Prerequisites

Plan: Developer Foundations

Lesson 1 of 16 · 5 min

## Course Overview

In this course, you will become familiar with BigCommerce's native storefront offerings - the integrated Stencil theme engine and the composable Catalyst storefront. You'll learn the differences between these two technologies and the key development techniques in each, and you'll get hands-on practice with setup and customization. By the conclusion of the course, you'll be ready to take your first step into creating custom storefront experiences in BigCommerce.

## Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

* **Identify** the native storefront options in BigCommerce
* **Examine** the file structure and key template techniques in Stencil themes
* **Examine** key conventions and architecture in the Catalyst composable storefront
* **Identify** important factors for Catalyst performance in production
* **Apply** what you've learned about Stencil and Catalyst development by completing hands-on labs

## Lab Activities in this Course

* Getting Started with Stencil CLI
* Add a Subcategory Listing in Stencil
* Bundle and Upload a Theme
* Getting Started with Catalyst
* Add a Subcategory Listing in Catalyst