5-Minute Quickstart
Get your first Weaverse Hydrogen storefront up and running locally in just 5 minutes. No complex setup, no manual configuration – just install the app and start building.What You’ll Build
A complete Shopify Hydrogen storefront powered by Weaverse with:- Visual Studio Editor - Drag-and-drop page builder with live preview
- Professional Theme - Start with Pilot or choose from our theme library
- Real-time Editing - See changes instantly as you customize
- Performance Optimized - Modern React, SSR, and edge-ready architecture
- Merchant-friendly - Anyone can edit content without code
Prerequisites
Before starting, make sure you have:- Node.js 18+ - Download here and verify with
node --version
- A Shopify store - Create a development store (free for testing)
- Basic terminal knowledge - Copy/paste commands (we’ll guide you!)
💡 New to terminal? On macOS/Linux open Terminal, on Windows use Command Prompt or PowerShell. You’ll only need to copy and paste a few commands!
Step 1: Install Weaverse App
Install from Shopify App Store
Install from Shopify App Store
-
Go to Shopify App Store
- Open your Shopify admin panel
- Navigate to Apps in the sidebar
- Search for “Weaverse Hydrogen” or visit Weaverse on Shopify App Store
-
Install the App
- Click Add app on the Weaverse Hydrogen listing
- Review permissions and click Install app
- The app will be added to your store
The Weaverse app is free to install and includes the visual page builder and theme templates.

Step 2: Create Your First Project
Start New Project
Start New Project
-
Open Weaverse Dashboard
- In your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Weaverse Hydrogen
- You’ll see the Weaverse dashboard
-
Start New Project
- Click Get Started or Create New Project
- An onboarding modal will appear

Step 3: Choose Your Theme
Select a Theme
Select a Theme
-
Available Themes
- Pilot Theme (recommended for beginners) - Complete e-commerce template with product galleries, hero sections, and testimonials
- Naturelle Theme - Beauty/lifestyle focused design with elegant layouts
- Custom themes - Browse additional marketplace options
-
Theme Selection
- In the onboarding modal, browse available themes
- Each theme shows a preview and key features
- Click on your preferred theme to select it
You can switch themes later, but starting with Pilot is recommended for new users.

Step 4: Quick Setup with CLI
Run the Generated Command
Run the Generated Command
-
Copy the Generated Command
- After selecting your theme, you’ll see a custom CLI command
- This command is unique to your project and includes your Project ID
- Example Command:
- Run in Terminal
- Open your terminal/command prompt
- Paste and run the command
- The setup process will automatically:
- ✅ Download the selected theme to your local machine
- ✅ Install all dependencies (React, Hydrogen, etc.)
- ✅ Update environment variables with your Project ID
- ✅ Start the development server

Step 5: Connect Your Store Data
For Paid Shopify Stores (Recommended)
For Paid Shopify Stores (Recommended)
-
Install Hydrogen App
- Go to https://apps.shopify.com/hydrogen
- Install the Hydrogen app (by Shopify)
- This creates a Hydrogen sales channel
-
Pull Store Environment
-
Follow CLI Prompts
- Select your Shopify store
- Choose your Hydrogen project
- The CLI will automatically update your
.env
file
-
Restart Development Server

For Development/Trial Stores
For Development/Trial Stores
-
Create Storefront API Token
- In Shopify Admin, go to Apps > Develop apps
- Click Create an app
- Name it “Weaverse Storefront”
- Alternative: Use the Headless app (https://apps.shopify.com/headless) for easier setup
- Configure Storefront API scopes and enable all permissions
-
Update Environment Variables
-
Restart Development Server


Step 6: Customize Your Storefront
Now for the fun part! Start customizing your storefront in Weaverse Studio:Visual Editing
Visual Editing
Drag & Drop Sections
- Add new sections from the left panel
- Rearrange sections by dragging
- Remove sections you don’t need
- Click on any text to edit inline
- Upload your own images through the media manager
- Adjust colors, fonts, and spacing using the settings panel
- See changes instantly in the preview iframe
- Test on different device sizes with responsive toggles
- Use the mobile/tablet/desktop preview modes

Brand Customization
Brand Customization
Update Your Brand
- Replace the default logo with your brand logo
- Update the color scheme to match your brand
- Customize fonts and typography
- Add your brand messaging to hero sections
- Update product collections and featured items
- Customize navigation menus
- Add your social media links
- Update contact information and policies
Verify Everything Works
🎉 Congratulations! Let’s make sure everything is working perfectly:✅ Checklist
- Storefront loads at
http://localhost:3456
- Your real products and collections appear
- Navigation menus show your store structure
- Search finds your actual products
- Cart and checkout process work
- Weaverse Studio loads at
https://studio.weaverse.io/projects/your-project-id
- You can edit content and see changes instantly
🔍 Test Your Store
- Browse Products: Check that your actual products load with correct images and prices
- Add to Cart: Test the shopping cart functionality
- Mobile View: Use browser dev tools to test mobile responsiveness
- Studio Editing: Make a change in Studio and verify it appears immediately

Next Steps
🎉 You’re ready to build! Here’s your roadmap to mastering Weaverse:Component Development
Learn to build powerful Weaverse components with schemas and settings.
Input Settings
Master component customization options for merchants.
Studio Interface
Explore the visual builder interface and design tools.
API Reference
Complete documentation for hooks, components, and utilities.
Need Help?
Questions? Check our FAQ or explore more development guides.