Episode 44 - Mohammad Hashemi with Gadget
Liquid Weekly Podcast: Shopify Developers Talking Shopify DevelopmentShow Notes
In this episode Karl and Taylor sit down with Mohammad Hashemi to discuss the evolution of software development with a focus on AI and its impact on backend solutions. The conversation explores the concept of 'Citizen Developers' and how non-traditional developers are leveraging AI tools to create custom software. They share insights on the use of Gadget for building applications quickly and efficiently, while also addressing the common pitfalls developers face.Episode Highlights- AI is transforming software development, especially in frontend code.- Gadget focuses on backend solutions for enterprise-level applications.- The term 'Citizen Developers' describes non-traditional developers using AI tools.- Custom software demand is often underestimated in the market.- AI can help bridge the gap for non-developers to create apps.- The future of SaaS may be challenged by the rise of custom software solutions.- Developers often underestimate the time required for software development tasks.- AI tools can assist but are not a complete solution for development challenges.- The market for development tools is expanding, not contracting.- Front-end development is becoming increasingly competitive with new tools.Find Mohammad Online- Twitter(X): https://x.com/hashemito- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohashemi/Timestamps: 02:52 Exploring AI and Its Applications05:52 The Evolution of Gadget and AI Integration11:52 Backend Challenges and Opportunities in AI Development17:46 The Future of AI in Software Development19:06 The Evolution of Gadget: From Low Code to Full Control20:18 Target Audience: Who Can Benefit from Gadget?23:19 Unlocking Custom Software: The Hidden Demand25:28 Infrastructure and Scalability: The VibeInfra Advantage28:21 The Future of SaaS vs. Custom Software31:04 The Omakase Approach: Simplifying Development35:45 Practical Applications: How Gadget Empowers Developers42:27 Overcoming Developer Hesitation: Building with Confidence49:37 Navigating Developer Challenges52:42 The Evolving Landscape of Development55:45 AI's Role in Development59:38 Change Log Insights01:05:49 Picks of the WeekDev Changelog* [action required] Deprecation of legacy return APIs and improvements to return management - https://shopify.dev/changelog/deprecation-of-legacy-return-apis-and-improvements-to-return-management* Theme files are now installable at the preset level on the Shopify Theme Store - https://shopify.dev/changelog/theme-files-are-now-installable-at-the-preset-level-on-the-shopify-theme-store'* Contextual pricing and publishing APIs use backup region fallback - https://shopify.dev/changelog/contextual-pricing-and-publishing-apis-use-backup-region-fallback* Generally available: Standard product review syndication program - https://shopify.dev/changelog/generally-available-standard-product-review-syndication-program* Shop metafield definitions are now available in the Shopify Admin and Admin API - https://shopify.dev/changelog/shop-metafield-now-in-admin* Cart metafields are accessible in Shopify Functions and Checkout UI extensions - https://shopify.dev/changelog/cart-metafields-are-accessible-in-shopify-functions-and-checkout-ui-extensionsNew pagination limits for Liquid & Storefront GraphQL API - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-pagination-limits-for-liquid-storefront-graphql-apiNew Liquid filter for displaying unit prices - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-liquid-filter-for-displaying-unit-pricesPicks of the Week:*Taylor: Shokz open run pro - https://shokz.com/products/openrunpro2*Mohammad: Omachi noodles - https://www.hmart.com/omachi*Karl: Fernco Couplings - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fernco-3-in-x-3-in-PVC-DWV-Mechanical-Flexible-Coupling-P1056-33/100372296Subscibe to Liquid Weekly The Newsletter!Don't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/
More from Liquid Weekly Podcast: Shopify Developers Talking Shopify Development
Taylor is in India for Shop Quest, so Karl flies solo with Charles Swayne, owner and app developer at JadePuma Apps and the person behind Datify. Charles is 21, learned Python in sixth grade, and now runs a multi-agent development workflow that researches, plans, audits the plan, executes, and tests itself before he ever looks at the code.
Georgi Petrov, CEO and co-founder of Uxify, joins Karl and Taylor to talk about the half of web performance nobody optimizes for: the shopper's device. After building SMS Bump (acquired by Yotpo), ConsentMo, and NitroPack (acquired by WP Engine), Georgi is now tackling device-specific friction, the laggy buttons, layout shifts, and interaction delays that vary wildly from one phone to the next. We get into how Uxify profiles a visitor's capability without touching your code, the specialized agents that fix problems on the fly, the ClickHouse-powered data layer behind it all, and how to think about performance heading into BFCM. Plus the Dev Changelog and Picks of the Week. Sponsor The Support Heroes: https://www.thesupportheroes.com/ Subscribe to Liquid Weekly Don't miss out on expert insights and tips. Subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/ Find Georgi Online Uxify: https://uxify.com/integrations/shopify/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgipetrov/ Timestamps (00:00) Open (00:29) Intros (02:11) Meet Georgi Petrov of Uxify (02:54) Origin story: hardware hacking to his first software (06:03) Finding Shopify: SMS Bump, ConsentMo, and NitroPack (12:23) Making fast decisions and failing cheaply (15:32) Why Uxify: performance is half website, half device (20:11) How it works: profiling devices and adapting on the fly (26:17) Sitting alongside your theme without touching your code (28:26) Real user monitoring and specialized agents (37:47) The tech stack: ClickHouse and heavy browser testing (41:57) Shopify cart variations and a clever checkout fallback (46:24) Prepping for BFCM and who Uxify is for (51:14) Dev Changelog (58:22) Picks of the Week Dev Changelog [action required] Variants now support multiple barcodes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/product-variant-barcode-is-being-replaced-by-barcodes Create and delete dev stores in Shopify CLI: https://shopify.dev/changelog/create-and-delete-dev-stores-in-shopify-cli [action required] Discounts Allocator Function API developer preview has ended: https://shopify.dev/changelog/discounts-allocator-function-api-developer-preview-has-ended Delivery options in Shopify Functions input now expose their metafields: https://shopify.dev/changelog/delivery-options-in-shopify-functions-input-now-expose-their-metafields Prepare your app for the Shopify admin's new look: https://shopify.dev/changelog/prepare-your-app-for-the-shopify-admins-new-look [action required] Updates to Events payloads and subscription configuration: https://shopify.dev/changelog/updates-to-events-payloads-and-subscription-configuration New Pricing audit trail for contextual product variant prices: https://shopify.dev/changelog/pricing-audit-trail-for-contextual-product-variant-prices [breaking api change] [action required] Removed session.currentSession.staffMemberId from POS UI Extensions (2026-10): https://shopify.dev/changelog/removed-session-currentsession-staffmemberid-from-pos-ui-extensions-2026-10 Request a bundle size exception for existing UI extensions: https://shopify.dev/changelog/request-a-bundle-size-exception-for-existing-ui-extensions Picks of the Week Karl: Keto Oreo-style sandwich cookies (about 50 calories each), part of his ongoing tour through packaged keto snacks: https://www.choczero.com/products/keto-sandwich-cookies Georgi: Calisthenics between AI prompts. Knocking out push-ups and squats while waiting on an agent, which he says burns the time well and sharpens his focus when he comes back. Taylor: Ted Lasso, season 4 on Apple TV+. Still, in his words, one of the most wholesome shows around: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/
Prakhar Shrivastava of FoxSell joins Karl and Taylor to talk about Shop Quest, the Shopify community event he and his team run in Bengaluru, and to prep Taylor for his first trip to India.
In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page are joined by Alexander Hupfer, founder of Fusion Metrics and a solo Shopify app developer.
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