π₯ Inside the Rise & Fall of a $650k MRR Shopify Giant: The Checkout X Story π
A Promising Start: Checkout X, a revolutionary one-page checkout app, took the Shopify world by storm but soon encountered problems with the platform's API restrictions and changing guidelines.
Roadblocks & Adaptations: Struggling with Shopify's lack of communication and support, the Checkout X team faced app store removal and resorted to private apps, only to be ultimately hindered by updated Terms of Service. π«
Checkout X Founder, Ruslan Leteyski, shares hard-earned wisdom in his recent blog post, reflecting on alternative choices and the enduring impact of his teamβs rollercoaster experience in the Shopify ecosystem. Ruslan recently went on to successfully exit Vanga AI.
π¨ Bank Meltdown: Etsy and Shopify Sellers Grapple with SVB Shutdown - Dust Starts to Settle
Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), around 2,700 Etsy merchants saw their payments delayed. Shopify, too, halted payments to sellers with SVB accounts, urging them to switch banks to keep the funds flowing.
Vacation, anyone? ποΈ: Some Etsy store owners resorted to "vacation mode," temporarily pausing customer purchases in an attempt to minimize financial losses, while others reported receiving payments as usual.
Temporary Hurdles π§: Shopify Capital, the company's loan and cash advance arm, has been affected by SVB's closure. While loan repayments are currently inaccessible, Shopify expects to resume full operations within a few days and is offering interest-free balance accounts to help merchants pay employees.
π€ GPT-4 Unleashed: AI Just Got Spicier π₯
GPT-4 outperforms GPT-3.5 with better reliability, creativity, and nuance handling. GPT-3.5 managed to pass the bar, though it landed in the bottom 10% of its class. In contrast, GPT-4 soared to the top 10%. π€―
Improved "system" messages provide better control over the AI's tone and interactions, perfect for tailoring your Shopify app's UX. However, reports indicate that it still has the humor of a wet sock. π§¦
Early adopters like Stripe and Duolingo are already utilizing GPT-4, showcasing its potential for app integration.
π€ AI-Powered Google Workspace: Unleashing New Possibilities for App Creators π
Google Workspace, in a bid not to be outdone by the seemingly unstoppable OpenAI, ramped up its AI infusion to help with drafting emails, creating documents, and adjusting the tone and style of text for a seamless writing experience π.
AI-powered features like Sheets formula generation, Chat workflow support, and email summarization streamline processes and enhance data analysis ππ.
Google Workspace introduces AI-generated images, audio, and video in Slides, enabling users to create engaging presentations and promotional materials with ease.
π© Getting to know Tophat: The Ultimate Mobile Dev Multitool
Tophat, Shopify's internal tool, streamlines mobile app testing for developers, boosting productivity and reducing feedback loops.
Tophat offers a one-click solution to install and launch builds on physical and virtual devices, mimicking Xcode and Android Studio experiences.
Onboarding made easy: Tophat integrates seamlessly with existing Shopify tools like Dev and Shipit Mobile, requiring no manual setup.