Elevate Your WooCommerce Store's Efficiency with Headless Architecture via WooGraphQL
Tags: woocommerce, graphql, nextjs, headlesscommerce
Published: 2023-09-27 23:14:41

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In the bustling sphere of eCommerce, the speed and performance of your store are crucial. A slow-loading store can turn away potential customers, impacting your revenue negatively. While WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin, comes with a sturdy traditional WordPress framework, it may not always offer the desired speed, especially as your database expands and traffic surges. A viable solution to supercharge your WooCommerce store is by transitioning to a headless architecture, utilizing modern technologies like Next.js. This tutorial will guide you through the steps of establishing a headless WooCommerce store using the WooGraphQL solutions.

### Step 1: Integrating WPGraphQL with Your WooCommerce Store

Before venturing into the headless setup, ensure that your WooCommerce store is fortified with the WPGraphQL API. Here's a step-by-step guide to set it up:

1. **Access your WordPress Dashboard.**
2. Go to **Plugins > Add New.**
3. In the search bar, enter **WPGraphQL** and install the plugin by [WPGraphQL](https://www.wpgraphql.com/).
4. Repeat the steps for the [WPGraphQL WooCommerce](https://github.com/wp-graphql/wp-graphql-woocommerce) plugin by searching for **WPGraphQL for WooCommerce** and installing it.
5. With both plugins installed and activated, your WooCommerce store is now empowered with GraphQL API capabilities.

### Step 2: Initiating Development with GraphQL Codegen and typescript-graphql-request

Now that the GraphQL API is ready, it's time to set up your Next.js application to utilize GraphQL Codegen along with the typescript-graphql-request plugin for accessing the WPGraphQL API configured in Step 1.

1. Ensure Node.js is installed on your machine. If not, download and install it from the [official website](https://nodejs.org/).
2. Open your terminal and initiate a new Next.js project:

```bash
npx create-next-app my-app
cd my-app
```

3. Now, install the necessary dependencies:

```bash
npm install @graphql-codegen/cli @graphql-codegen/typescript @graphql-codegen/typescript-operations @graphql-codegen/typescript-graphql-request graphql
```

4. Create a `codegen.yml` file at the root of your project and configure it as follows:

```yaml
schema: "http://your-woocommerce-site.com/graphql"
documents: "src/**/*.graphql"
generates:
  src/generated/graphql.tsx:
    plugins:
      - "typescript"
      - "typescript-operations"
      - "typescript-graphql-request"
```

5. Now, create a `.graphql` file under a `src` directory, and define your GraphQL queries or mutations.
6. Run the following command to generate TypeScript types and hooks based on your GraphQL schema and operations:

```bash
npx graphql-codegen
```

Your Next.js app is now set up with GraphQL Codegen and the typescript-graphql-request plugin, ready to interact with the WPGraphQL API.

### Note: Streamlining the Process with create-woonext-app

To further simplify the process you've just completed, you can use the `create-woonext-app` CLI tool, an exclusive tool for [WooGraphQL Pro subscribers](https://woographql.com/pro). This tool encapsulates all the steps above into a single command, making it a breeze to set up a headless WooCommerce store with Next.js and GraphQL.

1. Run the following command to scaffold your project:

```bash
npx create-woonext-app --license <LICENSE>
```

2. Follow the prompts to configure your project as desired.

For more information on `create-woonext-app`, visit [here](https://www.npmjs.com/package/create-woonext-app), and for a detailed guide on setting up the Next app with GraphQL Codegen, check [here](https://woographql.com/blog/hit-the-ground-running-with-graphql-codegen-and-wpgraphql-woographql).

### Step 3: Deploying Your Next.js Application

Deploying a Next.js application is straightforward, thanks to a multitude of hosting platforms at your disposal. In this tutorial, we'll utilize Vercel for a seamless deployment experience.

1. Sign up or log in to [Vercel](https://vercel.com/).
2. Click on **Import Project** followed by **Import Git Repository.**
3. Provide your repository URL and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Upon completion, Vercel will furnish a live URL for your deployed application.

Voila! Your headless WooCommerce store is now live, showcasing enhanced performance and a modern developer experience. The WooGraphQL solutions, coupled with the exclusive `create-woonext-app` tool for Pro subscribers, not only rejuvenates your WooCommerce store but also eases the development and deployment journey, propelling your eCommerce venture to new horizons.

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For additional insights and resources on headless WooCommerce, visit [WooGraphQL](https://woographql.com/).