Prototyping a Shopify App Store discovery tool for merchants with AI coding tools

Using AI coding tools (vibe coding), build a working prototype that makes it easier for Shopify merchants to reach the right apps in Shopify's app marketplace, then walk the interviewer through what you built and why. ```hint Pick one broken step A merchant goes from a business problem to a working app in several steps. Decide which single step fails most often for the merchants you choose, and make the prototype show that step being fixed end to end. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Does better access mean finding the right app, judging whether an app is trustworthy and worth its price, or getting it installed and set up? - Which merchants are the focus: new store owners choosing their first apps, or established merchants who already run many apps? - How long is the session, which AI coding tools may I use, and can the prototype run on mock app data instead of real marketplace data? - Is the prototype judged mainly on the product idea and the demo, or also on how it would connect to Shopify's admin and app platform? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A specific merchant segment and the step of the app journey where access breaks, chosen before any building starts - A tightly scoped prototype that demonstrates the core idea end to end, with mock data where needed - Effective use of AI coding tools: clear prompts, short iterations and checking what the tool produced - A path from prototype to product: data sources, where it lives in the merchant's workflow, and how recommendations stay accurate and fair - Success metrics and risks, including wrong recommendations and fairness to app developers ### Follow-up Questions - How would you tell whether merchants who use your tool end up with apps they keep, rather than apps they install and remove? - App developers complain that your tool favors large, established apps. How do you respond? - What would you need from engineering to turn the prototype into something shipped to merchants?