With Sharetribe, you can build, launch, and run a fully functional marketplace website without coding. However, you may discover features you'd like to add to your marketplace that are not available in Sharetribe's no-code builder.
Custom code can be used to build any such unique feature your marketplace may need. For example, you can use custom code to change the visual design, integrate third-party software, or extend the current functionality to better match your needs.
At the same time, custom coding means that you or a developer you hire is writing software code, so the process is inherently technical. This article and video will give you an introduction to custom coding with Sharetribe.
When to customize your marketplace with code
Code is a powerful tool that can be used to unlock new possibilities for your marketplace business. The best time to use code to customize your marketplace is when your progress is limited by Sharetribe’s no-code functionality.
Use the Test environment to learn what’s available without coding and assess if it meets your requirements.
Create some users, post a listing, and start a transaction. Our easy testing tutorial walks you through the steps.
Make the marketplace yours: add your own content, configure listings, and implement your monetization strategy. Our setup tutorial details the steps.
Don’t hesitate to search this Help Center or reach out to our team through the chat widget in the corner if you’re not sure how to build what you need. ↘️
Through testing and setup, you may find that you can launch a marketplace without coding, and even grow and scale it without any custom coding. Or you may find that you need custom code to build a crucial feature already before you can launch. The decision ultimately depends on how your requirements and Sharetribe’s out-of-the-box functionality match and when in your marketplace business is the best time to build custom features.
How customizing with code works
When you’re ready to customize your Sharetribe marketplace with code, the fastest and easiest way to add new features or modify existing functionality is to extend the no-code marketplace you configured in Console.
Custom coding your marketplace is possible thanks to Sharetribe’s unique technical infrastructure that combines no-code marketplace features with a powerful developer platform. Even if you choose to customize one part of your marketplace with code, you can still continue operating and modifying other parts the way you did before, without coding.
Essentially, you take the frontend code of your marketplace and develop the specific functionality you need.
How to start customizing with code
The way to get started depends on whether you’re a developer or not.
If you are a developer or have one in your team, you can start customizing Sharetribe right away. Basic technical knowledge with HTML, CSS, and Javascript code is all you need for simple changes, while more complex changes will likely require a full stack developer skillset.
Get started with the low-code tutorial to get coding right away.
If you’re not a developer, you can hire one to help customize your marketplace. Any developer with the appropriate technical skillset can build custom code with Sharetribe, but we recommend hiring a Sharetribe Expert.
Sharetribe Experts developers and designers who have been vetted by Sharetribe for their technical expertise and professionalism. Our Experts have helped hundreds of marketplaces build, launch, and scale on Sharetribe.
Connect with Sharetribe Experts via the Expert Directory or post your request to the Expert Marketplace to receive proposals. You can also book a call with the Sharetribe team from Console if you would like help connecting with the right Expert.
Operating a custom coded Sharetribe marketplace
Operating a custom-coded Sharetribe marketplace is different from operating a no-code Sharetribe marketplace.
Custom-coded marketplaces self-host their frontend code and have to maintain their customized codebase. As a founder, you can choose which new Sharetribe releases to take into use, as new features from Sharetribe are not automatically added.
Custom-coded marketplaces take into use the Dev environment alongside the Test environment to build and test code features alongside no-code functionality.
To deploy customizations to the Live environment, custom-coded marketplaces must subscribe to the Extend subscription. Before taking your first customization live, you can keep your original subscription (Build, Lite, Pro).
Next steps
Are you ready to start customizing with code? Connect with a Sharetribe Expert or start developing yourself.
Want to learn more about how customizing code works? Learn what you should know about custom coding when you are not a developer.
Unsure if you should start customizing with code? Test and build your marketplace without coding.