YouCan Apps

Apps extend the functionality of YouCan sellers' stores — adding new features, surfacing data, and providing tools that help sellers manage and grow their business.

App types

YouCan supports two kinds of apps with a web interface, and apps can also ship without one:

	Embedded	External
Runs in	iframe inside the Seller Area	Separate browser tab or standalone
Authentication	Qantra session token + token exchange	Authorization code exchange
Marketplace listing	Yes — must pass review	No
Typical use	Public apps sellers install from the Marketplace	Private tools, custom workflows, API access
Review required	Only to publish on the Marketplace	Never

Embedded apps

Embedded apps load inside the Seller Area as an iframe alongside the seller's dashboard. They use Qantra to communicate with the Seller Area and a session token flow for authentication.

Extension-only apps

An app can also ship only a theme extension, with no web interface at all: no app_url, no redirect URLs. Extension-only apps are submittable to the Marketplace once they have a released version.

External apps

External apps open in a new browser tab and run independently of the Seller Area. They authenticate via a standard authorization code exchange and can be used immediately without review — making them the right choice for private tools, store-specific integrations, or API access.

What you can build

• Order management dashboards
• Analytics and reporting tools
• Inventory or shipping integrations
• Marketing automation
• Any custom workflow for sellers

Key building blocks

Tool	Purpose
Store Admin API	Read and write store data (orders, products, customers, etc.)
Embedded auth	Session token flow for apps running inside the Seller Area
External auth	Authorization code flow for standalone apps
Webhooks	Receive real-time events from YouCan (new orders, installs, etc.)
Qantra	Embedded-only — Seller Area bridge for navigation, toasts, session tokens
YouCan UI	Vue component library matching the Seller Area design system

Getting started

The fastest way to scaffold a new embedded app:

pnpm create @youcan/app@latest

Then follow the Get Started guide to have a running app in minutes.