---
title: Start building for customer accounts
description: >-
  Learn how to set up your development environment to begin developing a
  customer account UI extension.
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/start-building'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/start-building.md'
api_name: customer-account-ui-extensions
---

# Start building for customer accounts

Get started building customer account UI extensions by setting up your development environment. You'll use [Shopify CLI](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps) to generate starter code for building your extension and automating common development tasks.

***

## General requirements

* You're a [user with app development permissions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/dev-dashboard/user-permissions) and have created a [dev store](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/stores/development-stores). You can create one by running `shopify store create dev`.

- You're using the latest version of [Shopify CLI](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli).
- You're using the latest version of [Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) or [Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/).

* The dev store should be pre-populated with test data, including an order that's associated with the email address you'll use to log in to the customer account experience.

***

## Step 1: (Optional) Set up the Shopify AI Toolkit

Install the [Shopify AI Toolkit](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/ai-toolkit) to connect your AI coding assistant to Shopify's docs, APIs, and CLI. Your assistant gets the Shopify context it needs to answer questions, write code, and run commands more reliably.

#### Claude Code

In your terminal, run `claude plugin install`:

## Terminal

```terminal
claude plugin install shopify-ai-toolkit@claude-plugins-official
```

#### Codex

In your terminal, run `codex plugin add`:

## Terminal

```terminal
codex plugin add shopify@openai-curated
```

#### Antigravity CLI

In your terminal, install the Shopify plugin:

## Terminal

```terminal
agy plugin install https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-ai-toolkit
```

#### Cursor

In Cursor Chat, add the Shopify plugin:

## Cursor Chat

```terminal
/add-plugin shopify
```

#### Hermes

In your terminal, download the install script and run it:

## Terminal

```terminal
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shopify/Shopify-AI-Toolkit/main/.hermes-plugin/install.sh -o /tmp/shopify-hermes-install.sh
bash /tmp/shopify-hermes-install.sh
```

#### OpenClaw

In your terminal, install the Shopify plugin from npm:

## Terminal

```terminal
openclaw plugins install npm:@shopify/ai-toolkit
```

#### Pi

In your terminal, install the package from npm:

## Terminal

```terminal
pi install npm:@shopify/ai-toolkit
```

#### VS Code

1. Ensure the [Agent plugins](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/agent-plugins) preview is enabled in your VS Code settings.

2. Open the Command Palette (`Cmd+Shift+P` on macOS, `Ctrl+Shift+P` on Windows/Linux) and run:

   ## VS Code: Command Palette

   Chat: Install Plugin From Source

3. When prompted, enter the repository URL:

   ## VS Code: Plugin source URL

   https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-ai-toolkit

***

## Step 2: Set up your development environment

1. Run the following command to scaffold an app:

   ## Terminal

   ```terminal
   shopify app init
   ```

2. Select `Build an extension-only app`.

3. Navigate to your app directory:

   ## Terminal

   ```terminal
   cd <directory>
   ```

4. Run the following command to create a new extension:

   ## Terminal

   ```terminal
   shopify app generate extension --name my-extension
   ```

5. Choose `Customer account UI`.

6. Start your development server to build your app and preview your extension:

   ## Terminal

   ```terminal
   shopify app dev
   ```

***

## Next steps

* Build an [inline extension](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/inline-extensions/build-order-status) that displays loyalty points and enables customers to leave a review.
* Build an [order action menu extension](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-action-extensions/build-for-order-action-menus) that enables customers to report problems with their orders.
* Build a [full-page extension](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/full-page-extensions/build-new-pages) for customers to add and edit products on a wishlist.
* Explore the [customer account UI extensions reference](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer-account-ui-extensions) for available targets, target APIs, and web components.

***