Four OAuth failure modes Shopify developers face when integrating third-party APIs
Building a Shopify app that connects to external services like Xero or QuickBooks requires developers to handle OAuth entirely on their own, without framework support. A developer who built a Shopify-to-Xero sync app identified four production failures that emerged days or weeks after initial setup appeared to work. Key issues include single-use refresh token rotation being handled incorrectly, idle token expiry causing silent disconnections for seasonal merchants, and rate-limit collisions during high-volume webhook bursts. Additional pitfalls involve OAuth consent screens failing inside Shopify's admin iframe and the need to encrypt partner tokens at rest. The developer recommends proactive token keep-alive cron jobs, pre-emptive refresh before expiry, layered rate limiting, and a reconnect UI designed from day one.
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