How to Join ShopDev Alliance

ShopDev Alliance is a private community for experienced Shopify developers who care deeply about their craft and want to help one another grow.

Our goal is to provide a trusted, collaborative space where members can share knowledge, work through difficult problems, and build lasting professional relationships.

The SDA application waitlist is now closed as of September 1, 2026. If you previously joined the waitlist, please check your inbox for an update about your application.

A Space for Real-Time Collaboration

The Shopify ecosystem is always evolving. While the official Shopify Dev Community forums provide an invaluable place for public, asynchronous support, ShopDev Alliance serves a different purpose.

SDA is a focused, real-time community where trusted professionals can have candid conversations, collaborate on complex challenges, and develop genuine peer relationships.

The quality of that community depends on growing thoughtfully. ShopDev Alliance is therefore returning to a referral-only membership model, with limited exceptions for developers who have received certain forms of recognition from Shopify.

We no longer operate a public application form or general membership waitlist.

How to Be Considered for Membership

There are three ways to be considered for ShopDev Alliance membership.

1. Referral From an SDA Member

A referral from a current, active ShopDev Alliance member is the primary path to membership.

The referring member must know you or know your work well enough to speak to your professional experience, reputation, and involvement in the Shopify ecosystem. When a member agrees to refer you, they will share a private application link with you directly.

A referral must be an intentional recommendation. Following an SDA member online, interacting with their public content, or contacting them without an established professional relationship does not constitute a referral.

2. Shopify Build Award Recognition

Recipients of a Shopify Build Award may be considered for membership without first obtaining a referral from an SDA member.

If you have received a Build Award, contact us at support@shopdevalliance.com with the relevant information. Once your award has been verified, we will provide access to the membership application.

3. Shopify Community Leader Recognition

Developers who have earned the "Community Leader" badge in the official Shopify Community forums may also be considered without an SDA member referral.

If you have earned this badge, contact us at support@shopdevalliance.com with a link to your Shopify Community profile. Once your status has been verified, we will provide access to the membership application.

These two recognition-based paths provide an exception to the referral requirement, but they do not guarantee acceptance into ShopDev Alliance.

What We Look For

ShopDev Alliance is intended for established Shopify professionals who are:

• Experienced: You have a proven professional track record working with Shopify. SDA is designed for seasoned developers and technical practitioners rather than those beginning their development journey.
• Community-minded: You are willing to share what you know, participate in discussions, and help other members.
• Collaborative: You approach professional disagreements and technical challenges constructively.
• Trusted: You understand the value of candid peer conversations and respect the privacy and confidence of the community.
• Professional: You have developed a positive reputation through your work, conduct, and involvement in the broader Shopify ecosystem.

Community Review

Every prospective member goes through the same community review process, regardless of whether they were referred by an SDA member or qualify through Shopify recognition.

Current members are given an opportunity to provide relevant professional context, including previous experiences working with or otherwise interacting with the applicant. A referral, Build Award, or Community Leader badge begins the consideration process, but none guarantees acceptance.

This review is an important part of protecting the trust that allows SDA members to collaborate openly and candidly.

Connecting With the Community

Referral-only membership does not mean the community is inaccessible to developers who do not currently know an SDA member.

ShopDev Alliance members participate throughout the broader Shopify ecosystem, including public communities, meetups, and conferences. ShopDev Alliance also hosts Brightwork, our in-person event for the Shopify developer community. Brightwork is currently the only event hosted by SDA and provides a valuable opportunity to meet members face to face, exchange knowledge, and become more involved in the community.

Attending Brightwork does not guarantee ShopDev Alliance membership and is not a substitute for the membership review process. It does, however, give developers and SDA members an opportunity to get to know one another and build the genuine professional relationships from which strong referrals often emerge.

We discourage requesting referrals from members who are unfamiliar with you or your work. The strongest referrals come from people who have worked together, exchanged knowledge, or developed a meaningful professional relationship.

The Membership Process

1. Referral or recognized qualification: You are referred by an active SDA member or qualify for consideration as a Shopify Build Award winner or Shopify Community Leader.
2. Application: You receive a private application link and provide information about your experience and involvement in the Shopify ecosystem.
3. Community review: Your application is reviewed, and current members have an opportunity to provide relevant professional context.
4. Decision: The SDA team considers the application, referral or qualification, and member feedback.
5. Invitation: If approved, you will receive an email with everything you need to join ShopDev Alliance.

If you already know an active ShopDev Alliance member who is familiar with you and your work, you may ask whether they would be comfortable referring you.

If you do not yet have that relationship, the best place to begin is by participating meaningfully in the broader Shopify developer community.