> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.opensubs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Gather the accounts

> The custom app, the dev store, and the hosting, ready before the installer.

OPENSUBS PLATFORM

20 min

**Goal:** have everything ready before starting the installer.

**You'll need:**

* A [Shopify Partner account](https://www.shopify.com/partners) (free to create)
* A payment card for the two Pro signups in step 3
* Your OpenSubs license key (delivered with your purchase)

**1. Create the custom app**

> [!WARNING]
>
> **The one fatal wrong turn.** Create the custom app in the **Dev Dashboard**, never inside a store's admin. Store-admin custom apps can't use the subscription APIs, and no toggle fixes it. Dev Dashboard: every grant is instant.

* Go to the [Shopify Dev Dashboard](https://dev.shopify.com/dashboard) and click **Create app**.
* Enter your app name, such as "OpenSubs", and click **Create**.

![Create app dialog with the app name entered.](https://mintcdn.com/opensubs-docs/T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5/images/deploy/dev-store-fast-path/02-create-app.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5\&q=85\&s=3c72759d8d39cc2d6579eb3a15254257)

* Click **Settings** in the left menu. Copy the **Client ID** and **Client secret**, then scroll down to **App automation token** and create an App Automation Token (deploy-only). Copy that too.

> [!TIP]
>
> Keep these three values easily accessible during setup: **Client ID**, **Client secret**, and the **App Automation Token**.

* Back on the **App Overview** page, click **Select distribution method** in the **Distribution** block and select **Custom distribution**: this makes the gated API approvals on the next step instant.

![Select distribution method: Custom distribution.](https://mintcdn.com/opensubs-docs/T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5/images/deploy/dev-store-fast-path/03-custom-distribution.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5\&q=85\&s=e1f4f81f4a2d38e501fa99a31e105446)

* Enter the store domain where the app will be installed and click **Generate link**.

![Custom distribution: store domain entered, Generate link.](https://mintcdn.com/opensubs-docs/T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5/images/deploy/dev-store-fast-path/04-generate-link.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5\&q=85\&s=3b7b5c183b6f4121673adfcac0b00abc)

> [!WARNING]
>
> This field locks in the live production store the app will serve; your dev store installs regardless. With no live store yet, skip **Generate link**; the approvals on the next step unlock either way.

* Click **API access requests** in the left menu and click **Request access** for both:
  * **Read all orders scope**
  * **Access subscriptions APIs**

Paste this as the data-use justification wherever the form asks why:

```text Data-use justification theme={"dark"}
We use the Subscriptions APIs to create and manage our store's own subscription contracts (selling plans, recurring billing, customer self-service). Read all orders lets the customer portal show the full order history of a subscription beyond 60 days.
```

> [!TIP]
>
> **Checkpoint:** app created with Custom distribution; Client ID, Client secret, and App Automation Token copied; every access request granted.

**2. Create the dev store**

* Go to the [Shopify Dev Dashboard](https://dev.shopify.com/dashboard) and click **Stores** in the left menu.
* Click **Create store** and select the **Dev** option.

![Create store: the Dev option, with Generate test data selected.](https://mintcdn.com/opensubs-docs/T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5/images/deploy/dev-store-fast-path/05-create-dev-store.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=T6NpYT9MdOxqnOk5\&q=85\&s=158f1ef68a41860db50a08319875351a)

> [!TIP]
>
> Select **Generate test data for store** to automatically add placeholder products to your development store for a quicker setup.

* Note your new store's `.myshopify.com` domain; the installer asks for it later.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Checkpoint:** a dev store with test products, domain noted.

**3. Create the hosting accounts**

* Sign up for a **Pro plan** at [Supabase](https://supabase.com/pricing).
* Sign up for a **Pro plan** at [Vercel](https://vercel.com/pricing).

> [accordion] Why Pro?
>
> Free Supabase projects can pause after inactivity, taking billing and subscriptions offline. Pro adds more compute, database capacity, and higher usage limits.

> [!NOTE]
>
> When signing up, don't create a new project in either; the OpenSubs installer auto-creates this for you.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Checkpoint:** Supabase and Vercel accounts exist. Everything gathered: Client ID, Client secret, App Automation Token, dev store domain, license key nearby. No email or SMS provider needed yet.


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