wix-app

Wix App Builder

Helps build extensions for Wix CLI applications. Covers all extension types: dashboard pages, modals, plugins, menu plugins, custom element widgets, Editor React components, site plugins, embedded scripts, backend APIs, events, service plugins, and data collections.

⚠️ MANDATORY WORKFLOW CHECKLIST ⚠️

Before reporting completion to the user, ALL boxes MUST be checked:

• Step 1: Determined extension type(s) needed
  • Asked clarifying questions if requirements were unclear
  • Checked for implicit Data Collection need — unless user provided a collection ID directly (see Data Collection Inference)
  • Obtained app namespace if Data Collection extension is being created
  • Determined full scoped collection IDs if Data Collection extension is being created (see Collection ID Coordination)
  • Explained recommendation with reasoning
• Step 2: Read extension reference file(s) for the chosen type(s)
• Step 3: Checked API references; used MCP discovery only for gaps
• Step 4: Implemented all extensions
  • All files created
  • Extension(s) registered in extensions.ts
  • Invoked wix-design-system skill ONLY before writing the first .tsx/.jsx file that imports @wix/design-system. Skip this skill entirely for backend-only or data-only extensions.
• Step 5: Ran validation (see Validation)
  • Dependencies installed
  • TypeScript compiled
  • Build succeeded
  • Preview deployed
• Step 6: Collected and presented ALL manual action items to user

🛑 STOP: If any box is unchecked, do NOT proceed to the next step.

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❌ ANTI-PATTERNS (DO NOT DO)

❌ WRONG	✅ CORRECT
Implementing without reading the extension reference	Always read the relevant reference file first
Using MCP discovery without checking refs	Check reference files first
Reporting done without validation	Always run validation at the end
Letting manual action items get buried	Aggregate all manual steps at the very end

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Quick Decision Helper

1. What are you trying to build?

   • Admin interface → Dashboard Extensions
   • Backend logic → Backend Extensions
   • Data storage / CMS collections → Data Collection
   • Editor React component → Site Extensions (app projects only)

2. Who will see it?

   • Admin users only → Dashboard Extensions
   • Site visitors → Site Extensions
   • Server-side only → Backend Extensions

3. Where will it appear?

   • Dashboard sidebar/page → Dashboard Page or Modal
   • Existing Wix app dashboard (widget) → Dashboard Plugin
   • Existing Wix app dashboard (menu item) → Dashboard Menu Plugin
   • Anywhere on site → custom element widget
   • Anywhere on site (with editor manifest) → Editor React component
   • Wix business solution page → Site Plugin
   • During business flow → Service Plugin
   • After event occurs → Backend Event Extension

Decision Flow (Not sure?)

• Admin: Need full-page UI? → Dashboard Page. Need popup/form? → Dashboard Modal. Extending Wix app dashboard with a visual widget? → Dashboard Plugin. Adding a menu item to a Wix app dashboard's more-actions or bulk-actions menu? → Dashboard Menu Plugin. Modal constraint: Dashboard Pages cannot use <Modal />; use a separate Dashboard Modal extension and dashboard.openModal().
• Backend: During business flow (checkout/shipping/tax)? → Service Plugin. After event (webhooks/sync)? → Backend Event Extension. Custom HTTP endpoints? → Backend API. Need CMS collections for app data? → Data Collection.
• Site: User places anywhere (standalone)? → custom element widget. Editor React component with editor manifest (styling, content, elements)? → Editor React component. Fixed slot on Wix app page? → Site Plugin. Scripts/analytics only? → Embedded Script.

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Extension Types Reference Table

Extension Type	Category	Visibility	Use When	Reference File
Dashboard Page	Dashboard	Admin only	Full admin pages	DASHBOARD_PAGE.md
Dashboard Modal	Dashboard	Admin only	Popup dialogs	DASHBOARD_MODAL.md
Dashboard Plugin	Dashboard	Admin only	Extend Wix app dashboards	DASHBOARD_PLUGIN.md
Dashboard Menu Plugin	Dashboard	Admin only	Add menu items to Wix app dashboards	DASHBOARD_MENU_PLUGIN.md
Service Plugin	Backend	Server-side	Customize business flows	SERVICE_PLUGIN.md
Backend Event Extension	Backend	Server-side	React to events	BACKEND_EVENT.md
Backend API	Backend	API	Custom HTTP handlers	BACKEND_API.md
Data Collection	Backend	Data	CMS collections for app data	DATA_COLLECTION.md
Editor React component	Site	Public	Editor React components with editor manifests	EDITOR_REACT_COMPONENT.md
Custom element widget	Site	Public	Standalone widgets	CUSTOM_ELEMENT_WIDGET.md
Site Plugin	Site	Public	Extend Wix business solutions	SITE_PLUGIN.md
Embedded Script	Site	Public	Inject scripts/analytics	EMBEDDED_SCRIPT.md
Key constraints:

• Dashboard Page cannot use <Modal />; use a separate Dashboard Modal and dashboard.openModal().

Extension Comparison

Custom element widget vs Editor React component vs Site Plugin	Dashboard Page vs Modal	Service Plugin vs Event
Custom element widget: standalone interactive component. Editor React component: React with editor manifest (CSS/data/elements). Plugin: fixed slot in Wix app page.	Page: full page. Modal: overlay; use for popups.	Service: during flow. Event: after event.

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Cross-Cutting References

Topic	Reference
Extension Registration	EXTENSION_REGISTRATION.md
App Validation	APP_VALIDATION.md
App Identifiers (Namespace, Code ID)	APP_IDENTIFIERS.md
Wix Stores Versioning (V1/V3)	STORES_VERSIONING.md
Official Documentation Links	DOCUMENTATION.md

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Data Collection Inference

CRITICAL: Data collections are often needed implicitly — don't wait for the user to explicitly say "create a CMS collection." Infer the need automatically.

Skip this section if the user provides a collection ID directly (e.g., an existing site-level collection). In that case, use the provided ID as-is — no Data Collection extension or namespace scoping needed.

Always include a Data Collection extension when ANY of these are true:

Indicator	Example
User mentions saving/storing/persisting app-specific data	"save the fee amount", "store product recommendations"
A dashboard page will manage (CRUD) domain entities	"dashboard to manage fees", "admin page to edit rules"
A service plugin reads app-configured data at runtime	"fetch fee rules at checkout", "look up shipping rates"
User mentions "dedicated database/collection"	"save in a dedicated database collection"
Multiple extensions reference the same custom data	Dashboard manages fees + service plugin reads fees

Why this matters: Without the Data Collection extension, the collection won't be created when the app is installed, the Wix Data APIs may not work (code editor not enabled), and collection IDs won't be properly scoped to the app namespace.

If data collection is inferred, follow the App Namespace Requirement to obtain the namespace before proceeding.

App Namespace Requirement

When creating a Data Collection, you MUST ask the user for their app namespace from Wix Dev Center. This is a required parameter that must be obtained from the user's Dev Center dashboard and cannot be recommended or guessed.

If the user hasn't provided their app namespace, read APP_IDENTIFIERS.md and give the user the instructions to obtain it.

Collection ID Coordination

Applies ONLY when a Data Collection extension is being created. If the user provides a collection ID directly, use it as-is — no namespace scoping, no Data Collection extension needed.

When a Data Collection is created alongside other extensions that reference the same collections:

1. Get the app namespace (see App Namespace Requirement above)
2. Determine the idSuffix for each collection (the Data Collection reference documents the full ID format)
3. Use the full scoped collection ID (<app-namespace>/<idSuffix>) in all extensions that reference the collection via Wix Data API calls

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Wix Stores Versioning Requirement

Applies when ANY Wix Stores API is used (products, inventory, orders, etc.):

1. Read the Stores Versioning reference — see STORES_VERSIONING.md. It contains the module map, permissions cheatsheet, copy-paste dual-catalog recipes (list/get/create/update/delete products, inventory, categories), the V1→V3 field map, webhook mapping, and the major V3 gotchas. Use it before searching SDK docs — it covers the common 80%.
2. All Stores operations must check catalog version first using getCatalogVersion()
3. Use the correct module based on version: productsV3 (V3) vs products (V1)
4. Apps MUST support both V1 and V3 — single-version apps cannot list in the App Market and break on new sites
5. Request both V1 and V3 permission scopes for every Stores operation

This is non-negotiable — V1 and V3 are NOT backwards compatible.

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Implementation Workflow

Step 1: Ask Clarifying Questions (if needed)

Only ask for configuration values when absolutely necessary for the implementation to proceed. If a value can be configured later or added as a manual step, don't block on it.

Code Identifier Requirement: When creating an Editor React component, you need the user's Code Identifier. If not provided, read APP_IDENTIFIERS.md and give the user the instructions to obtain it.

If unclear on approach (placement, visibility, configuration, integration), ask clarifying questions. If the answer could change the extension type, wait for the response before proceeding. Otherwise, proceed with the best-fit extension type.

Step 2: Make Your Recommendation

Use the Extension Types Reference Table and decision content above. State extension type and brief reasoning (placement, functionality, integration).

Step 3: Read Extension Reference, Check API References, Then Discover (if needed)

Workflow: Read extension reference → Check API references → Use MCP only for gaps.

1. Read the extension reference file for the chosen extension type from the table above
2. Identify required APIs from user requirements
3. Check relevant API reference files:
   • Backend events → references/backend-event/COMMON-EVENTS.md
   • Wix Data → references/data-collection/WIX_DATA.md
   • Dashboard SDK → references/dashboard-page/DASHBOARD_API.md
   • Service Plugin SPIs → references/service-plugin/*.md
4. Verify the specific method/event exists in references
5. ONLY use MCP discovery if NOT found in reference files

Platform APIs (never discover - in references):

• Wix Data, Dashboard SDK, Event SDK (common events), Service Plugin SPIs

Vertical APIs (discover if needed):

• Wix Stores (⚠️ MUST use Stores Versioning reference — V1/V3 catalog check required), Wix Bookings, Wix Members, Wix Pricing Plans, third-party integrations

Decision table:

User Requirement	Check References / Discovery Needed?	Reason / Reference File
"Display store products"	✅ YES (MCP discovery)	Wix Stores API — include Stores Versioning reference
"Show booking calendar"	✅ YES (MCP discovery)	Wix Bookings API not in reference files
"Send emails to users"	✅ YES (MCP discovery)	Wix Triggered Emails not in reference files
"Get member info"	✅ YES (MCP discovery)	Wix Members API not in reference files
"Listen for cart events"	Check COMMON-EVENTS.md	MCP discovery only if event missing in reference
"Store data in collection"	WIX_DATA.md ✅ Found	❌ Skip discovery (covered by reference)
"Create CMS collections for my app"	Data Collection reference	❌ Skip discovery (covered by dedicated reference)
"Show dashboard toast"	DASHBOARD_API.md ✅ Found	❌ Skip discovery
"Show toast / navigate"	DASHBOARD_API.md ✅ Found	❌ Skip discovery
"UI only (forms, inputs)"	N/A (no external API)	❌ Skip discovery
"Settings page with form inputs"	N/A (UI only, no external API)	❌ Skip discovery
"Dashboard page with local state"	N/A (no external API)	❌ Skip discovery

MCP Tools for discovery (when needed):

• SearchWixSDKDocumentation - SDK methods and APIs (Always use maxResults: 5)
• ReadFullDocsArticle - Full documentation when needed (only if search results need more detail)

Step 4: Implement Extensions

Follow the extension reference file to implement each extension. Key rules:

• ⚠️ MANDATORY when using WDS: Invoke the wix-design-system skill before writing your first .tsx/.jsx file that imports @wix/design-system. Do NOT invoke it preemptively for backend-only or data-only jobs — it adds large content to context that you won't use.
• ⚠️ MANDATORY when using Data Collections: Use EXACT collection ID from idSuffix (case-sensitive). Example: If idSuffix is "product-recommendations", use <app-namespace>/product-recommendations NOT productRecommendations.
• Register all extensions in src/extensions.ts (see Extension Registration).

Step 5: Run Validation

After all implementation is complete, you MUST run validation. See APP_VALIDATION.md for the complete validation workflow:

1. Package installation (detect package manager, run install)
2. TypeScript compilation check (npx tsc --noEmit)
3. Build validation (npx wix build)
4. Preview deployment (npx wix preview)

Do NOT report completion to the user until validation passes.

If validation fails, fix the errors and re-validate until it passes.

Step 6: Report Completion

Only after validation passes, provide a concise summary section at the top of your response:

## ✅ Implementation Complete

[1-2 sentence description of what was built]

**Extensions Created:**
- [Extension 1 Name] - [Brief purpose]
- [Extension 2 Name] - [Brief purpose]

**Build Status:**
- ✅ Dependencies: [Installed / status message]
- ✅ TypeScript: [No compilation errors / status]
- ✅ Build: [Completed successfully / status]
- ✅/⚠️ Preview: [Running at URL / Failed - reason]

**⚠️ IMPORTANT: [X] manual step(s) required to complete setup** (see "Manual Steps Required" section below)

• If there are NO manual steps, state: "✅ No manual steps required — you're ready to go!"

Step 7: Surface Manual Action Items

Present any manual steps the user must perform (e.g., configuring settings in the Wix dashboard, enabling permissions, setting up external services).

Format:

## 🔧 Manual Steps Required

The following actions need to be done manually by you:

### 1. [Action Category/Title]
[Detailed description with specific instructions]

### 2. [Action Category/Title]
[Detailed description]

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Extension Registration

After creating any extension file, you must update the main src/extensions.ts file to register the extension with the app. See EXTENSION_REGISTRATION.md for the complete guide.

Quick pattern:

import { app } from "@wix/astro/builders";
import { dashboardpageMyPage } from "./extensions/dashboard/pages/my-page/extensions.ts";
import { embeddedscriptMyScript } from "./extensions/site/embedded-scripts/my-script/extensions.ts";

export default app()
  .use(dashboardpageMyPage)
  .use(embeddedscriptMyScript);

Without registration, extensions will not appear or function in the Wix dashboard/editor/site.

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Validation

Execute these steps sequentially after all implementation is complete. See APP_VALIDATION.md for the complete guide.

1. Package Installation — Detect package manager, run install
2. TypeScript Compilation — npx tsc --noEmit
3. Build — npx wix build
4. Preview — npx wix preview

Stop and report errors if any step fails. Check .wix/debug.log on failures.

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Cost Optimization

• Read extension reference first — always read the relevant extension reference file before implementing
• Check API references first — read relevant API reference files before using MCP discovery
• Skip discovery when all required APIs are in reference files
• maxResults: 5 for all MCP SDK searches
• ReadFullDocsArticle only when search results need more context
• Invoke wix-design-system first when using WDS (prevents import errors)

Documentation

For links to official Wix CLI documentation for all extension types, see DOCUMENTATION.md.