Saleor is a modern, open-source e-commerce platform based on GraphQL and specially designed for the development of online shops. It offers a flexible and scalable solution for companies that want to sell their products and services online. Saleor enables developers to create customised e-commerce solutions that meet the specific requirements of their customers.
The platform is written in Python and uses Django as a web framework, which makes it particularly powerful and customisable. A standout feature of Saleor is its API-first architecture, which allows developers to integrate different front-end technologies. This means that companies are not limited to a specific user interface, but have the freedom to develop their own frontend solutions or use existing frameworks such as React or Vue.js.
This flexibility makes Saleor an attractive choice for companies looking to create a customised user experience.
Key Takeaways
- Saleor is an open source e-commerce platform based on Python and Django that offers a flexible and user-friendly solution for online commerce.
- The history of Saleor goes back to 2013, when the company Mirumee was founded and the development of the platform began.
- Saleor offers features such as product management, order fulfilment, payment processing, shipping options and more to meet the needs of e-commerce businesses.
- The advantages of Saleor over other e-commerce platforms lie in its flexibility, scalability, adaptability and the open source nature of the platform.
- Saleor works by using Python and Django, offers a RESTful API and can be hosted in a cloud environment or locally.
The story of Saleor
The beginnings as an open source project
The platform was launched as an open source project, which meant that everyone had the opportunity to contribute to the development and customise the software to their needs. This community-driven development helped Saleor to quickly gain popularity and become one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the open source sector.
Ongoing improvements and updates
Over the years, Saleor has undergone numerous updates and improvements. The introduction of GraphQL as the main interface was a crucial step in the evolution of the platform. GraphQL allows developers to query exactly the data they need without obtaining superfluous information.
Robust and reliable solution for e-commerce applications
This not only improves the performance of the application, but also the user experience considerably. The continuous development and commitment of the community have made Saleor a robust and reliable solution for e-commerce applications.
The functions of Saleor
Saleor offers a variety of features that make it a comprehensive e-commerce solution. Key features include a powerful product management system that allows merchants to easily manage their products, as well as a flexible pricing model that supports discounts and promotions. In addition, Saleor offers integrated support for multiple currencies and languages, making it easier for international merchants to offer their products globally.
Another remarkable feature of Saleor is the integrated order and dispatch management. Retailers can track and manage orders in real time and integrate different shipping methods and service providers. This functionality is crucial for the success of an online shop as it ensures smooth order fulfilment.
In addition, Saleor offers comprehensive analysis and reporting tools with which retailers can gain valuable insights into their business.
Advantages of Saleor compared to other e-commerce platforms
Saleor offers several advantages compared to other e-commerce platforms. One of the biggest advantages is the flexibility of the platform. As Saleor is based on an API-first architecture, developers can create customised solutions that are precisely tailored to the needs of their customers.
In contrast to many other platforms that offer ready-made templates and designs, Saleor allows complete customisation of the front end. Another advantage of Saleor is the open source nature of the software. This not only means that there are no licence fees, but also that a large community of developers contributes to improving the platform.
This community provides support and resources that make it easier for new users to familiarise themselves with the software. Companies can also benefit from the constant updates and improvements provided by the active development of the platform.
How does Saleor work?
Saleor works through a combination of backend and frontend technologies. The backend is developed in Python and uses the Django web framework to manage database operations and provide APIs. The frontend component can be built using various technologies, with React often being the favoured framework.
This separation between backend and frontend allows developers to work independently on both parts of the application. Communication between the frontend and the backend takes place via GraphQL APIs. Developers can formulate specific queries to retrieve exactly the data they need.
This reduces the amount of data transferred and significantly improves the performance of the application. In addition, GraphQL enables easier integration with other services and applications, which is crucial for modern e-commerce solutions.
Customisation options from Saleor
Customisation of the source code
As Saleor is an open source platform, developers have full access to the source code and can modify it as they wish. This enables companies to add specific functions or customise existing functions to meet their individual requirements.
Expansion of functionalities
For example, companies can integrate special payment options or create customised checkout processes. In addition, Saleor offers a variety of plugins and extensions that can provide additional functionality. These plugins can be easily installed and configured to extend the functionality of the platform.
Importance of customisation for companies
The ability to customise is particularly important for companies with unique business models or special requirements for their e-commerce solutions.
Integrations and extensions for Saleor
Saleor supports a variety of integrations with third-party services, allowing merchants to seamlessly connect their online shops with other tools and platforms. Common integrations include payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal as well as shipping service providers such as DHL or FedEx. These integrations make it easier for merchants to manage their orders and payments and help to ensure a smooth e-commerce business process.
In addition to the payment and shipping integrations, Saleor also offers options for connecting to marketing tools such as Google Analytics or Mailchimp. These integrations enable retailers to collect valuable data on user behaviour and carry out targeted marketing campaigns. The flexibility of the integrations makes Saleor a versatile solution for companies of all sizes.
The future of Saleor
The future of Saleor looks promising as the platform continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the market. With the increasing trend towards personalisation in e-commerce, Saleor is expected to continue to introduce new features that enable retailers to create tailored shopping experiences for their customers. The integration of AI-supported tools for analysing customer data could also be an important step in this direction.
In addition, the community around Saleor is expected to continue to grow, which will lead to even faster development of new features and improvements. The open source nature of the platform encourages innovation and allows developers worldwide to contribute their ideas and help improve the system. At a time when e-commerce is becoming increasingly important, Saleor is positioning itself as a leading solution for companies looking for a flexible and powerful e-commerce platform.
English (UK) 
Deutsch 
Nederlands 
Türkçe 
Ελληνικά 
Français de Belgique 
Español 
English