Why Decent doesn't use Shopify
In this talk, Decent Espresso CTO John Buckman pulls back the curtain on all the technology running their business. This presentation was given in Bologna, at the EuroTcl 2025 conference.
PDF of the presentation slides
Core Technologies
- NaviServer – The primary web server and application platform used for the company's entire digital infrastructure.
- Tcl/Tk – Used for scripting and application logic, particularly in backend processes.
- MYSQL – Stores product, inventory, customer, and order data.
- BerkeleyDB – very high speed database for real time translation lookups.
- JavaScript – Used for dynamic frontend interactions (e.g., real-time cart updates, currency switching).
E-Commerce & Customer-Facing Features
- Dynamic Discount & Upsell System – Custom logic to encourage larger purchases with incremental discounts, free and expedited shipping.
- Real-Time Inventory Tracking – Automatically removes short-stocked items when inventory hits zero.
- Multi-Language Support – Context-aware translation system with:
- Naviserver's ns_cache for storing the translations you just saw, the ability to real-time edit the translations used, and then see the immediate effect of your corrections.
- Admin and Volunteer Translation Interface – Allows crowdsourced corrections beyond paid staff.
- Google Translate Integration – Used to create bad translations that annoy people enough to motivate them to do good human corrections.
- Shipping Logic – Handles weight-based shipping rules, customs considerations, and postal service disruptions.
- Custom Shopping Cart – No stock/off-the-shelf solution; fully custom-built.
- Stripe API – For credit card payments with tokenized repeat purchases. Repurchases only need you to enter your security code on your mobile phone.
Content Management & SEO
- Custom Blog Engine – Built into NaviServer with:
- Markdown Support (with regex-based extensions).
- RSS Feed – Boosted search rankings.
- Hashtags & Cross-Linking – Auto-generated related content around keywords.
- OpenStreetMap Integration – For locating “coffee ambassadors” (local volunteers who will make you coffee and demonstration their machine to you).
- YouTube API – Fetches and converts video thumbnails to AVIF for performance.
Internal & Operations Tools
- Lotus Notes (Legacy System) – Used for parts and product metadata.
- QuickBooks REST API – For real-time accounting integration.
- FIFO Inventory Cost Tracking – Precise per-unit cost calculation of every espresso machine as it is built.
- Basecamp (3rd-Party Forum Software) – Integrated for customer discussions.
- Respond.io– Unified messaging (WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.) for customer support.
Challenges & Workarounds
- Chillcat Library (Tcl/C) – Used for QuickBooks integration but runs as a separate process due to stability risks.
- OAuth 2.0 Limitation – Lack of native Tcl support forces workarounds for APIs like Basecamp and QuickBooks.
- Legacy Systems – Transitioning from Lotus Notes to web-based forms.
Key Takeaways
- Deep Customization – Avoids Shopify's limitations (e.g., dynamic pricing, shipping rules).
- Single-Platform Integration – Combines e-commerce, blog, support, and factory ops in NaviServer.
- Human + Machine Workflows – E.g., hybrid translation system, volunteer contributions.
- Data-Driven Manufacturing – Real-time cost tracking and inventory management.
This setup enables a small team to support a global business with complex logistics.
#backoffice #naviserver #tcltk #chillcat #oauth2 #respondio #basecamp #rss #markdown #berkeleydb #mysql #androwish #stripe #eurotcl #eurotcl2025
Updated 2025/07/21