Snipcart Middleman
This repository is a sample Middleman application that demonstrates how to build a static e-commerce site by combining the Ruby-based static site generator with Snipcart's HTML/JS shopping cart.
What is Snipcart Middleman?
It is a demo project that pairs Middleman, a Ruby static site generator, with Snipcart, a client-side shopping cart platform, and Bulma, a CSS framework, to create an online store without a dynamic backend. The repository contains the code for the storefront, and it is the companion to Snipcart's tutorial on integrating the two tools. The final site is hosted on Netlify and available as a live demo.
Key Features
- Middleman static site generation — The project uses Middleman to turn Ruby templates into static HTML files, making the output easy to host on any static server.
- Snipcart e-commerce — Shopping cart and checkout functionality are provided by Snipcart's HTML/JS integration, so no server-side e-commerce code is needed.
- Bulma styling — The user interface is styled with Bulma, giving product pages and cart elements a responsive, modern layout.
- Live demo on Netlify — A working example of the finished store is deployed at snipcart-middleman.netlify.com, showing the exact results of the tutorial.
- Tutorial companion — The code accompanies a detailed blog tutorial on Snipcart's website, making it a practical learning resource for developers.
Who is it for?
- Middleman users — Developers already working with Middleman can use this repo to see how to add a full shopping cart to their static sites.
- Static site developers — Anyone building a static site who wants to accept payments without running a backend will find a complete reference implementation.
- E-commerce learners — People new to selling online can follow the linked tutorial and adapt this starter code for their own store.
What can you do with it?
- Build a static storefront — Use the sample Middleman pages and Snipcart integration to sell products from a fast, static website.
- Learn the integration pattern — Study the code to understand how a Ruby static site generator and a JavaScript shopping cart can work together.
- Deploy to a static host — Because the output is static, the demo runs on Netlify, and the same approach works on other static hosting services.
How does it work?
The architecture is straightforward: Middleman compiles the site from Ruby templates into static HTML, Snipcart injects the shopping cart and checkout through JavaScript, and Bulma provides the CSS. This combination results in a fully static website that still supports e-commerce transactions through Snipcart's hosted service.
FAQ
Is Middleman a JavaScript framework?
No. Middleman is a static site generator written in Ruby. It compiles templates such as ERB or Haml into plain HTML, which can then be enhanced with client-side JavaScript like Snipcart.
Does the demo require a Snipcart account?
Since Snipcart is a hosted commerce service, running the code locally typically requires a Snipcart public API key. The live demo on Netlify shows the end result, but you need your own account to customize and deploy your own store.
What is the role of Bulma?
Bulma is the CSS framework used for styling. It gives the store a clean, responsive design and handles layout and component styling, while all e-commerce logic stays with Snipcart.
Can I use this with another static site generator?
Snipcart works with any static site because it relies on client-side JavaScript and HTML. The Middleman-specific templates in this repository would need to be adapted, but the same Snipcart integration pattern applies to Jekyll, Hugo, or plain HTML.
