Vendure
NestJS headless commerce with an introspectable GraphQL Admin API; the old official MCP is retired.
Plugin-first TypeScript commerce platform: Node.js, NestJS, GraphQL Admin and Shop APIs, React admin dashboard. Configuration lives in vendure-config.ts; extension is plugins and service overrides. The Builder's MCP (vendurehq/mcp) is marked outdated and unmaintained, so the agent interface is the GraphQL API and the non-interactive CLI. GPLv3 Community Edition; Vendure Cloud and Platform are commercial.
Alternative to Shopify, commercetools
- I want a TypeScript commerce backend I can change at the core through plugins and am fine with GPLv3 or a commercial license
- my agent should drive the store through an introspectable GraphQL schema
- GPLv3, not MIT as the shortlist assumed; commercial license from vendure.io/pricing
- The Builder's MCP is retired; do not point agents at @vendure/mcp-server
- No bundled storefront; Vendure lists starter storefronts separately
Last activity Sep 2, 2026. Fit: adaptable 2, operable 3.
Editions
Community Edition · Free open source
- Clone
git clone https://github.com/vendurehq/vendure
Vendure Cloud · Free closed source
- HostedOpen the hosted app
Vendure Platform · Free closed source
- HostedOpen the hosted app
Adaptable: what is yours to change
Make it yours
Light edit2 things to edit
npx @vendure/create scaffolds a project whose vendure-config.ts wires database, API options, auth, payment and shipping handlers, and plugins. Most adaptation is a NestJS plugin or a service override, done in your project, not the core. The README notes building against the GraphQL API does not make your storefront GPL, and a plugin exception lets you license plugins freely.
- Env vars
- none
- Config files
src/vendure-config.ts.env- Prompt files
- none
- Accounts you need
- Vendure Cloud (hosted edition only)
Source
- github.com/vendurehq/vendure
- GPL-3.0 (Vendure Commercial License available) license
- Last commit Sep 2, 2026
- 8,395 stars
Operable: what an agent can drive
Interface
OfficialAPIpublished by the builderlocal
How an agent can drive an Operable Listing, in five levels: native (built for the agent as the primary interface), official (the Builder ships an agent interface), wrapped (a third party wraps the software's API), config (an agent can only drive it by editing files), gui (screen control only). An interface is official only when it is published by the same organization that ships the software. GUI-level Listings are allowed and sorted last.
Reach
Partial coverage. 7 of 9 jobs reachable through the stated interface.
| Job | Through the interface | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Manage products, variants, facets, collections | Reachable | GraphQL Admin API mutations |
| Manage orders and fulfilments | Reachable | GraphQL Admin API order mutations |
| Manage customers and groups | Reachable | GraphQL Admin API |
| Promotions, tax, shipping methods | Reachable | GraphQL Admin API |
| Channels and stock locations | Reachable | GraphQL Admin API |
| Storefront shopping and checkout | Reachable | GraphQL Shop API |
| Scaffold plugins, entities, migrations | Reachable | Vendure CLI add, migrate, schema, doctor; non-interactive mode 'perfect for AI agents' |
| Operate a store through MCP | Not reachable | vendurehq/mcp README: 'outdated and not maintained anymore. DO NOT USE' |
| Platform features (SSO, approval workflows, B2B pricing) | Not reachable | Vendure Platform is a paid layer |
Code stack
- Languages
- TypeScript
- Frameworks
- NestJSGraphQLTypeORMReactTanStack
- Package manager
- npm
- Database
- PostgreSQLMySQLMariaDBSQLite
- Hosting target
- DockerVendure Cloud
- Built
- Human-written (recorded, never ranked)
Skills
Vendure ships skills teaching an agent to drive the Vendure CLI and run dashboard/UI migrations.
- Kind
- bundled
- Paths
skills/vendure-cli/SKILL.mdskills/vendure-dashboard-migration/SKILL.mdskills/radix-to-base-ui-migration/SKILL.md
Evidence and confidence
| Field | Where it was seen | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| formFactor | README: Node.js, NestJS, GraphQL backend with React admin dashboard | 90% |
| executionModel | no model at runtime | 95% |
| operability | GraphQL Admin and Shop APIs published at docs.vendure.io; README says the schema is meant for LLM tool-calling | 85% |
| effort | docs: vendure-config.ts anchors the project; CLI docs | 70% |
| editions | LICENSE.md: GPLv3 or Vendure Commercial License; README: Cloud and Platform | 75% |
| active | pushedAt 2026-09-02 | – |
| reach | 80% |
Open questions
- Env var names written by @vendure/create (not verified this run)
- Vendure Cloud and Platform prices
Sources
- github.com/vendurehq/vendure sourcing:ecommerce:github
- github.com/vendurehq/mcp sourcing:ecommerce:github
- docs.vendure.io/guides/developer-guide/cli/ analysis