# 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 The Builder's MCP (vendurehq/mcp) is marked outdated and unmaintained, so the agent interface is the GraphQL API and the non-interactive CLI.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

- Capabilities: adaptable, operable
- Vertical: ecommerce
- Shape: business-app
- Form factor: web-app
- Execution model: deterministic
- Provenance: human-written (recorded, never ranked)
- Repo: https://github.com/vendurehq/vendure (GPL-3.0 (Vendure Commercial License available)), 8395 stars, last commit 2026-09-02
- Last activity: 2026-09-02
- Page: apps/vendurehq--vendure.html
- JSON: apps/vendurehq--vendure.json

## Use it when

- 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

## Gotchas

- 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

## Editions

- Community Edition: Free, open source
  - source: npx @vendure/create my-shop
- Vendure Cloud: Free, closed source
  - hosted: https://vendure.io/product/cloud
- Vendure Platform: Free, closed source
  - hosted: https://vendure.io/pricing

## Adaptable: make it yours

Effort: light-edit (2 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'll need: Vendure Cloud (hosted edition only)

## Operable: what an agent can drive

Operability: official. Interface: api at https://docs.vendure.io/reference/graphql-api/admin/ (published by the builder, local).

### Reach (partial coverage)

- 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: NestJS, GraphQL, TypeORM, React, TanStack
- Package manager: npm
- Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite
- Hosting target: Docker, Vendure Cloud

## Skills

bundled: Vendure ships skills teaching an agent to drive the Vendure CLI and run dashboard/UI migrations.
- Paths: skills/vendure-cli/SKILL.md, skills/vendure-dashboard-migration/SKILL.md, skills/radix-to-base-ui-migration/SKILL.md

## Evidence and confidence

- formFactor: README: Node.js, NestJS, GraphQL backend with React admin dashboard (confidence 0.9)
- executionModel: no model at runtime (confidence 0.95)
- operability: GraphQL Admin and Shop APIs published at docs.vendure.io; README says the schema is meant for LLM tool-calling (confidence 0.85)
- effort: docs: vendure-config.ts anchors the project; CLI docs (confidence 0.7)
- editions: LICENSE.md: GPLv3 or Vendure Commercial License; README: Cloud and Platform (confidence 0.75)
- active: pushedAt 2026-09-02
- reach:  (confidence 0.8)

## Open questions

- Env var names written by @vendure/create (not verified this run)
- Vendure Cloud and Platform prices

## Sources

- https://github.com/vendurehq/vendure (sourcing:ecommerce:github)
- https://github.com/vendurehq/mcp (sourcing:ecommerce:github)
- https://docs.vendure.io/guides/developer-guide/cli/ (analysis)