Merch Print Backend
A private backend suite for supplier inventory, catalogue browsing, quote preparation and stock synchronisation.
Classic PHP ecommerce upgrade
Interspire Cart Upgrade
Legacy Ecommerce Modernisation
Platform
Interspire
API Layer
JSON REST
Supplier Bridge
CJ Dropshipping
Runtime Work
PHP 8.x
The Brief
This project brought a classic Interspire Shopping Cart codebase back into active use with modern integration points, safer secret handling patterns, Composer-managed SDKs, API token tooling, CJ Dropshipping catalogue workflows and a clearer production hardening path.
Challenge
The original store was a legacy PHP ecommerce system with older front controllers, bundled libraries and long-lived operational code. The goal was to keep the cart usable while adding modern API, supplier and deployment capabilities without replacing the whole platform in one risky rebuild.
Modernisation Work
The upgrade added Composer-managed services for payment, Google, Facebook, TikTok and mail integrations, plus Node-based tooling for Tailwind CSS builds, CSS coverage, PurgeCSS, asset minification, image optimisation and Puppeteer-driven checks.
REST API Layer
A JSON API now runs alongside the legacy XML API. It uses bearer tokens, hashed token storage, scoped access and endpoints for health checks, profile data, products, categories and orders, with CLI scripts for creating, listing and revoking API tokens.
CJ Dropshipping Bridge
The CJ bridge adds catalogue search, product variants, stock tools, tracking sync, order pipeline support, webhook handling and admin-side workflows for supplier catalogue browsing and fulfilment operations.
Hardening Review
The project includes secret helper patterns, web-root blocking rules, security headers and deployment notes. The audit also identified follow-up production work: remove direct credentials from legacy config, move backups outside the document root, lock down tooling directories and finish legacy PHP compatibility cleanup.
Outcome
The cart is no longer just an old storefront. It has a practical route into modern ecommerce operations: API access, supplier automation, external service integrations, build tooling and a focused hardening checklist for safer production use.
API Auth
Bearer Tokens
Product Sync
Catalogue + Stock
Webhook Flow
Tracking Updates
Build Tools
Tailwind + Puppeteer
Challenge
The store was a legacy PHP ecommerce system with older front controllers, bundled libraries and long-lived operational code that still needed modern API, supplier and deployment capabilities.
Solution
The upgrade added Composer-managed integrations, Node-based build tooling, a JSON REST API with bearer tokens, CJ Dropshipping catalogue workflows, supplier stock tools and a focused hardening path.
Outcome
The cart now has a practical route into modern ecommerce operations with API access, supplier automation, external service integrations, build tooling and a clearer production hardening checklist.
Lessons
- Legacy ecommerce systems can be modernised incrementally when API access, supplier workflows and hardening are added around the existing cart.
- Token tooling, hashed storage and scoped endpoints make integrations safer than extending old XML-only access patterns.
- Modernisation work should include deployment and secret-handling review, not just new supplier or frontend features.
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Project Screens
The visuals represent the ecommerce upgrade, API integration and modernisation work rather than exposing private store data or credentials.
Next step
Book a free website review
Send your website address and what you want more of — calls, bookings, or quote requests. I will review the contact path, mobile layout, local SEO basics and tracking before quoting any work.