Daffodil E-Commerce Frontend: Complete Guide to Features, Setup, and Benefits

As e-commerce continues to grow, companies are rethinking how their storefronts are built and delivered. More than ever, speed, user experience, and technical freedom matter. Daffodil combines a flexible Angular frontend with an API-driven approach that works with any backend for a truly powerful solution. It allows businesses to modernize in their own way, not being coupled with a single platform.

What is Daffodil?

Daffodil is an open-source, Angular-based frontend framework built for high-performance e-commerce applications. Daffodil provides a complete, modern foundation for creating fast, scalable, and engaging online storefronts.Instead of being tied to one specific platform, Daffodil can connect to almost any e-commerce backend, whether it is Magento (Adobe Commerce), Shopify, BigCommerce, or a custom API-driven system.By separating the frontend from the backend, Daffodil gives developers the freedom to:

•     Build highly interactive, app-like web experiences
•     Improve performance and loading speed
•     Customize the user interface without affecting backend logic
•     Scale easily as business or technical needs grow

How Daffodil Works

Daffodil uses a clear structure and practical tools to make creating contemporary online stores quicker and simpler. It works through three main parts: the frontend, the API, and how they communicate.

1. A Modern Angular Frontend

Daffodil uses Angular as its core framework. Angular provides structure, consistency, and a powerful component system, which Daffodil extends with:

•     Pre-built UI components
•     Reusable modules
•     State management
•     Routing and navigation
•     Built-in support for responsive design

This strategy guarantees that every aspect of the storefront, including product listings and checkout flows, adheres to the same scalable and predictable structure.  It reduces development time and helps teams maintain clean, organized code.

2. Backend-Agnostic Architecture

One of Daffodil’s greatest strengths is that it is not bound to any single backend platform. Instead, Daffodil communicates with the e-commerce backends using APIs. This opens up the possibility of using Daffodil with almost any system, including:

• Adobe Commerce / Magento
• Shopify
• BigCommerce
• Custom microservices
• Headless commerce engines

This is why Daffodil is called “backend-agnostic,” since it can adapt to any business setup without forcing major changes to the backend.

3. Real-time Communication through APIs

Daffodil interacts with backends via GraphQL or REST APIs. On every action that the user performs, whether it be ‘View Product’, ‘Add to Cart’, or ‘Search’, Daffodil sends a request to the backend, which returns real-time data.This creates several advantages:

• Faster responses
• Less data transfer
• Enhanced performance
• Better control over the UI

Architecture-wise, Daffodil fetches only the required amount of data for anything, making the storefront fast and efficient.

Key Features of Daffodil

High Performance

Daffodil’s Angular foundation and API-driven architecture help pages load quickly and run smoothly. This results in better user experience, higher conversions, and improved visibility in search engines.

Backend Flexibility

Daffodil works with any backend, from traditional platforms to fully headless systems. This flexibility allows businesses to upgrade or switch backends without changing the frontend.

Progressive Web App (PWA) Capabilities

Daffodil comes with inbuilt support for PWA, allowing offline browsing, fast page loads, and app-like interactions. Moreover, it creates a seamless, mobile-friendly shopping experience across all devices.

Modular Architecture

Each feature in Daffodil is built as a separate, replaceable module. This makes it easy to add, remove, or customize functionality without affecting the rest of the project.

Reusable UI Components

Daffodil provides pre-built UI components that speed up development and maintain design consistency. Developers can reuse and customize components to fit any storefront layout.

SEO-Friendly Design

With fast performance and clean markup, Daffodil supports strong SEO foundations. Search engines can index content easily, helping stores achieve better rankings. 

Daffodil vs Other E-Commerce Frontend Options

Setting Up a Daffodil Project

Setting up a fresh Daffodil storefront is a simple and streamlined process. Whether you’re building a new e-commerce experience or experimenting with Daffodil’s capabilities, starting with a clean local setup ensures smooth development and easy version control through tools like Git.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure your environment includes the following:

•     Node.js (latest LTS recommended)
•     Angular 20
•     A Text Editor (Visual Studio Code is recommended)
•     Terminal/Command Line with Angular CLI enabled

Step 1: Create a New Angular Project

Start by generating a fresh Angular project using Angular CLI. Run the command below and replace my-project with your preferred project name:

> npx @angular/cli@20 new my-project --style=scss --routing=true

If you’re unsure about specific options, simply press Enter to accept the default settings.Once the project is created, navigate into the new directory:

> cd my-project

Step 2: Install Daffodil

Daffodil is designed to work without any server-side setup. To add it to your Angular application, use the Angular CLI ng add command:

> npx ng add @daffodil/commerce

This installs all required packages and configures your project automatically, making setup quick and effortless.

Step 3: Run Your Project Locally

With everything installed, you can now start the development server:

> npm start

After a successful build, your terminal will display a message similar to:Watch mode enabled. Watching for file changes…

➜ Local: http://localhost:4200/

Open your browser and visit http://localhost:4200 to view your new Daffodil-powered storefront.

Common Challenges and How to Solve Them

Connecting to Different Backends

Daffodil is backend-agnostic, which means it can work with many platforms. However, this flexibility can introduce challenges when integrating with custom APIs or non-standard systems. Differences in data formats, authentication methods, or API response structures may cause issues during setup.How to solve it:

•     Define clear API contracts before integration.
•     Validate responses and test endpoints early.
•     Ensure that the backend provides all the necessary fields, with a consistent structure.
•     Use Daffodil’s driver-based architecture to adjust or replace integrations without rewriting the UI.

Incomplete Driver Support for Some Platforms

Not all Daffodil platform drivers are created equally in regards to feature coverage. Although Adobe Commerce does have full driver support, others like Shopify or Medusa might be lacking advanced features such as customer accounts or checkout flows.How to solve it:

•     For up-to-date driver status, see the official documentation and GitHub repository.
•     Extend functionality by creating custom driver methods where needed.
•     Contribute improvements back into the open-source project to help the ecosystem grow.

Performance Optimization

While Daffodil is designed for speed, heavy assets, unnecessary API calls, or inefficient code patterns can degrade performance. Such factors commonly cause slow page loading and the worst user experiences.How to solve it:

•     Use lazy loading to load modules only when they are needed.
•     Cache repeated API requests to reduce server load.
•     Compress images and optimize static assets.
•     Avoid large external libraries unless necessary.
•     Small optimizations can significantly improve overall performance.

Migration from Existing Storefronts

Moving from an existing storefront to Daffodil requires planning. It involves recreating UI components, ensuring existing features are maintained, preserving SEO value, and training the team to work with a new architecture.

How to solve it:

•     Use a phased rollout where you migrate one section at a time, and test it on a subdomain.
•     Audit your existing storefront and prioritize which features to rebuild first.
•     Maintain SEO strength by exporting metadata, preserving URL patterns, and setting up proper redirects.
•     Train your team in Angular, TypeScript, and Git to ensure smooth development during migration.

Final Thoughts

Daffodil is not just another frontend toolkit. It represents a shift toward open, API-driven, and future-ready eCommerce development services. With its open-source nature and growing community, it provides businesses with a compelling alternative to proprietary, restrictive storefront systems. For brands looking to modernize the online shopping experience while retaining full control, Daffodil stands out as a robust and forward-thinking choice.

FAQs

Is Daffodil free to use?

Yes. Daffodil is completely open-source under the MIT license. This means you have only hosting and development expenses.

Do I need to know Angular in order to work with Daffodil?

Yes, basic knowledge of Angular and TypeScript helps you build and customize storefront features efficiently.

Is Daffodil a full e-commerce platform?

No. Daffodil is strictly a frontend solution (the part customers see). It does not handle inventory, order processing, or payments on its own. It must be connected to an e-commerce backend (like Adobe Commerce/Magento, Shopify, or BigCommerce) to function.