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Reckoneer / Stage 12
Stage 12BuildGate

Pre-Publish Review

Stage 12 is the final gate. The operator reviews the staging theme — the exact code that will be published — using its preview URL.

This review uses the Shopify theme preview link, which renders the staging theme as if it were live: real products, real navigation, real checkout. The operator checks every page type, tests the mobile experience, and confirms the theme is ready.

If issues are found, the operator can loop back (changes go to dev, re-merge to staging). When satisfied, clicking 'Publish' in the Reckoneer dashboard triggers Stage 13.

Terms
Theme preview URL

A special URL generated by Shopify that renders an unpublished theme as if it were live. Shows the real store with the real product catalog. Only accessible to people with the link — customers browsing normally see the published theme.

AnalogyA keyhole in a construction hoarding. The building is still under construction (theme not published) but this specific keyhole lets authorized people see exactly what the finished building looks like from inside.
OriginPreview: from Latin 'prae' (before) + 'videre' (to see). A viewing that happens before the main event.
Theme role

A Shopify attribute on each installed theme indicating its status: 'main' (currently published and serving the public storefront), 'unpublished' (installed but not active), or 'demo' (for development). Reckoneer reads this to determine which theme is live and sets it to 'main' on publish.

AnalogyLike job titles in a production crew. One person is 'director' (main/live theme) — actively running the show. Others are 'standby' (unpublished) — ready to step in when called. Only one director at a time.
OriginRole: from Old French 'rolle' (a roll of parchment containing an actor's part). In computing: a named function or status that determines what something does.