Gabriel Richards
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
I enjoy playing piano, soccer, and Civilization! Other areas of interest include mixology, skiing, aquaria, and travel. My teams are the LA Galaxy and the LA Rams. I married my high school sweetheart in 2005 and we have two kids, a boy and a girl.
Articles by Gabriel Richards
- Building an AI Support Workflow with a Remote MCP Server: A Production Case Study
Building an AI Support Workflow with a Remote MCP Server: A Production Case Study
Published 5/28/2026A real-world case study of an AI support workflow that classifies inbound email, retrieves prior sent-mail precedents through a remote MCP server, and hands human-reviewed drafts to staff in Gmail.
SoftwareAI - How AI, Plasmic, and Next.js Changed the Way We Build Websites
How AI, Plasmic, and Next.js Changed the Way We Build Websites
Published 5/19/2026Endertech rebuilt its own website around Plasmic and Next.js to create a governed visual CMS. Marketers can now edit pages visually while engineering preserves the design system, SEO, analytics, performance patterns, and brand standards—proving you don’t have to choose between speed and quality.
Web DevelopmentDesignMarketingHeadless - Using Shopify Liquid to Add Visible and Hidden Cart Line Attributes from Metafields
Using Shopify Liquid to Add Visible and Hidden Cart Line Attributes from Metafields
Published 4/29/2026Learn how to add cart line attributes (line item properties) to Shopify cart items using Liquid, including a simple convention for visible vs hidden attributes and concrete metafield-based examples.
E-CommerceShopify - Mindset Matters: The Culture of Endertech
Mindset Matters: The Culture of Endertech
Published 4/10/2026Mindset influences more than individual performance. It shapes team culture, leadership, and the way organizations respond to challenge, feedback, and change. At Endertech, our Fundamental Behaviors reflect a Growth Mindset culture built on learning, accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.
Management - Prompt-Based Product Discovery Demo Using MCP
Prompt-Based Product Discovery Demo Using MCP
Published 4/9/2026This live demo shows how prompt-based product discovery transforms how customers navigate complex product catalogs. Powered by MCP, users can describe what they need in natural language and instantly surface the right products, configurations, and options without friction.
Web DevelopmentE-CommerceMarketingAIShopify - Endertech MCP 101 Webinar - How does MCP relate to ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, etc...
Endertech MCP 101 Webinar - How does MCP relate to ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, etc...
Published 4/6/2026AI can generate insights. But without execution, it does not create value. This MCP 101 webinar session breaks down how the Model Context Protocol connects models, data, and systems into an operational layer that drives real outcomes across retail and ecommerce.
E-CommerceAIHeadlessShopify - We Replaced Shopify Search With AI — Here’s What Actually Happened
We Replaced Shopify Search With AI — Here’s What Actually Happened
Published 4/3/2026How we built a custom MCP + OpenSearch product discovery system—and what real customers are already doing with it.
E-CommerceAI - The Agentic Shift: Why E-Commerce Brands Need an MCP Server Now
The Agentic Shift: Why E-Commerce Brands Need an MCP Server Now
Published 1/15/2026We are entering the era of "Agentic Commerce," where AI agents like ChatGPT and Gemini handle the entire shopping journey. While Shopify’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) opens the door, building your own private Model Context Protocol (MCP) server is how you take control. Discover why owning your data infrastructure is the key to maintaining a competitive edge.
SoftwareE-CommerceAIShopify - Integrating Avalara with Shopify Checkout to Clearly Show Recycling Fees
Integrating Avalara with Shopify Checkout to Clearly Show Recycling Fees
Published 12/30/2025Some states require mattress recycling fees to appear as their own tax line during checkout. This article walks through how we combined Avalaras AvaTax API, Shopify metafields, middleware, and Checkout UI extensions to display a clear tax and recycling-fee breakdown in Shopify checkout for two brands.
E-CommerceShopify - Bringing In‑Store Personalization Online: How We Integrated STORIS with Klaviyo Using Webhooks
Bringing In‑Store Personalization Online: How We Integrated STORIS with Klaviyo Using Webhooks
Published 12/28/2025How we connected STORIS to Klaviyo with a custom webhook middleware so retailers can use in‑store quotes, orders, and fulfillments to trigger personalized email flows, review requests, and smarter segmentation—bringing online‑level personalization to the showroom.
E-CommerceMarketingKlaviyo - AI Driven Software Development with Cursor
AI Driven Software Development with Cursor
Published 12/1/2025AI has changed how we write software, but the real story isn’t “AI writes code.” The real story is how you work with AI: what you delegate, what you design yourself, and how you keep the whole thing from turning into an unmaintainable mess.
SoftwareWeb DevelopmentAISymfonyReact - Why Your Software Project Needs Professional Planning
Why Your Software Project Needs Professional Planning
Published 3/8/2024At Endertech, Planning is the first phase in our methodology for custom software development. The goal of this phase is to produce clear technical documentation that tells the development team exactly what they’re supposed to build, and how.
Management - How to Deploy Shopify Apps vs Shopify App Extensions
How to Deploy Shopify Apps vs Shopify App Extensions
Published 1/22/2024This article explains the difference between Shopify Apps and Shopify App Extensions including how to deploy them to a simple Node environment.
E-CommerceShopify - Shopify Hydrogen for Headless E-Commerce
Shopify Hydrogen for Headless E-Commerce
Published 5/26/2023Learn a bit about Headless E-commerce with Shopify Hydrogen. Check out one of our recent projects using this technology.
E-CommerceHeadlessShopify - Shopify Collections Based on Metafield Values
Shopify Collections Based on Metafield Values
Published 1/30/2023Discover how Shopify collections have improved to become more useful and efficient for your Shopify store management.
E-CommerceShopify - NestJS and React Admin Deployed to Amazon Lambda
NestJS and React Admin Deployed to Amazon Lambda
Published 8/24/2022A step-by-step to setting up NestJS and React Admin with Amazon Lambda. An API project using React Admin frontend on Amazon Lambda.
SoftwareE-Commerce - Amazon BOPIS API Integration
Amazon BOPIS API Integration
Published 11/3/2021Endertech has integrated the new Amazon BOPIS API with the ERP / POS from a major mattress retailer. Learn the details in this story.
E-Commerce - Amazon STORIS Integration
Amazon STORIS Integration
Published 10/12/2021We integrated our client's Amazon Seller Central account with STORIS using the Amazon Selling Partner API. Here's the story.
SoftwareE-Commerce - WordPress Video Streaming - How to Host, Encode, and Stream your OWN Videos.
WordPress Video Streaming - How to Host, Encode, and Stream your OWN Videos.
Published 7/3/2020Despite the prevalence of video streaming on the web, a video streaming site is not the easiest kind of site to set up. Here are some tips on how to set up a quality WordPress video streaming site.
Web Development - How to Remove My Downloadable Products Link from Magento Account Page
How to Remove My Downloadable Products Link from Magento Account Page
Published 7/1/2020A short blog on how to remove My Downloadable Products link inside of Magento's Admin page. A solution that's easy and works.
E-Commerce - Magento Redirects to Checkout after Registration / Create Account
Magento Redirects to Checkout after Registration / Create Account
Published 7/1/2020Discover an extension available via Packagist that will help your Magento site redirect customers to checkout after they register.
E-Commerce - How to Use Victory JS with React
How to Use Victory JS with React
Published 6/17/2020Endertech has used Victory JS with React in our client and employee portal. We use the library to visualize data, in this case, employee hours per day.
Software - How to Prepare for Migration to Magento 2
How to Prepare for Migration to Magento 2
Published 4/9/2020Starting June 2020, Magento 1 support & security updates will discontinue. Learn how a Magento Migration, and Upgrade can benefit your business.
E-Commerce - Should You Use React for Your Next Website?
Should You Use React for Your Next Website?
Published 1/29/2020React has become the newest coolest way to build modern web applications. Is it right for your project? Learn some important considerations in this article.
SoftwareWeb Development - Taking Your Product From Concept to Launch - The Endertech Way
Taking Your Product From Concept to Launch - The Endertech Way
Published 1/24/2020The process of developing your software product can be intimidating, frustrating, and confusing. Learn how Endertech makes it an approachable, exciting, and engaging process instead.
SoftwareManagement - Shopify STORIS Integration: Case Study
Shopify STORIS Integration: Case Study
Published 12/24/2019Do you run a furniture business that utilizes the STORIS ERP? Are you interested in using Shopify as your e-commerce platform? You can integrate the two via API and we know how! Learn more here.
SoftwareE-Commerce - Why Use ReactJS for Your Next Web App
Why Use ReactJS for Your Next Web App
Published 12/18/2019ReactJS is the leading JavaScript framework for building dynamic frontends. Learn why ReactJS is so popular and about some leading organizations that chose it.
SoftwareWeb DevelopmentReact - What Is Symfony?
What Is Symfony?
Published 12/12/2019Symfony is the best PHP framework available for web applications. You can use Symfony and its components to power any kind of API or custom web application that you can imagine.
SoftwareSymfonyPHP - Today, We PAINT
Today, We PAINT
Published 9/18/2018A few of us at Endertech mixed it up recently... we took a morning off to go painting at a local park!
Design - High Performing Culture - Part Two
High Performing Culture - Part Two
Published 9/27/2017This is a series of articles about Endertech's Fundamental Behaviors of Success, a set of 24 behaviors that we believe are crucial to maintaining and expanding our high performing culture. Learn what it means to become a expert at Endertech, as we explore what it means to, "Master Your Craft".
Management - WordPress: One of the Best Content Management Systems
WordPress: One of the Best Content Management Systems
Published 8/28/2017WordPress is one of the most impressive content management systems (CMS) built on PHP / MySQL. Is WordPress right for you? Let's find out!
Software - High Performing Culture - Part One
High Performing Culture - Part One
Published 7/29/2017Endertech exposes its first "Fundamental Behavior of HIgh Performing Culture". Join us on the journey of building an amazingly creative and helpful team of web & software developers in Los Angeles.
Management - High Performing Culture - Part Zero
High Performing Culture - Part Zero
Published 3/31/2017Over the years I've learned the value of intentional, methodical choices as they relate to long-term business growth. More than ever, I supplement my intuition with process... and as a result, Endertech's growth has accelerated, and so can yours!
Management - How to Have a Successful Project - Part One - Preparation
How to Have a Successful Project - Part One - Preparation
Published 3/22/2017We’ve executed hundreds and hundreds of projects at Endertech since our founding in 2000, and as I reflect upon all that experience, it occurs to me that our most successful projects have a few things in common.
Management - Magento Deployment for Major Athletic Apparel Maker
Magento Deployment for Major Athletic Apparel Maker
Published 6/23/2016Design - Rebrand & Drupal 8 CMS for Doyle, the Famous New York Auction House
Rebrand & Drupal 8 CMS for Doyle, the Famous New York Auction House
Published 5/30/2016Endertech designed, developed, and deployed a Drupal 8 website for the famous auction house Doyle New York. Learn about this amazing platform and client.
SoftwareDesign - Your Content Management System... More Than What Your Users See
Your Content Management System... More Than What Your Users See
Published 5/6/2016The design phase of your CMS is an opportunity to review your workflows, your decision making processes, and improve the way you operate and express your business. We discuss the factors to consider during the design phase.
Design - What is an API and What Can it Do?
What is an API and What Can it Do?
Published 5/4/2016Brief article explaining the benefits of API development for your software project. Learning the basics of API integrations in order to develop a more powerful software. Better data and better functionality can be expected from API development projects.
Software - The Imagine 2016 Conference Welcomes Magic, Magento 2, & Magento Enterprise Cloud
The Imagine 2016 Conference Welcomes Magic, Magento 2, & Magento Enterprise Cloud
Published 4/15/2016Endertech attended Imagine 2016, the Magento conference in Las Vegas at the Wynn this year. Magento Enterprise Cloud was announced and Magento 2 matures.
E-Commerce - Defining Great Web Design
Defining Great Web Design
Published 12/17/2015Design - What is Great Software Development?
What is Great Software Development?
Published 12/17/2015You don't have to be a developer to understand what great software development looks like. Understanding it, sets standards & expectations.
Software - Why Aren't Drupal 8 Menus Part of Configuration Management?!
Why Aren't Drupal 8 Menus Part of Configuration Management?!
Published 9/24/2015Encouraging input about best practices in managing deployment of menu items across environments in Drupal 8 site development.
SoftwareDesign - Drupal 8, Grounded in Symfony
Drupal 8, Grounded in Symfony
Published 4/10/2015Drupal is a powerful open-source and flexible content management system (that's why we love working with it). But lets face it, it's earlier versions have a few "wrinkles."
Software - Achieving PCI Compliance for SAQ D with Amazon AWS
Achieving PCI Compliance for SAQ D with Amazon AWS
Published 3/19/2015What do you do when your merchant account insists on PCI compliance? Read on to find out how we went from SAQ A to SAQ D in 30 days!
E-CommerceCloud - Using PHPCR and Its Sidekick, Jackalope
Using PHPCR and Its Sidekick, Jackalope
Published 3/17/2015In this post, we'll dig a little deeper in how the PHP Content Repository works with its sidekick Jackalope. You’ll see that its applications extend beyond content management and that a design based on the PHPCR offers tremendous flexibility.
Software - Symfony CMF vs WordPress CMS
Symfony CMF vs WordPress CMS
Published 2/18/2015WordPress is well-known the world over for its relative ease-of-use and plug-and-go capabilities. Businesses of all shapes and sizes use this content management system for all sorts of websites, from content sites to lead generation to e-commerce or even social networks.
Software - Load Testing the Scalability of Your App & Infrastructure
Load Testing the Scalability of Your App & Infrastructure
Published 2/4/2015When building web apps that need to support a multitude of users, simulate that traffic efficiently & realistically by load testing on your infrastructure.
Cloud - Ecommerce Tips: How to Prepare for a Successful Holiday Season
Ecommerce Tips: How to Prepare for a Successful Holiday Season
Published 8/14/2014Successfully launching an Ecommerce site for the Holiday Season requires sufficient lead time for business planning, building your site and carefully rolling it out before the "stresses" of Cyber Monday.
E-Commerce - Why Your Small Business Needs a Web Based Database
Why Your Small Business Needs a Web Based Database
Published 7/9/2014Website Database Applications & Open Source Software provide Small Businesses with opportunities to efficiently and effectively maintain information management systems online instead of on a single location system or as space eating paper documents in file cabinets.
- What's Wrong With My Web Font?
What's Wrong With My Web Font?
Published 7/1/20143 things to keep in mind when choosing a web font to ensure users are getting the design experience that you intended.
- Quick Overview of Drupal for Beginners & How To Get Started
Quick Overview of Drupal for Beginners & How To Get Started
Published 6/26/2014Overview of open source content management platform Drupal for beginners looking to get started, including explanation of nodes, content types, modules and core.
Software - Choosing a Crowdfunding Platform
Choosing a Crowdfunding Platform
Published 6/13/2014Choosing a crowdfunding platform that's best for your campaign is no small task since popular platforms may appear identical, but that impression dissipates upon further examination.
Software - Multiple Inserts with Prepared Statements in Symfony 1.4
Multiple Inserts with Prepared Statements in Symfony 1.4
Published 6/6/2014Using Prepared Statements in Symfony1.4 instead of other methods such as doInsert or creating an object in a loop.
Software - Multiple Inserts with Prepared Statements in Symfony 1.4
Multiple Inserts with Prepared Statements in Symfony 1.4
Published 6/6/2014Using Prepared Statements in Symfony1.4 instead of other methods such as doInsert or creating an object in a loop.
- Data Security: Do I Need an SSL Certificate?
Data Security: Do I Need an SSL Certificate?
Published 4/17/2014The potential need for an SSL Certificate is an important consideration for any website that handles visitor information in order to protect it and assure visitors that their sensitive data is being sent to the correct source rather than to a criminal enterprise.
- Why PCI Compliance is Vital to Your Business
Why PCI Compliance is Vital to Your Business
Published 4/10/2014PCI compliance is important to any business that accepts credit or debit cards in order to maintain the security of customer accounts and customer relations as well as to avoid security breaches and their resulting financial impacts.
- The "What" of MySQL ENUMs (as well as the "Why"?)
The "What" of MySQL ENUMs (as well as the "Why"?)
Published 4/3/2014An explanation of the MySQL Enum ("enumeration") data type including a discussion of its practicality, advantages and disadvantages, usage examples and alternatives.
Software - How Symfony1.4 Provides a Route to a Better URL
How Symfony1.4 Provides a Route to a Better URL
Published 2/13/2014An explanation of how a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") is affected by the Symfony1.4 framework including a discussion of route patterns, request URL translation and URL creation via Symfony1.4.
Web Development - Add a Website to Your New Business
Add a Website to Your New Business
Published 1/22/2014Discussion of the process involved in adding a website to a new business including one-size-fits-all versus customization, collaborative process with website developers, waterfall and agile development methodologies and potential goals of a new business website.
SoftwareDesignMarketing - Intro to Payment Gateways for Your Crowdfunding Site
Intro to Payment Gateways for Your Crowdfunding Site
Published 1/16/2014How to determine the best Payment Gateways for your Crowdfunding Site including discussion of "all-or-nothing" and "partial credit" models and comparisons of payment service providers WePay, Balanced and PayPal.
SoftwareE-Commerce - Will an Off-the-Shelf Solution Work for Your Social Network Web Design?
Will an Off-the-Shelf Solution Work for Your Social Network Web Design?
Published 1/10/2014Overview of whether an Off-the-Shelf Solution will work for various Social Network Web Designs, including discussion of the pros and cons of Ning and Elgg compared to customizable solutions.
Design - Planning Your E-Commerce Shipping & Customer Service Policies
Planning Your E-Commerce Shipping & Customer Service Policies
Published 1/9/2014Discussion of shipping charges & customer service policies for a business adding e-commerce to its brick & mortar. Topics include whether customer or business will bear shipping costs, how customers will contact you online and policies for responding.
E-CommerceMarketing - 3 Reasons to Consider the LAMP Solution Stack
3 Reasons to Consider the LAMP Solution Stack
Published 1/6/2014Three Bottom Line Reasons to Consider the LAMP Solution Stack including an explanation of LAMP, a discussion of its open source nature and the advantages of the absence of vendor lock in.
Software - What a $7 Million Investment Says About Symfony
What a $7 Million Investment Says About Symfony
Published 12/27/2013An analysis of the $7 Million investment into SensioLabs by CM-CIC Capital Privé and what such means for the future of Symfony both abroad and in the United States.
Software - Can a Minimum Viable Product Be a Building Block for Your Business?
Can a Minimum Viable Product Be a Building Block for Your Business?
Published 12/17/2013Discussion of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as the building block for a business. Topics covered include cost efficient and timely feedback, use by startups and relation to crowd funding websites.
- What's the Plan to “Staff Up” Your New E-Commerce Business?
What's the Plan to “Staff Up” Your New E-Commerce Business?
Published 11/25/2013Giving consideration during the e-commerce planning process to the “people power” required for the addition of online sales. Options discussed include engaging employees or freelancers, outsourcing to development firms and "off the shelf" products.
E-Commerce - Is Ecommerce an Option for your Brick & Mortar?
Is Ecommerce an Option for your Brick & Mortar?
Published 11/18/2013An outline of initial steps in the planning process for a brick and mortar operation considering an e-commerce presence, including which businesses lend themselves to e-commerce, analyzing potential competition in cyberspace, and the concept of differentiation in the online marketplace.
E-Commerce - Editable DataGrid with jQuery
Editable DataGrid with jQuery
Published 10/18/2012An explanation and example of creating an editable datagrid from scratch using jQuery while working in SlickGrid.
Software - PHPStorm Blows in with a Whirlwind of Code Prowess
PHPStorm Blows in with a Whirlwind of Code Prowess
Published 10/17/2012PHPStorm is an Integrated Development Environment ("IDE") optimized for the PHP coding platform and has many more pros than cons when it comes to an IDE. PHPStorm is an Integrated Development Environment ("IDE") optimized for the PHP coding platform and has many more pros than cons when it comes to an IDE.
Software - The Truth About Magento and Entity-Attribute-Value
The Truth About Magento and Entity-Attribute-Value
Published 11/23/2011Magento is a serious e-commerce solution, built from the ground up for the kind of business logic that e-tailers use day in and day out. Magento is structured as an infinitely flexible shopping cart and product management system.
- Google Earth DIV Overlay via iframe Shim
Google Earth DIV Overlay via iframe Shim
Published 10/9/2009Steps for creating a div overlay on top of a Google Earth browser plugin rendering.
Web Development
