Can I directly edit core files?

For example, if I want to make changes to

views/common/HeaderLinks.cshtml

Can I just make the changes directly to this file? Or do I need to copy this file into my theme and make the edits there like you would in a wordpress child theme?

hi,

You can make the changes directly.

kava wrote:

Great thank you. Will these changes stay active if I upgrade NOP in the future?

It depends on how you do the upgrade. If you copy all new chstml theme over the previous you lost all change.

dan0788 wrote:

I would recommend to create copy of default theme, and make your changes over there.
Add changes to the default view pages wouldn't best practices. And further more, when you upgrade nopCommerce version you just have to add new changes of that particular view pages instead of doing all changes again in new version pages.

This is what theme is for!