This article will guide you through quickly developing an Extension type plugin to help you understand the basic plugin development process.

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Prerequisites

  • Dify plugin scaffolding tool
  • Python environment, version ≥ 3.12

For detailed instructions on preparing the plugin development scaffolding tool, please refer to Initializing Development Tools.

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Creating a New Project

In the current path, run the scaffolding command line tool to create a new Dify plugin project.

./dify-plugin-darwin-arm64 plugin init

If you have renamed the binary file to dify and copied it to the /usr/local/bin path, you can run the following command to create a new plugin project:

dify plugin init

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Filling in Plugin Information

Follow the prompts to configure the plugin name, author information, and plugin description. If you are working collaboratively as a team, you can also enter an organization name as the author.

The plugin name must be 1-128 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.

Once completed, select Python as the plugin development language.

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3. Select Plugin Type and Initialize Project Template

All templates in the scaffolding tool provide complete code projects. For demonstration purposes, this article will use the Extension type plugin template as an example. For developers already familiar with plugin development, templates are not necessary, and you can refer to the interface documentation to guide the development of different types of plugins.

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Configure Plugin Permissions

The plugin also needs permissions to read from the Dify main platform to connect properly. Grant the following permissions to this example plugin:

  • Tools
  • LLMs
  • Apps
  • Enable persistent storage Storage, allocate default size storage
  • Allow registering Endpoints

Use the arrow keys in the terminal to select permissions, and use the “Tab” button to grant permissions.

After checking all permission items, press Enter to complete the plugin creation. The system will automatically generate the plugin project code.

The basic file structure of the plugin includes the following:

.
├── GUIDE.md
├── README.md
├── _assets
│   └── icon.svg
├── endpoints
│   ├── your-project.py
│   └── your-project.yaml
├── group
│   └── your-project.yaml
├── main.py
├── manifest.yaml
└── requirements.txt
  • GUIDE.md A short tutorial guiding you through the plugin writing process.
  • README.md Brief introduction about the current plugin, where you need to fill in the introduction and usage instructions for the plugin.
  • _assets Stores all multimedia files related to the current plugin.
  • endpoints An Extension type plugin template created according to the CLI guidance, this directory stores all Endpoint implementation code.
  • group Specifies the key type, multilingual settings, and the file path of the API definition.
  • main.py The entry file for the entire project.
  • manifest.yaml The basic configuration file for the entire plugin, containing configuration information such as what permissions the plugin needs and what type of extension it is.
  • requirements.txt Stores Python environment dependencies.

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Developing the Plugin

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1. Define the Plugin’s Request Entry Point (Endpoint)

Edit endpoints/test_plugin.yaml, referring to the following code for modification:

path: "/neko"
method: "GET"
extra:
  python:
    source: "endpoints/test_plugin.py"

The intent of this code is to define the entry path for the plugin as /neko, with the request method as GET type. The plugin’s functional implementation code is in the endpoints/test_plugin.py file.

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2. Write Plugin Functionality

Plugin functionality: Request service, output a Nyan Cat.

Write the plugin’s functional implementation code in the endpoints/test_plugin.py file, referring to the following example code:

from typing import Mapping
from werkzeug import Request, Response
from flask import Flask, render_template_string
from dify_plugin import Endpoint

app = Flask(__name__)

class NekoEndpoint(Endpoint):
    def _invoke(self, r: Request, values: Mapping, settings: Mapping) -> Response:
        ascii_art = '''
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜⬜️⬜️️
🟥🟥⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬛🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜⬜️️
🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥⬛️🥧🥧🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟🥧🥧🥧⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜⬜️️
🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥⬛️🥧🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟🍓💟💟🍓💟💟💟💟💟🥧🥧⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️️
🟧🟧🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥⬛🥧💟💟🍓💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟🥧⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜⬜️️
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️⬛️💟💟🍓💟💟🥧⬛️⬜️⬛️️⬛️️⬜⬜️️
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫⬛💟💟💟💟🥧⬛️⬛️🌫🌫⬛⬜️️
🟨🟨🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟧⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️🟧🟧⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟🍓💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛💟💟💟🥧⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛⬜️️
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬛️🟧⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫⬛⬜️️
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬛️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬛️⬛️🥧💟💟💟🍓💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫⬛⬜️️
🟩🟩🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨🟨⬛⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟🍓⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫⬛️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️🥧💟🍓💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬜️⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫⬜️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️
️🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛️⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛️🌫⬛️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️
🟦🟦🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛️⬛️🥧💟💟💟💟💟🍓💟💟⬛🌫🟥🟥🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🟥🟥⬛️
🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦⬛️🥧🥧💟🍓💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🟥🟥🌫⬛️🌫🌫⬛️🌫🌫⬛️🌫🟥🟥⬛️
🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦⬛️🥧🥧🥧💟💟💟💟💟💟💟⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬜️
🟪🟪🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦⬛️⬛️⬛️🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧⬛️🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫🌫⬛️⬜️⬜️
🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛️🌫🌫🌫⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️
🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬛️⬜️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬜️⬛️🌫🌫⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️
⬜️⬜️🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛⬜️⬜️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬜️⬜️⬛️⬛️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️️
        '''
        ascii_art_lines = ascii_art.strip().split('\n')
        with app.app_context():
            return Response(render_template_string('''
    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
        <style>
            body {
                background-color: black;
                color: white;
                overflow: hidden;
                margin: 0;
                padding: 0;
            }
            #ascii-art {
                font-family: monospace;
                white-space: pre;
                position: absolute;
                top: 50%;
                transform: translateY(-50%);
                display: inline-block;
                font-size: 16px;
                line-height: 1;
            }
        </style>
    </head>
    <body>
        <div id="ascii-art"></div>
        <script>
            var asciiArtLines = {{ ascii_art_lines | tojson }};
            var asciiArtDiv = document.getElementById("ascii-art");
            var index = 0;
            function displayNextLine() {
                if (index < asciiArtLines.length) {
                    var line = asciiArtLines[index];
                    var lineElement = document.createElement("div");
                    lineElement.innerHTML = line;
                    asciiArtDiv.appendChild(lineElement);
                    index++;
                    setTimeout(displayNextLine, 100);
                } else {
                    animateCat();
                }
            }
            function animateCat() {
                var pos = 0;
                var screenWidth = window.innerWidth;
                var catWidth = asciiArtDiv.offsetWidth;
                function move() {
                    asciiArtDiv.style.left = pos + "px";
                    pos += 2;
                    if (pos > screenWidth) {
                        pos = -catWidth;
                    }
                    requestAnimationFrame(move);
                }
                move();
            }
            displayNextLine();
        </script>
    </body>
    </html>
        ''', ascii_art_lines=ascii_art_lines), status=200, content_type="text/html")

To run this code, you need to first install the following Python dependency packages:

pip install werkzeug
pip install flask
pip install dify-plugin

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Debugging the Plugin

Next, you need to test whether the plugin can function properly. Dify provides a remote debugging method. Go to the “Plugin Management” page to obtain the debugging Key and remote server address.

Return to the plugin project, copy the .env.example file and rename it to .env, then fill in the remote server address and debugging Key information you obtained.

.env file

INSTALL_METHOD=remote
REMOTE_INSTALL_HOST=remote
REMOTE_INSTALL_PORT=5003
REMOTE_INSTALL_KEY=****-****-****-****-****

Run the python -m main command to start the plugin. On the plugins page, you can see that the plugin has been installed in the Workspace. Other team members can also access the plugin.

Add a new Endpoint in the plugin, fill in the name and api_key information as desired. Visit the automatically generated URL to see the web service provided by the plugin.

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Packaging the Plugin

After confirming that the plugin can run normally, you can package and name the plugin using the following command line tool. After running, you will discover a neko.difypkg file in the current folder, which is the final plugin package.

# Replace ./neko with the actual path of the plugin project

dify plugin package ./neko

Congratulations, you have completed the entire process of developing, testing, and packaging a plugin!

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Publishing the Plugin

Now you can upload it to the Dify Plugins code repository to publish your plugin! Before uploading, please ensure that your plugin follows the plugin publishing specifications. After the review is approved, the code will be merged into the main branch and automatically launched to the Dify Marketplace.

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Explore More

Quick Start:

Plugin Interface Documentation:

Best Practices:

Developing a Slack Bot Plugin

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