<p>You can have <a href="https://pluginfactory.io" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://pluginfactory.io</a> generate the Craft CMS plugin framework for you.</p>

<p>If you're writing a plugin for Craft CMS 3, this may help you as well: <a href="https://nystudio107.com/blog/so-you-wanna-make-a-craft-3-plugin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">So You Wanna Make a Craft 3 Plugin?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-06-24T21:55:56.653Z
2018-08-28T03:26:40.370Z
2018-08-28T03:26:40.370Z
andrew.welch
<p>You can find the plugin development docs <a href="http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/plugins/introduction">here</a></p>

<p>There is also the <a href="https://github.com/adrianmacneil/cocktailrecipes/">cocktail recipes plugin by Adrian Macneil</a> inspired on the docs</p>

<p>Both will give you a pretty good understanding of how plugins, controllers, models, services, ... work</p>

<p>You can also find lots of free / open source plugins on <a href="http://straightupcraft.com/craft-plugins">straightupcraft</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-24T22:11:13.603Z
I know this answer is a couple years old, so no disrespect... but at this point, the Cocktail Recipes plugin is extremely outdated, and shouldn't be used as a reference point for learning plugin development.
Lindsey D
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-24T11:53:55.383Z
@LindseyD Do you know if there is a Craft 3 plugin that would be good to start learning plugin development? I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now.
Jim Pannell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-17T08:37:26.220Z
2014-12-17T08:37:26.220Z
Steven Vandemoortele
<p>I wrote an article with introductory topics on <a href="https://zadroweb.com/blog/building-a-craft-cms-plugin/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">building a Craft CMS 4 plugin</a> and welcome any feedback.</p>
<p>Exploring GitHub repos for existing Craft plugins is also a great way to learn.</p>
<p>And finally, joining Craft's Discord has excellent discussion and support.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-01-13T23:55:55.930Z
2024-01-13T23:55:55.930Z
Dario Zadro
<p>We just published a video course on Craft plugin development that might help you. <a href="https://craftquest.io/courses/how-to-create-craft-plugin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://craftquest.io/courses/how-to-create-craft-plugin</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-16T17:38:38.307Z
Pay almost 50 bucks for the lack of documentation? That's ridiculous.
Stalinko
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-17T16:45:03.580Z
@Stalinko Why shouldn't they charge for their work? Confused. It's not like it's a video made by the developers of Craft
Chuck Le Butt
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-18T06:24:23.400Z
@ChuckLeButt if those guys aren't affiliated with Craft then I don't blame them. Rather I blame Craft makers in this case.
Stalinko
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-12-08T10:13:08.730Z
@Stalinko There has been documentation for plugin development dating back to when this question was asked, but it has improved dramatically since then. (It's been almost 10 years, so it better have!) https://craftcms.com/docs/4.x/extend/
Todd Prouty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-06-03T14:17:52.637Z
2023-10-18T04:30:58.847Z
2023-10-18T04:30:58.847Z
CraftQuest
<p>I understand Craft Templating pretty well, but when it comes to programmation I am entirely lost, I don't get how it works. I used to use CodeIgniter a lot, which is a MVC as you guys may know. In CodeIgniter, everything goes through the controller, then in the controller, I call models. In models, I interact with database and then return the data to the controller and then display a view. In Craft, it doesn't seems to work like this. Is there any good tutorials for "programming" in Craft or develop a plugin? Like how controllers, models, services and events works? Or is there any good people willing to help me?</p>

<p>I want to use Craft so much, I just need to understand it before I use it at large for my client's projects.</p>

<p>I appreciate your help.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-16T20:35:48.637Z
This seems to be a duplicate of [this question](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/1824/are-there-any-beginner-craft-tutorials). See if that doesn't help. If you have a more specific question, please ask — we'll be glad to help. Additionally, you might want to check out a plugin called BusinessLogic which provides a nice plugin template for getting started.
Douglas McDonald
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-16T21:21:56.710Z
Hi, thanks for your answer. I did some reverse engineering on a plugin to see how things work. It seems that "models" in codeIgniter are "services" in Craft and "models" are used to validate data. I can accomplish what I need to do but it would be great if I could understand the basics.
JeePee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-16T21:42:01.020Z
Check out the [plugin development docs](http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/plugins/introduction). They provide a pretty good overview of the different components.
Douglas McDonald
<plugin-development><resources>
Any good tutorial for plugin developement? I am entirely lost
# Any good tutorial for plugin developement? I am entirely lost

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-16)

I understand Craft Templating pretty well, but when it comes to programmation I am entirely lost, I don't get how it works. I used to use CodeIgniter a lot, which is a MVC as you guys may know. In CodeIgniter, everything goes through the controller, then in the controller, I call models. In models, I interact with database and then return the data to the controller and then display a view. In Craft, it doesn't seems to work like this. Is there any good tutorials for "programming" in Craft or develop a plugin? Like how controllers, models, services and events works? Or is there any good people willing to help me?

I want to use Craft so much, I just need to understand it before I use it at large for my client's projects.

I appreciate your help.

**Tags:** plugin-development, resources

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This seems to be a duplicate of [this question](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/1824/are-there-any-beginner-craft-tutorials). See if that doesn't help. If you have a more specific question, please ask — we'll be glad to help. Additionally, you might want to check out a plugin called BusinessLogic which provides a nice plugin template for getting started.  
> **username_0**: Hi, thanks for your answer. I did some reverse engineering on a plugin to see how things work. It seems that "models" in codeIgniter are "services" in Craft and "models" are used to validate data. I can accomplish what I need to do but it would be great if I could understand the basics.  
> **username_1**: Check out the [plugin development docs](http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/plugins/introduction). They provide a pretty good overview of the different components.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2015-06-03. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

We just published a video course on Craft plugin development that might help you. <https://craftquest.io/courses/how-to-create-craft-plugin>

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: Pay almost 50 bucks for the lack of documentation? That's ridiculous.  
> **username_9**: @username_8 Why shouldn't they charge for their work? Confused. It's not like it's a video made by the developers of Craft  
> **username_8**: @ChuckLeButt if those guys aren't affiliated with Craft then I don't blame them. Rather I blame Craft makers in this case.  
> **username_10**: @username_8 There has been documentation for plugin development dating back to when this question was asked, but it has improved dramatically since then. (It's been almost 10 years, so it better have!) https://craftcms.com/docs/4.x/extend/  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-06-24. Score: 7

You can have <https://pluginfactory.io> generate the Craft CMS plugin framework for you.

If you're writing a plugin for Craft CMS 3, this may help you as well: [So You Wanna Make a Craft 3 Plugin?](https://nystudio107.com/blog/so-you-wanna-make-a-craft-3-plugin)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-12-17. Score: 6

You can find the plugin development docs [here](http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/plugins/introduction)

There is also the [cocktail recipes plugin by Adrian Macneil](https://github.com/adrianmacneil/cocktailrecipes/) inspired on the docs

Both will give you a pretty good understanding of how plugins, controllers, models, services, ... work

You can also find lots of free / open source plugins on [straightupcraft](http://straightupcraft.com/craft-plugins).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I know this answer is a couple years old, so no disrespect... but at this point, the Cocktail Recipes plugin is extremely outdated, and shouldn't be used as a reference point for learning plugin development.  
> **username_5**: @LindseyD Do you know if there is a Craft 3 plugin that would be good to start learning plugin development? I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2024-01-13. Score: 1

I wrote an article with introductory topics on [building a Craft CMS 4 plugin](https://zadroweb.com/blog/building-a-craft-cms-plugin/) and welcome any feedback.

Exploring GitHub repos for existing Craft plugins is also a great way to learn.

And finally, joining Craft's Discord has excellent discussion and support.


---

