---
id: create-a-plugin
title: Create a Backstage Plugin
description: Documentation on How to Create a Backstage Plugin
---

:::caution Legacy Documentation

This page describes creating plugins for the **old frontend system**. For creating plugins using the new frontend system, see [Building Frontend Plugins](../frontend-system/building-plugins/01-index.md). For creating backend plugins, see [Building Backend Plugins and Modules](../backend-system/building-plugins-and-modules/01-index.md).

:::

A Backstage Plugin adds functionality to Backstage.

## Create a Plugin

To create a new frontend plugin, make sure you've run `yarn install` and installed
dependencies, then run the following on your command line (a shortcut to
invoking the
[`backstage-cli new --select plugin`](../tooling/cli/03-commands.md#new))
from the root of your project.

```bash
yarn new
```

And then select `frontend-plugin`.

![Example of output when creating a new plugin](../assets/getting-started/create-plugin_output.png)

This will create a new Backstage Plugin based on the ID that was provided. It
will be built and added to the Backstage App automatically.

> If the Backstage App is already running (with `yarn start`) you
> should be able to see the default page for your new plugin directly by
> navigating to `http://localhost:3000/my-plugin`.

![Example of new plugin running in browser](../assets/plugins/my-plugin_screenshot.png)

You can also serve the plugin in isolation by running `yarn start` in the plugin
directory. Or by using the yarn workspace command, for example:

```bash
yarn workspace @backstage/plugin-my-plugin start # Also supports --check
```

This method of serving the plugin provides quicker iteration speed and a faster
startup and hot reloads. It is only meant for local development, and the setup
for it can be found inside the plugin's `dev/` directory.

### Other Plugin Library Package Types

There are other plugin library package types that you can chose from. To be able to
select the type when you create a new plugin just run: `yarn new`. You'll then be asked
what type of plugin you wish to create like this:

![List of available plugin types to pick from](../assets/plugins/create-plugin_types.png)