# Writing Plugins

Keep your plugins as cross-framework compatible as possible. Here are some suggestions to make installing and using your plugin as simple as possible, no matter what framework someone is using.

1. Make using your plugin easier for everyone and put the plugin file at the root level of your plugin repository instead of hiding it in a subdirectory. This allows [oh-my-zsh](https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh) users to install it with a simple `git clone git@github.com:you/yourplugin.git` in the `custom/plugins` directory and also lets [Antigen](https://github.com/zsh-users/antigen) and [zgen](https://github.com/tarjoilija/zgen) users automatically clone the repository without having to specify a subdirectory path.

2. Only oh-my-zsh sets the `${ZSH_CUSTOM}` variable. Relying on your plugin being in `${ZSH_CUSTOM}/yourPluginName` will make your plugin not work with anything but oh-my-zsh. `$(dirname $0)` will tell you what directory your plugin is actually installed in, is cross-framework and won't break when a user inevitably renames your plugin directory.

3. Don't assume your plugin will be checked out into a directory with the same name you gave the plugin. This is another case where `$(dirname ${0})` will work and `${ZSH_CUSTOM}/hardcoded-directory-name` will fail miserably.

4. Use `yourplugin.plugin.zsh` for the main plugin file. This is what [oh-my-zsh](https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh) looks for. [Antigen](https://github.com/zsh-users/antigen), [zgen](https://github.com/tarjoilija/zgen) and most other ZSH frameworks will also automatically load that filename.

5. If you’re making a theme, include a screenshot so prospective users can see what it looks like without having to install it.

6. If your plugin adds any of its subdirectories to the `fpath`, make sure those subdirectories only contain function definition files. This allows for frameworks to correctly [zcompile all functions](http://zsh.sourceforge.net/Doc/Release/Functions.html#Autoloading-Functions). Don't make your plugin add its root directory to the `fpath`.

6. Don't forget to add a license. [choosealicense.com](https://choosealicense.com) is a good tool to help you pick one.

7. Submit a PR here so your plugin is easy to find :-)