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https://github.com/nativescript/nativescript-plugin-seed

Get started building NativeScript plugins quickly.
https://github.com/nativescript/nativescript-plugin-seed

nativescript plugin plugins seed

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Get started building NativeScript plugins quickly.

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README 

        
# Develop a NativeScript plugin [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed)



> This repo is heavily based on [@NathanWalker](https://github.com/NathanWalker)'s [Plugin Seed](https://github.com/NathanWalker/nativescript-plugin-seed). Thanks, Nathan!



- [TL;DR](#tldr)

- [Long Description](#long-description)

    - [What is NativeScript plugin seed?](#what-is-nativescript-plugin-seed)

    - [Plugin folder structure](#plugin-folder-structure)

    - [Getting started](#getting-started)

        - [Development setup](#development-setup)

    - [Linking to CocoaPod or Android Arsenal plugins](#linking-to-cocoapod-or-android-arsenal-plugins)

        - [Generating typings for iOS](#generating-typings-for-ios)

        - [Generating typings for Android](#generating-typings-for-android)

    - [Clean plugin and demo files](#clean-plugin-and-demo-files)

    - [Unittesting](#unittesting)

    - [Publish to NPM](#publish-to-npm)

    - [TravisCI](#travisci)

    - [Referring tns-core-modules in the Plugin](#referring-tns-core-modules-in-the-plugin)

- [Contribute](#contribute)

- [Get Help](#get-help)



## TL;DR

The NativeScript plugin seed is built to be used as a starting point by NativeScript plugin developers. To bootstrap your plugin development execute the following:



1. `git clone https://github.com/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed nativescript-yourplugin` where `nativescript-yourplugin` is the name of your plugin.

2. `cd nativescript-yourplugin/src`

3. `npm run postclone`

4. `npm run demo.ios` or `npm run demo.android` to run the demo.



## Long Description



### What is NativeScript plugin seed?



The NativeScript plugin seed is built to be used as a starting point by NativeScript plugin developers.

What does the seed give you out of the box?

* the plugin structure with option for easy development and debugging (see [Development setup section](#Developmentsetup) below)

* a simple working plugin

* a demo project working with the plugin. It is useful during development and for running tests via Travis CI

* a guideline how to structure your plugin README file that will be published to NPM

* a shell script to create your plugin package

* a proper `.gitignore` to keep GitHub tidy 

* a proper `.npmignore` to ensure everyone is happy when you publish your plugin to NPM.



![Plugin seed demo](https://github.com/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed/blob/master/screenshots/demo.png?raw=true)



### Plugin folder structure 



|Folder/File name| Description

|---|---|

|demo| The plugin demo source code (optional during __postclone__ setup)|

|demo-angular| The plugin demo source code (optional during __postclone__ setup)|

|src| The plugin source code|

|src/platform/android| Plugin Android specific configuration|

|src/platform/ios|Plugin ios specific configuration|

|src/README|Your plugin README stub explaining how other developers can use your plugin in their applications. Used when you publish your plugin to NPM. On postclone step, the README in the root is replaced with this one.|

|src/scripts|The postclone script run when you execute `npm run postclone`. Feel free to delete it after you have executed the postclone step from the [Getting started](#Gettingstarted) section|

|publish|Contains a shell script to create and publish your package. Read more on creating a package and publishing in the [Publish to NPM](#Publishtonpm) section|



### Getting started



1. Open a command prompt/terminal and execute `git clone https://github.com/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed nativescript-yourplugin` to clone the plugin seed repository into the `nativescript-yourplugin` folder  where `nativescript-yourplugin` is the name of your plugin..

2. Open a command prompt/terminal and navigate to `nativescript-yourplugin/src` folder using `cd nativescript-yourplugin/src`

3. Execute `npm run postclone` to:

    * configure your github username - it will be changed in the package.json for you

    * configure your plugin name - all files and classes in the seed will be renamed for you

    * stub your plugin README.md file

    * add TypeScript NativeScript application which is setup to use your plugin from its local `src` folder

    * add Angular NativeScript application which is setup to use your plugin from its local `src` folder

    * create a new repository for your plugin



Now you can continue with the development of your plugin by using the [Development setup](#Developmentsetup) described below.



**NOTE**: The plugin seed is updated to use the latest version of NativeScript. If you are not ready to upgrade, you can checkout a [tagged version](https://github.com/NativeScript/nativescript-plugin-seed/tags) that is compatible with your NativeScript version.



#### Development setup

For easier development and debugging purposes continue with the following:



Open a command prompt/terminal, navigate to `src` folder and run `npm run demo.ios`, `npm run demo.android`, `npm run demo-angular.ios`, `npm run demo-angular.android` to run the demo applications created during `postclone`.



Now go and make a change to your plugin. It will be automatically applied to the demo project.



**NOTE**: Any changes that you need to make in a native library used in your plugin or in any other files inside `src/platforms` directory such as Info.plist or AndroidManifest.xml can't be directly reflected in the demo applications. You need to use `npm run demo.reset` or `npm run demo-angular.reset` and run the application again.



### Linking to CocoaPod or Android Arsenal plugins



You will want to create these folders and files in the `src` folder in order to use native APIs:



```

platforms --

  ios --

    Podfile

  android --

    include.gradle

```



Doing so will open up those native apis to your plugin :)



Take a look at these existing plugins for how that can be done very simply:



* [nativescript-cardview](https://github.com/bradmartin/nativescript-cardview/tree/master/platforms)

* [nativescript-floatingactionbutton](https://github.com/bradmartin/nativescript-floatingactionbutton/tree/master/src/platforms)



It's highly recommended to generate typings for the native libraries used in your plugin. By generating typings you'll be able to see what APIs exactly are exposed to Javascript and use them easily in your plugin code



#### Generating typings for iOS



- Run the command for typings generation as explained in the [documentation](https://docs.nativescript.org/plugins/Use-Native-iOS-Libraries#troubleshooting)

- Open `demo/typings/x86_64` and copy the `d.ts` files that you plan to use in your plugin to `src/platforms/ios/typings`

- Open `src/references.d.ts` and add a reference to each of the files added to `src/platforms/ios/typings`



**NOTE**: Swift APIs that are not exported to Objective-C are not supported. This means that you can only call APIs from JavaScript that are visible to the Objective-C runtime. This include all Objective-C APIs and only the subset of all Swift APIs that are exposed to Objective-C. So, to use a Swift API (class/function/method etc.) from NativeScript, first make sure that it can be used from Objective-C code. For more information which Swfit APIs can be exposed to Objective-C, see [here](https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/Swift/Conceptual/BuildingCocoaApps/InteractingWithObjective-CAPIs.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40014216-CH4-ID53). 



#### Generating typings for Android



- Clone [Android DTS Generator repo](https://github.com/NativeScript/android-dts-generator)

- Follow the steps in the [README](https://github.com/NativeScript/android-dts-generator/blob/master/README.md)

- Copy the generated d.ts files in `src/platforms/android/typings`. Feel free to rename the generated files for readablity.

- Open  `src/references.d.ts` and add a reference to each of the files added to `src/platforms/android/typings`



### Clean plugin and demo files



Sometimes you may need to wipe away the `src/node_modules`, `demo/node_modules` and `demo/platforms` folders to reinstall them fresh.



* Run `npm run clean` to wipe those clean then you can can run `npm i` to install fresh dependencies.



Sometimes you just need to wipe out the demo's `platforms` directory only:



* Run `npm run demo.reset` or `npm run demo-angular.reset` to delete the application's `platforms` directory only.



Sometimes you may need to ensure plugin files are updated in the demo:



* Run `npm run plugin.prepare` will do a fresh build of the plugin then remove itself from the demo and add it back for assurance.



### Unit testing

In order to add unit testing to the demo applications and in relation to test your plugin inside of them you should follow our latest guide [here](https://docs.nativescript.org/tooling/testing/testing).



### Publish to NPM



When you have everything ready to publish:



* Bump the version number in `src/package.json`

* Go to `publish` and execute `publish.sh` (run `chmod +x *.sh` if the file isn't executable)



If you just want to create a package, go to `publish` folder and execute `pack.sh`. The package will be created in `publish/package` folder.



**NOTE**: To run bash script on Windows you can install [GIT SCM](https://git-for-windows.github.io/) and use Git Bash.



### TravisCI



The plugin structure comes with a fully functional .travis.yml file that deploys the testing app on Android emulator and iOS simulator to make sure that those apps start correctly while your plugin is linked to them. All you have to do, after cloning the repo and implementing your plugin and tests, is to sign up at [https://travis-ci.org/](https://travis-ci.org/). Then enable your plugin's repo on "https://travis-ci.org/profile/" and that's it. Next time a PR is opened or change is committed to a branch TravisCI will trigger a build testing the code.



To properly show current build status you will have to edit the badge at the start of the README.md file so it matches your repo, user and branch. 



## Contribute

We love PRs! Check out the [contributing guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md). If you want to contribute, but you are not sure where to start - look for issues labeled [`help wanted`](https://github.com/NativeScript/tns-core-modules-widgets/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22help+wanted%22).



## Get Help

Please, use [github issues](https://github.com/NativeScript/tns-core-modules-widgets/issues) strictly for [reporting bugs](CONTRIBUTING.md#reporting-bugs) or [requesting features](CONTRIBUTING.md#requesting-new-features). For general questions and support, check out [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/nativescript) or ask our experts in [NativeScript community Slack channel](http://developer.telerik.com/wp-login.php?action=slack-invitation).