# How to get started developing plugins? This is the quick start guide from the [obsidian sample plugin readme](https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-sample-plugin): 1. Make a copy of this repo as a template with the "Use this template" button (login to GitHub if you don't see it). ![[github-use-template-repo.png]] 2. Clone your repo to a local development folder. For convenience, you can place this folder in your `.obsidian/plugins/your-plugin-name` folder. 3. Install NodeJS, then run `npm i` in the command line under your repo folder. 4. Run `npm run dev` to compile your plugin from `main.ts` to `main.js`. 5. Make changes to `main.ts` (or create new `.ts` files). Those changes should be automatically compiled into `main.js`. 6. Reload Obsidian to load the new version of your plugin. 7. Enable plugin in settings window. 8. For updates to the Obsidian API run `npm update` in the command line under your repo folder. %% Hub footer: Please don't edit anything below this line %% # This note in GitHub <span class="git-footer">[Edit In GitHub](https://github.dev/obsidian-community/obsidian-hub/blob/main/04%20-%20Guides%2C%20Workflows%2C%20%26%20Courses/Guides/How%20to%20get%20started%20developing%20plugins.md "git-hub-edit-note") | [Copy this note](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obsidian-community/obsidian-hub/main/04%20-%20Guides%2C%20Workflows%2C%20%26%20Courses/Guides/How%20to%20get%20started%20developing%20plugins.md "git-hub-copy-note") | [Download this vault](https://github.com/obsidian-community/obsidian-hub/archive/refs/heads/main.zip "git-hub-download-vault") </span>