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How to use the Developer plugin

Create custom functionality inside your app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with optional AI-generated code for rapid development.

How to use the Developer plugin

Create custom functionality inside your app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with optional AI-generated code for rapid development.

The Developer plugin gives you full control to build lightweight, single-page (widget) features and their corresponding plugin editor (control) directly inside Buildfire. It uses your custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and supports interactions with installed features through the Buildfire SDK. This plugin is designed for simple, embedded tools — not full plugin development.

Best Suited For

Not Recommended For

Simple, single-page plugins that rely on Buildfire functionality

Plugins with large or complex logic

Informational or static content (e.g., announcement pages)

Framework-based projects (e.g., Angular, React)

Lightweight interactive tools (calculators, converters)

Multi-page plugins

Quizzes, trivia games, countdown timers

Plugins needing background services (Buildfire background services)

Feedback, rating, or survey pages

  

Visual or design experiments for quick testing

  

UI previews or layout mockups

 

Pages interacting with a few APIs (retrieve/save data)

 

Plugins interacting with installed native features (camera, local notifications)

 

 

Requirements

  • This is a Maximize plugin, available on the Growth and Scale plans
  • Adding custom code is performed at your own risk — Buildfire does not review, test, or support custom code

How to use the Developer plugin

  1. Log in, go to Builder in the left navigation
  2. Click the + button to open the Plugin Marketplace
    • Search for Developer, then click Add Plugin
    • Name your plugin and choose whether to add it to the side menu, then click Add again
  3. Acknowledge the custom-code warning
    • Confirm that all code and issues are owned by you
    • Accept that Buildfire does not provide support for custom code
  4. Stay in the Content tab. Choose how you want to build your code:
    • Use Create with AI
      1. By default, the Create with AI toggle will be turned on
      2. Describe what you want to build in a detailed prompt in the chat box to create your Plugin Widget
      3. Press enter and AI will generate editable HTML/CSS/JS for you. This may take a few minutes
      4. Continue to use the AI chat function to make changes
      5. To use AI to generate your Plugin Control click Plugin Control and use the chat box to describe what fields you’d like to create
      6. Note: these fields can directly correspond to values/information in your widget
      7. When you’ve completed your feature, click Publish Plugin
        1. Our AI will create a name and a description for your feature based on your conversation, but you can edit it to whatever you’d like
      8. Use the default Icon, or upload your own Plugin Icon
    • Create your own code
      1. Write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript directly in the code editor
      2. Toggle Auto-Run off if you prefer manual execution
      3. Use the SDK Docs to access available Buildfire functions
      4. Configure your plugin with native Buildfire features using our plugin.json file
      5. When you’ve completed your feature, click Publish Plugin
    • If you’d like to clone your plugin to make changes and publish as a new plugin 
      1. Select the Developer Plugin instance of your new feature in the left side plugin list
      2. Click the three dots to open your settings menu on the plugin you wish to duplicate
      3. Select Duplicate Plugin
      4. Add a title to your new, duplicated plugin
      5. Pick up working on your plugin either in the code terminal or with the AI coding assistant

Pro tips

  • Our AI agent will automatically create Major Versions (v1) and Minor Versions (v1.1).
    • Major Versions are created when you publish your plugin 
    • Minor Versions are created whenever you modify your plugin through AI chat or when you manually select “Create new version”. 
  • When you complete the “Publish Plugin” step, it will appear in your left side plugin list. It will also appear in your unique plugin marketplace. Note: It won’t appear in the public Buildfire Marketplace
  • Properly naming your new plugin when you go to publish will help you keep it organized 
  • The App Preview may not reflect live device behavior, so always test on a physical device