ipld-eth-server/vendor/github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/docs/plugins.md
2019-12-02 13:24:46 -06:00

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# Plugins
Since 0.4.11 go-ipfs has an experimental plugin system that allows augmenting
the daemons functionality without recompiling.
When an IPFS node is started, it will load plugins from the `$IPFS_PATH/plugins`
directory (by default `~/.ipfs/plugins`).
**Table of Contents**
- [Plugin Types](#plugin-types)
- [IPLD](#ipld)
- [Datastore](#datastore)
- [Available Plugins](#available-plugins)
- [Installing Plugins](#installing-plugins)
- [External Plugin](#external-plugin)
- [In-tree](#in-tree)
- [Out-of-tree](#out-of-tree)
- [Preloaded Plugins](#preloaded-plugins)
- [Creating A Plugin](#creating-a-plugin)
## Plugin Types
### IPLD
IPLD plugins add support for additional formats to `ipfs dag` and other IPLD
related commands.
### Datastore
Datastore plugins add support for additional datastore backends.
### Tracer
(experimental)
Tracer plugins allow injecting an opentracing backend into go-ipfs.
### Daemon
Daemon plugins are started when the go-ipfs daemon is started and are given an
instance of the CoreAPI. This should make it possible to build an ipfs-based
application without IPC and without forking go-ipfs.
Note: We eventually plan to make go-ipfs usable as a library. However, this
plugin type is likely the best interim solution.
## Available Plugins
| Name | Type | Preloaded | Description |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|------------------------------------------------|
| [git](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tree/master/plugin/plugins/git) | IPLD | x | An IPLD format for git objects. |
| [badgerds](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tree/master/plugin/plugins/badgerds) | Datastore | x | A high performance but experimental datastore. |
| [flatfs](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tree/master/plugin/plugins/flatfs) | Datastore | x | A stable filesystem-based datastore. |
| [levelds](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tree/master/plugin/plugins/levelds) | Datastore | x | A stable, flexible datastore backend. |
| [jaeger](https://github.com/ipfs/go-jaeger-plugin) | Tracing | | An opentracing backend. |
* **Preloaded** plugins are built into the go-ipfs binary and do not need to be
installed separately. At the moment, all in-tree plugins are preloaded.
## Installing Plugins
Go-ipfs supports two types of plugins: External and Preloaded.
* External plugins must be installed in `$IPFS_PATH/plugins/` (usually
`~/.ipfs/plugins/`).
* Preloaded plugins are built-into the go-ipfs when it's compiled.
### External Plugin
The advantage of an external plugin is that it can be built, packaged, and
installed independently of go-ipfs. Unfortunately, this method is only supported
on Linux and MacOS at the moment. Users of other operating systems should follow
the instructions for preloaded plugins.
#### In-tree
To build plugins included in
[plugin/plugins](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/tree/master/plugin/plugins),
run:
```bash
go-ipfs$ make build_plugins
go-ipfs$ ls plugin/plugins/*.so
```
To install, copy desired plugins to `$IPFS_PATH/plugins`. For example:
```bash
go-ipfs$ mkdir -p ~/.ipfs/plugins/
go-ipfs$ cp plugin/plugins/git.so ~/.ipfs/plugins/
go-ipfs$ chmod +x ~/.ipfs/plugins/git.so # ensure plugin is executable
```
Finally, restart daemon if it is running.
#### Out-of-tree
To build out-of-tree plugins, use the plugin's Makefile if provided. Otherwise,
you can manually build the plugin by running:
```bash
myplugin$ go build -buildmode=plugin -i -o myplugin.so myplugin.go
```
Finally, as with in-tree plugins:
1. Install the plugin in `$IPFS_PATH/plugins`.
2. Mark the plugin as executable (`chmod +x $IPFS_PATH/plugins/myplugin.so`).
3. Restart your IPFS daemon (if running).
### Preloaded Plugins
The advantages of preloaded plugins are:
1. They're bundled with the go-ipfs binary.
2. They work on all platforms.
To preload a go-ipfs plugin:
1. Add the plugin to the preload list: `plugin/loader/preload_list`
2. Build ipfs
```bash
go-ipfs$ make build
```
## Creating A Plugin
To create your own out-of-tree plugin, use the [example
plugin](https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs-example-plugin/) as a starting point.
When you're ready, submit a PR adding it to the list of [available
plugins](#available-plugins).