# Writing a plugin over Elasticsearch **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [February 17, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322 "2018-02-17T19:12:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abhilash\_Bolla](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/abhilash_bolla/32/26840_2.png) [@Abhilash\_Bolla](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Abhilash_Bolla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/1 "2018-02-17T19:12:12Z")
Hi, I been searching all over Google to get started with writing a plugin on Elasticsearch 5. I haven't been able to find material substantial material for the same. Please assist on the same. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Ivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@Ivan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ivan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 6:39am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/2 "2018-02-18T06:39:56Z")
The best approach is to look at other existing plugins. The github repo has a few: [https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/tree/master/plugins/examples](https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/tree/master/plugins/examples) The example plugins are written for 6.x, but little has changed since 5.x. At the Java code level, everything should be the same. Both version use the new gradle build system, but there have been a few bug fixes throughout 5.x into 6.x. I documented some of the changes in a minimal plugin: [https://github.com/brusic/plugin-with-fixture-skeleton](https://github.com/brusic/plugin-with-fixture-skeleton) One big issue with the Elasticsearch examples is that it depends on the overall gradle build, so there are important pieces missing from the build.gradle file. Look at non-Elastic plugins, such as the one I referenced, for insights. I will be giving a tutorial on writing plugins this week, but it will be very far from you. 😉 Cheers, Ivan ---
**Author:** ![tsvet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tsvet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/tsvet)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/3 "2018-02-18T13:51:07Z")
yes, Ivan gave you a good hint. Look at the other plugins e.g. [https://github.com/floragunncom/search-guard/tree/ves-5.5.2-16](https://github.com/floragunncom/search-guard/tree/ves-5.5.2-16) this one is for 5.5.2 ---
**Author:** ![Ivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@Ivan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ivan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/4 "2018-02-18T15:25:54Z")
While it is great to also have an example of a plugin built via maven, I would highly encourage using the gradle plugin instead. Cuts down on the amount of work tremendously. In Elasticsearch 6.3, the directory layout of plugins will change, but if you use the gradle plugin, you will not have to change your code at all since the plugin will take care of the layout. ---
**Author:** ![Abhilash\_Bolla](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/abhilash_bolla/32/26840_2.png) [@Abhilash\_Bolla](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Abhilash_Bolla)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/5 "2018-02-18T16:07:48Z")
@Ivan Is it possible to have a video recording of the talk you are gonna deliver at [this meetup](https://www.meetup.com/Elasticsearch-Los-Angeles/events/244376045/) on writing plugins? ---
**Author:** ![Ivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@Ivan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ivan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/6 "2018-02-18T23:49:19Z")
Hi Abhilash, It is up to the organizer and/or host to have the ability to record and distribute video, which I do not know if they have. I will happily give consent to release any video. My personal speaking style is not to read directly from slides, but to have them as reference points, which means the slides by themselves are not an ideal presentation. Still I will share them for you. The talk will not be a deep dive, but more of an overview alongside talking about some of the issues I have come across. You are still probably better off reading code and asking questions. 🙂 The gradle plugin plugin does help alleviate many issues, but itself had some bugs in 5.x. I recommend using 5.4+ (sadly, I no longer remember the issues pre 5.4). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/writing-a-plugin-over-elasticsearch/120322/7 "2018-03-18T23:54:55Z")
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