# Plugin SDK reference

> Source: https://docs.strapi.io/cms/plugins-development/plugin-sdk

The Plugin SDK is a set of commands from @strapi/sdk-plugin for creating, building, linking, and publishing Strapi plugins locally or to NPM and the Marketplace.

The Plugin SDK is set of commands provided by the package [@strapi/sdk-plugin](https://github.com/strapi/sdk-plugin) orientated around developing plugins to use them as local plugins or to publish them on NPM and/or submit them to the Marketplace.

The present documentation lists the available Plugin SDK commands. The [associated guide](/cms/plugins-development/create-a-plugin) illustrates how to use these commands to create a plugin from scratch, link it to an existing project, and publish it.

## npx @strapi/sdk-plugin init

Create a new plugin at a given path.

```bash
npx @strapi/sdk-plugin init
```

| Arguments |  Type  | Description        | Default                   |
| --------- | :----: | ------------------ | ------------------------- |
| `path`    | string | Path to the plugin | `./src/plugins/my-plugin` |

| Option        | Type | Description                             | Default |
| ------------- | :--: | --------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `-d, --debug` |  -   | Enable debugging mode with verbose logs | false   |
| `--silent`    |  -   | Do not log anything                     | false   |

## strapi-plugin build

Bundle the Strapi plugin for publishing.

```bash
strapi-plugin build
```

| Option         |  Type  | Description                                                                                                       | Default |
| -------------- | :----: | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `--force`      | string | Automatically answer "yes" to all prompts, including potentially destructive requests, and run non-interactively. | -       |
| `-d, --debug`  |   -    | Enable debugging mode with verbose logs                                                                           | false   |
| `--silent`     |   -    | Do not log anything                                                                                               | false   |
| `--minify`     |   -    | Minify the output                                                                                                 | false   |
| `--sourcemap`  |   -    | Produce sourcemaps                                                                                                | false   |

:::note
As of v6, the build configuration is automatically derived from your `package.json` exports field. No configuration file (such as `vite.config.ts` or `rollup.config.ts`) is needed.
:::

:::caution Using SDK Plugin v5 (legacy)
If you need to continue using the previous build system with `@strapi/pack-up`, you can pin to version 5.x:

```bash
yarn add @strapi/sdk-plugin@5
```
```bash
npm install @strapi/sdk-plugin@5
```

Version 5.x of the SDK plugin supports `packup.config.ts` for custom build configuration. However, v6 is recommended for security updates and simplified configuration.
:::

## strapi-plugin watch:link

Recompiles the plugin automatically on changes and runs `yalc push --publish`.

For testing purposes, it is very convenient to link your plugin to an existing application to experiment with it in real condition. This command is made to help you streamline this process.

```bash
strapi-plugin watch:link
```

| Option        | Type | Description                             | Default |
| ------------- | :--: | --------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `-d, --debug` |  -   | Enable debugging mode with verbose logs | false   |
| `--silent`    |  -   | Do not log anything                     | false   |

## strapi-plugin watch

Watch the plugin source code for any change and rebuild it everytime. Useful when implementing your plugin and testing it in an application.

```bash
strapi-plugin watch
```

| Option        | Type | Description                             | Default |
| ------------- | :--: | --------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `-d, --debug` |  -   | Enable debugging mode with verbose logs | false   |
| `--silent`    |  -   | Do not log anything                     | false   |

## strapi-plugin verify

Verify the output of the plugin before publishing it.

```bash
strapi-plugin verify
```

| Option        | Type | Description                             | Default |
| ------------- | :--: | --------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `-d, --debug` |  -   | Enable debugging mode with verbose logs | false   |
| `--silent`    |  -   | Do not log anything                     | false   |