---
layout: page
title: Plugins
permalink: /plugins/
---

Radicale can be extended by plugins for authentication, rights management and
storage. Plugins are **python** modules.

## Getting started

To get started we walk through the creation of a simple authentication
plugin, that accepts login attempts if the username and password are equal.

The easiest way to develop and install **python** modules is
[Distutils](https://docs.python.org/3/distutils/setupscript.html).
For a minimal setup create the file **setup.py** with the following content
in an empty folder:

```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3

from distutils.core import setup

setup(packages=["silly_auth_plugin"])
```

In the same folder create the sub-folder **silly_auth_plugin**. The folder
must have the same name as specified in ``packages`` above.

Create the file **\_\_init\_\_.py** in the **silly_auth_plugin** folder with the
following content:

```python
from radicale.auth import BaseAuth

class Auth(BaseAuth):
    def is_authenticated(self, user, password):
        self.logger.info("Login attempt by '%s' with password '%s'",
                         user, password)
        return user == password
```

Install the python module by running the following command in the same folder
as **setup.py**:
```sh
python3 -m pip install --upgrade .
```

To make use this great creation in Radicale, set the configuration option
``type`` in the ``auth`` section to ``silly_auth_plugin``.

## Authentication plugins
This plugin type is used to check login credentials.
The module must contain a class ``Auth`` that extends
``radicale.auth.BaseAuth``. Take a look at the file *radicale/auth.py* in
Radicale's source code for more information.

## Rights management plugins
This plugin type is used to check if a user has access to a path.
The module must contain a class ``Rights`` that extends
``radicale.auth.BaseAuth``. Take a look at the file *radicale/rights.py* in
Radicale's source code for more information.

## Storage plugins
This plugin is used to store collections and items.
The module must contain a class ``Storage`` that extends
``radicale.auth.BaseStorage``. Take a look at the file *radicale/storage.py* in
Radicale's source code for more information.