Developer Docs

Creating and distributing apps for elementary OS

Write Apps

• Build apps using GTK and Granite

• Set up a Meson build system

• Work with Gettext translations

• Package your app with Flatpak

Publish in AppCenter

• Review publishing requirements

• Monetize your app

• Submit for review with GitHub

• Publish Updates

Do I need to know Vala?

The examples in this documentation use Vala, but the libraries and concepts used to build apps for elementary OS also work with a number of popular languages like C, Python, Go, Rust, etc. We don't assume extensive expertise in Vala in this guide, but basic programming knowledge and experience with object-oriented programming languages will be valuable.

If you're not familiar with Vala and want to learn, there are great resources available on the Vala website

Does this guide cover design principles?

Design is covered in the Human Interface Guidelines (HIG). We reference the HIG throughout this guide and it's important you grasp the concepts proposed there, but this guide is focused primarily on code.

Do I need to read this guide in order?

We recommend to at least skim "The Basic Setup" first, but sections are generally written to be standalone tutorials and will reference other parts of the guide where necessary.

Where I can get help?

We use GitHub discussions for Q&A as well as a place to submit ideas or show off what you're working on! Join the community