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App Development
Apps vs. plugins — which fits?
Full container or lightweight extension? The decision guide.
4 min readUpdated: 20 August 2026
rumahl knows two ways to extend the platform: apps and plugins. The choice depends on your project.
Apps — for full applications
- Own Docker container, any language and framework
- Long-running services and microservices
- Own web UI with full OS access
- Managed by rumahl-supervisor with health checks
Plugins — for extensions
- JavaScript/TypeScript in the rumahl runtime sandbox
- Resource-restricted and instantly installable
- Dashboard widgets, automations, AI tools for ORA
- Ideal for small, focused extensions
Decision guide
- Need a database, background processes or your own UI? → App
- Want a widget, an automation or an ORA tool? → Plugin
- Unsure? Start as a plugin and migrate when you hit its limits.
Both paths lead to the rumahl Store — the review guidelines apply equally.
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