Install plugins in your non-Docker development environment

(This guide only covers non-docker dev install. For Docker dev :whale: see https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-install-discourse-for-development-using-docker/102009?u=merefield)

If you've followed the instructions to set up your local discourse, you can install a plugin locally:

1. Stop your local server if it's running.

2. Download the plugin repo and save it your /plugins folder. Alternatively, you can use a symlink.

3. If the plugin includes migrations (you'll see them in db/migrate), run them with: LOAD_PLUGINS=1 bundle exec rake db:migrate from discourse root, not the plugin folder.

4. Re-start the server.

5. If the plugin has settings, you can edit them by going to http://localhost:3000/admin/plugins and clicking on "Settings" next to its name.

If you'd like to install a plugin in production, follow this guide.