Add-on rules - Revision history

Karellen: Protected "Add-on rules" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

2026-05-31T19:41:18Z

Protected "Add-on rules" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:41, 31 May 2026
(No difference)

Roman VM at 12:22, 31 May 2026

2026-05-31T12:22:51Z

Show changes

Karellen: Removed protection from "Add-on rules"

2026-05-30T18:28:53Z

Removed protection from "Add-on rules"

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:28, 30 May 2026
(No difference)

Karellen: Add Python 2 no longer accepted

2024-08-04T00:10:46Z

Add Python 2 no longer accepted

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:10, 4 August 2024
Line 6:		Line 6:
	In order to be considered for the official repository, the following guidelines must be met:		In order to be considered for the official repository, the following guidelines must be met:
	* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.		* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.
	* All add-ons must be compatible with ~~both~~ Python ~~2 and~~ 3. Python ~~3-only addons will be~~ accepted ~~to the repositories for Kodi 19 (M*) and above~~. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/~~attention~~-~~addon~~-~~developers~~-~~migration~~-python-~~3 Attention to Addon Developers: Migration to~~ Python 3!]		* All add-ons must be compatible with Python 3. Contributions requiring Python 2 are no longer accepted. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/the-sun-sets-on-python-2/ The Sun Sets on Python 2]
	* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Proprietary licenses will not be allowed. Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.		* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Proprietary licenses will not be allowed. Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.
	* All files must be free and legal to distribute.		* All files must be free and legal to distribute.

Ronie: Protected "Add-on rules" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

2021-10-16T15:50:53Z

Protected "Add-on rules" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:50, 16 October 2021
(No difference)

Ronie: Reverted edits by Te36 (talk) to last revision by Ronie

2021-10-16T15:49:57Z

Reverted edits by Te36 (talk) to last revision by Ronie

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:49, 16 October 2021
Line 16:		Line 16:
	* Monetization of add-ons (for instance advertising or paid subscriptions) will not be allowed. We can make an exception in case you own the copyright for the content the add-on provides. Please contact us on the forum if you believe such an exception may apply to your add-on.		* Monetization of add-ons (for instance advertising or paid subscriptions) will not be allowed. We can make an exception in case you own the copyright for the content the add-on provides. Please contact us on the forum if you believe such an exception may apply to your add-on.
	* All xbmc.python.module addons must be used by at least one other add-on in official repository.		* All xbmc.python.module addons must be used by at least one other add-on in official repository.
	* Team Kodi does not support porn ([https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=130827&pid=1364673#pid1364673]), such as explicit scraping for adult media ([https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=130827&pid=1364558#pid1364558]).

	=== Updates ===		=== Updates ===

Te36: documented policy for porn

2021-10-14T23:05:38Z

documented policy for porn

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 14 October 2021
Line 16:		Line 16:
	* Monetization of add-ons (for instance advertising or paid subscriptions) will not be allowed. We can make an exception in case you own the copyright for the content the add-on provides. Please contact us on the forum if you believe such an exception may apply to your add-on.		* Monetization of add-ons (for instance advertising or paid subscriptions) will not be allowed. We can make an exception in case you own the copyright for the content the add-on provides. Please contact us on the forum if you believe such an exception may apply to your add-on.
	* All xbmc.python.module addons must be used by at least one other add-on in official repository.		* All xbmc.python.module addons must be used by at least one other add-on in official repository.
			* Team Kodi does not support porn ([https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=130827&pid=1364673#pid1364673]), such as explicit scraping for adult media ([https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=130827&pid=1364558#pid1364558]).

	=== Updates ===		=== Updates ===

Ronie: /* Requirements for all python addons */

2021-08-07T19:57:51Z

Requirements for all python addons

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:57, 7 August 2021
Line 101:		Line 101:
	* xbmc.translatePath(xbmcaddon.Addon().getAddonInfo('profile')).decode('utf-8') should be used for storing add-on related files		* xbmc.translatePath(xbmcaddon.Addon().getAddonInfo('profile')).decode('utf-8') should be used for storing add-on related files
	* direct access to the Kodi database is '''not''' allowed. You must use [[JSON-RPC_API\|JSON RPC]] for this.		* direct access to the Kodi database is '''not''' allowed. You must use [[JSON-RPC_API\|JSON RPC]] for this.
	* directly using analytics (Google Analytics for example) from within add-ons is not allowed. This should be handled server side by using user-agent.		* directly using any kind of analytics (Google Analytics for example) from within add-ons is not allowed. This should be handled server side by using user-agent.
	* addons should use the xbmc.log() method to write to the logfile and use the debug logging level only. print statements should not be used.		* addons should use the xbmc.log() method to write to the logfile and use the debug logging level only. print statements should not be used.
	* Plugins should '''not''' force certain skin viewtypes on their own. They should set the correct media content from which the correct skin view type is automatically provided.		* Plugins should '''not''' force certain skin viewtypes on their own. They should set the correct media content from which the correct skin view type is automatically provided.

Ronie at 19:55, 7 August 2021

2021-08-07T19:55:33Z

Ronie at 19:46, 7 August 2021

2021-08-07T19:46:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 7 August 2021
Line 7:		Line 7:
	* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.		* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.
	* All add-ons must be compatible with both Python 2 and 3. Python 3-only addons will be accepted to the repositories for Kodi 19 (M*) and above. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/attention-addon-developers-migration-python-3 Attention to Addon Developers: Migration to Python 3!]		* All add-ons must be compatible with both Python 2 and 3. Python 3-only addons will be accepted to the repositories for Kodi 19 (M*) and above. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/attention-addon-developers-migration-python-3 Attention to Addon Developers: Migration to Python 3!]
	* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.		* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Proprietary licenses will not be allowed.
			Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.
	* All files must be free and legal to distribute.		* All files must be free and legal to distribute.
	* The add-on must not violate any known copyright laws - if in doubt, let us know and we'll look into it for you.		* The add-on must not violate any known copyright laws - if in doubt, let us know and we'll look into it for you.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:55, 7 August 2021
Line 7:		Line 7:
	* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.		* All add-ons must be developed as described on the [[Add-on development]] page.
	* All add-ons must be compatible with both Python 2 and 3. Python 3-only addons will be accepted to the repositories for Kodi 19 (M*) and above. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/attention-addon-developers-migration-python-3 Attention to Addon Developers: Migration to Python 3!]		* All add-ons must be compatible with both Python 2 and 3. Python 3-only addons will be accepted to the repositories for Kodi 19 (M*) and above. For more details see: [https://kodi.tv/article/attention-addon-developers-migration-python-3 Attention to Addon Developers: Migration to Python 3!]
	* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Proprietary licenses will not be allowed.		* You ''must'' include a license file (named LICENSE.txt). We recommend the [http://creativecommons.org/choose/non-web-popup?license_code=by-sa&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en CC-BY-SA 3.0] for skins and the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-howto.html GPL v2+] for others, but most copy left licenses will suffice. Proprietary licenses will not be allowed. Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.
	Please investigate which license suits your needs and you fully understand the contents.
	* All files must be free and legal to distribute.		* All files must be free and legal to distribute.
	* The add-on must not violate any known copyright laws - if in doubt, let us know and we'll look into it for you.		* The add-on must not violate any known copyright laws - if in doubt, let us know and we'll look into it for you.
Line 22:		Line 21:
	Because they are for stable users, they should avoid being updated too often. Too often is of course subjective. If your add-on is in rapid development, and features are constantly being added, hold off until you have hit a good stopping point and ''tested'' the current version.		Because they are for stable users, they should avoid being updated too often. Too often is of course subjective. If your add-on is in rapid development, and features are constantly being added, hold off until you have hit a good stopping point and ''tested'' the current version.

	This means that you should ''not'' submit a request every time you change your code. If you are submitting updates more than once per week something is wrong. Once or twice per month is probably a better goal, barring unforeseen conditions (like a content source changing its paths). With good reasons provided we will of course make exceptions as we strive to ~~prove~~ the best user experience.		This means that you should ''not'' submit a request every time you change your code. If you are submitting updates more than once per week something is wrong. Once or twice per month is probably a better goal, barring unforeseen conditions (like a content source changing its paths). With good reasons provided we will of course make exceptions as we strive to provide the best user experience.

	=== General requirements ===		=== General requirements ===
Line 106:		Line 105:
	* Plugins should '''not''' force certain skin viewtypes on their own. They should set the correct media content from which the correct skin view type is automatically provided.		* Plugins should '''not''' force certain skin viewtypes on their own. They should set the correct media content from which the correct skin view type is automatically provided.
	* add-ons should store all their data in their own subfolder inside the addon_data directory. Access (read/write/delete) to any other files / folders is not allowed by default.		* add-ons should store all their data in their own subfolder inside the addon_data directory. Access (read/write/delete) to any other files / folders is not allowed by default.
	''Exceptions to this rule may be granted in specific cases only. Please contact Team XBMC's add-on repository maintainers on github if your add-on needs access to such files.''		:''Exceptions to this rule may be granted in specific cases only. Please contact Team XBMC's add-on repository maintainers on github if your add-on needs access to such files.''
	In case we grant such an exception for your addon, access (read/write/delete) to other files/directories must be opt-in by the user, and be clear for the user to understand what is being accessed.		:In case we grant such an exception for your addon, access (read/write/delete) to other files/directories must be opt-in by the user, and be clear for the user to understand what is being accessed.

	=== Specific requirements for scrapers ===		=== Specific requirements for scrapers ===