Sometimes QGIS is missing a tool or two needed for your own workflows or project-specific capabilities. QGIS plugins can fill that gap: they let you automate repetitive tasks, extend QGIS with entirely new functionality, tailor the interface to your needs, and integrate external data sources — making them one of the most versatile ways to get more out of QGIS. Using Python, you can write these custom extensions yourself. In this workshop, participants will build their own QGIS plugin from scratch and learn the fundamentals of plugin development.

We will start by exploring how to interact with the QGIS API using Python (the PyQGIS library), including how to access layers, trigger actions, and interact with the user interface programatically. From there, we will walk through the core structure of a QGIS plugin and set up a minimal working plugin.

Next, we will convert an existing PyQGIS script into a plugin, then extend it with a basic dialog created in Qt Designer. Along the way, we will discuss practical development patterns such as organizing plugin code, handling user input, and debugging. By the end of the session, participants will have a working plugin they can further adapt for their own projects.

Participants should have basic knowledge of Python and QGIS. Some prior experience with PyQGIS is helpful, though the essential PyQGIS fundamentals will also be briefly introduced.