LimeStore extension development

This page describes how you as a third-party developer can create and publish extensions for LimeSurvey, available for purchase or free download in the LimeSurvey LimeStore.

= FAQ =

What is the LimeStore
LimeStore is the general extension shop for LimeSurvey GmbH, where "extension" can be one of the following:


 * Plugin
 * Survey theme
 * Question theme
 * Survey template
 * Localization package
 * Component
 * External systems (like RPC libraries)

Not all types are supported right now (as of 2019-01-14) but are planned to be.

Extensions can be both free to download and available for purchase. There is a legal agreement with regard to partner fees.

How do I become a third-party developer?
Apply at us, sign documents, give banking details/PayPal account for transactions, etc.

TODO

= Adding an extension to the LimeStore =

First, you have to be approved as a LimeStore extension vendor. See above.

The extension has to be zipped correctly, with a proper  file. See below.

config.xml specification
All LimeSurvey extensions include a  file with specifies author, version, type, and so on. Without this file, LimeSurvey won't be able to properly install the extension.

From LimeSurvey 4, you're also required to include information about extension updater: https://manual.limesurvey.org/Plugins_-_advanced#Extension_updates_.28New_in_4_.29

Allowed extension types
The following values are allowed in the type metadata tag:

Theme example
TODO

Question theme example
TODO

= After upload =

When an extension has been uploaded, it has to be approved by the LimeSurvey GmbH team. The workflow is as below.



Each zip file has to be approved individually. When you update a new version of an extension, the old version will be available for download until the new zip file is approved. The old zip file will then be deleted from our system, and only the new version will be available.

= Purchase models (payment, support, license, pricing) =

LimeSurvey Professional (hosting)
For plugins that are sold on LimeSurvey GmbH hosting, only the subscription payment model is available. In this case, by default, support is limited to updates and bug fixes during the subscription term. After the subscription term ends, the plugin is removed from the LimeSurvey Professional instance.

Other extensions like themes etc can be both one-off payments and subscriptions. In this case, the support period is determined by the developer and shown on the product details page.

For free extensions, the developer may or may not provide support (link or contact).

A license for a plugin available on LimeSurvey Professional should not be AGPL because of the end-user open source requirement (or any other license that requires the source-code to be available to the end user).

We recommend the extension price should be cheaper for LimeSurvey Professional than for CE as it will renew automatically and the user will have no access to the extensions anymore after it expired. The pricing can be freely determined by the developer, but can not be less than 5 EUR.

LimeSurvey Community Edition (non-hosting)
All extensions available for LimeSurvey CE can be both one-off payments and subscriptions. With subscriptions, by default, support is limited to updates and bug fixes during the subscription term. For one-off payments, the support period is determined by the developer and shown on the product details page.

After the subscription/support period ends, the customer would still have access to the most recent version of the extension that was available during the subscription/support period. Example: ...

For free extensions, the developer may or may not provide support (link or contact).

For an extensions that can be downloaded and installed in LimeSurvey CE, a license of your choosing can be used.

The pricing can be freely determined by the developer, but can not be less than 5 EUR.

The subscription period can be monthly or yearly.

= Version access =


 * For one-off payments, the customer has access to new versions of the extension forever
 * For subscriptions, the customer has access to new versions as long as the subscription period is running
 * After the subscription period has expired, the customer has access to the latest update from the subscription period