---
title: Hay documentation
description: Build a plugin, keep your work local, and share it when it is ready.
group: Start here
---

# Hay documentation

Hay is a desktop workspace with chat, a built-in browser, native coding tools, and optional plugins. A [Hay account](accounts/) is required to use the app; one account connection is shared by the workspaces on your Mac. A plugin adds a focused interface. Hay provides the model connection, local records, and reviewed access to capabilities.

## Find your starting point

- [Sign in or create an account](accounts/): verify your email, optionally choose a public handle and approve app sign-in.
- [Find and install plugins](marketplace/): browse public releases and review installation in Hay.
- [Build your first plugin](quickstart/): make a small tool with local storage.
- [Understand local plugins](local-plugins/): find saved code, export source, and share a plugin file.
- [Use the SDK](sdk/): read data, generate outputs, hand off work, and use host tools.
- [Publish to Hay](publishing/): release a code-only copy under your personal publisher identity.
- [Keep private releases](personal-registries/): publish code for your account only.
- [Host a registry](registry/): prepare immutable releases for a custom catalog.

## A plugin has three places

| Place | What belongs there |
| --- | --- |
| Source project | The editable manifest and self-contained HTML you keep in a folder or Git repository. |
| Installed copy | The code Hay saves inside one workspace, with that workspace’s records and permissions. |
| Shared release | A versioned plugin bundle or registry artifact that other people can install. |

Editing a source folder does not silently update the installed copy. Sharing a plugin does not share its workspace records.

## What is available

Local creation, imports, exports, custom registries, capability review, browser tools, and native coding are implemented in the desktop app. The package and registry formats are version 1; the SDK reference is version 0.1.

The account and direct-publishing implementation uses email-code sign-in, personal publisher ownership and immutable releases. New clients use the account/API origin `https://app.hay.so`; the registry stays at `https://plugins.hay.so`. Existing live inbox-code, publication, history and revocation checks used the legacy account host and shared D1 database. Read [account migration](accounts/) for preserved logins and the operator record for new-origin rollout evidence. The first public release is **Documents 0.1.1** (`halil.documents`); install it with empty records and reviewed permissions. The [marketplace guide](marketplace/) explains web discovery and exact install links. The [operator record](account-service/) tracks marketplace and personal-registry rollout separately from the earlier live catalog checks. Custom static registries remain supported.

## For agents

Start with the [agent guide](agents/), [SDK reference](sdk/), and [registry contract](registry-reference/). Every page has a plain Markdown version. [llms.txt](../llms.txt) indexes the docs; [llms-full.txt](../llms-full.txt) contains them in one text file.