How to Build an IPS 5 Application — Getting Started

If you're new to Invision Community development, one of the first things you'll probably want to learn is how to build your own application.
In this guide, we'll create the initial structure of an IPS 5 application and prepare it for development.
We won't cover controllers, models, templates, database structure, or other development concepts yet. Those topics will be covered separately in the following guides.

What Is an IPS Application?

An IPS application is a self-contained extension for Invision Community that adds new functionality to the platform.

An application can add things such as:

• New frontend pages

• Admin Control Panel pages

• Database tables and models

• New content types

• Custom settings

• Permissions

• JavaScript functionality

• Integrations with external services

• Custom functionality that isn't available in the core platform

For example, an application could provide a live search system, a review system, a custom directory, an API integration, or an entirely new feature for your community.

Do You Need to Build an Application?

Not necessarily.

Small visual changes, such as CSS styling adjustments, can usually be done directly through the Theme Management section.

However, any functional change — from adding a hook, template modification, JavaScript customization, or a small extension to building a large standalone feature — should be implemented as an application.

An application is the correct approach when you want to add custom functionality with its own logic, settings, database tables, permissions, language strings, or administration interface.

A simple rule of thumb:

Visual changes → Theme Editor and Page Editor
Functional changes → Application

Enable Developer Tools

Before creating an application, make sure IPS developer tools are enabled.

Open your IPS installation and create a file named constants.php if it does not already exist. This file is not included by default in a fresh IPS installation.

constants.php

Add the developer tools constant:

<?php
define( 'IN_DEV', TRUE );

Save the file and reload your Admin Control Panel.

With developer tools enabled, additional development options become available in the ACP.

Note: Keep developer tools enabled while developing locally or on a development installation. Avoid enabling development mode on a production site unless you understand the consequences.

Create a New Application

Now open the Admin Control Panel.

Go to: Applications Then click: Create New

IPS will ask for some basic information about your application.

Application Title

Enter the title that users will see.

For example:

Live Search

This is the human-readable name of your application and can contain spaces and normal capitalization.

Description

The application description is used to explain the purpose of your application. Write a clear and concise summary of what your application does and what functionality it provides.

Application Directory

Next, choose the folder/application key used by the application.

For example:

livesearch

Keep this value simple.

A good application folder name should generally:

• Use lowercase characters

• Avoid spaces

• Avoid unnecessary special characters

• Be short and descriptive

• Be unique within your installation

For example:

livesearch
forumcollection
story
valalms

Avoid names such as:

Live Search
Live_Search
My Awesome Application

The folder name is an internal identifier, so keeping it clean from the beginning will save you trouble later.

Author Information

Enter your developer information, including:

• Author Name

• Author Website

• Any other information requested by the application creation form

Use the information you want to associate with the application.

For a public application, your author information becomes part of the application's identity and is useful when distributing the application to other communities.

Create the Application

After filling in the required information, submit the form.

IPS will create the initial application for you.

At this point, you have successfully created the basic IPS 5 application.

You haven't built any functionality yet — you've only created the application's foundation.

What's Next?

Now that the application exists, the next step is understanding what IPS created for us.

We'll look at the application's directories and files and explain what each part is responsible for.