# Can I install an external application from github running on discourse

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [25 במאי,‏ 2020,‏ 5:23pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638 "2020-05-25T17:23:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![shaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@shaco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/shaco)
#### Post date: [25 במאי,‏ 2020,‏ 5:23pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638/1 "2020-05-25T17:23:58Z")

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For example. I found a simple online counter. Can I install it on the server with yarn and then insert it into the code without any problem to make it work?

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### Author: ![riking](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/riking/32/170938_2.png) [@riking](https://meta.discourse.org/u/riking)
#### Post date: [25 במאי,‏ 2020,‏ 5:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638/2 "2020-05-25T17:41:40Z")

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No, customization in Discourse is a little more restricted than that to keep everything working. Also, Discourse already comes with built-in view counters on topics.

Check out #Customization > Theme for an idea of what you can create with the powerful theme customization system.

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### Author: ![shaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@shaco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/shaco)
#### Post date: [25 במאי,‏ 2020,‏ 6:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638/3 "2020-05-25T18:25:35Z")

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Okay, but the internet is full of unlimited possibilities. On github I have 150 million different ready-made solutions like buttons, css tooltips, counters etc. Why can’t I install it? It’s a pity that you can’t use so many ready-made solutions but you have to limit yourself to heavy plugins or write yourself if you still have such knowledge and time for it…

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### Author: ![merefield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/merefield/32/176214_2.png) [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [25 במאי,‏ 2020,‏ 6:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/can-i-install-an-external-application-from-github-running-on-discourse/152638/4 "2020-05-25T18:44:15Z")

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It’s a tough life, huh? 😉

It’s amazing there are so many well paid software engineers, given that on most platforms you can just chuck stuff together and it just works? 😉

Ahem …

If you invest the time to learn how you can re-use loads of stuff, especially CSS.

Checkout [Beginner's guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) to start off and keep going!