# Installing discourse follow plugin in development (boot\_dev) setup — no app.yml file

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-discourse-follow-plugin-in-development-boot-dev-setup-no-app-yml-file/396398>\
**Category:** Development\
**Tags:** dev-install\
**Created:** [18 בפברואר,‏ 2026,‏ 1:59pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-discourse-follow-plugin-in-development-boot-dev-setup-no-app-yml-file/396398 "2026-02-18T13:59:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![nitinkg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nitinkg](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nitinkg)\
**Post date:** [18 בפברואר,‏ 2026,‏ 1:59pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-discourse-follow-plugin-in-development-boot-dev-setup-no-app-yml-file/396398/1 "2026-02-18T13:59:21Z")

</div>

Hi,

I’m running Discourse locally in development mode using `docker`.

I’m trying to install the **[discourse follow](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-follow/110579?tl=en)** plugin:

Plugin:  
[https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-follow/110579](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-follow/110579)

I followed the plugin installation guide here:  
[https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-plugins-on-a-self-hosted-site/19157](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-plugins-on-a-self-hosted-site/19157)

However, the guide references editing `app.yml` and rebuilding via `./launcher rebuild app`, but in the `boot_dev` setup there is no `app.yml` file or launcher-based structure.

What is the correct way to install an external plugin like discourse-follow when running Discourse in development mode using `boot_dev`?

Thanks.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-discourse-follow-plugin-in-development-boot-dev-setup-no-app-yml-file/396398)._