# When to use a plugin vs theme component?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/when-to-use-a-plugin-vs-theme-component/297052
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** css
**Created:** [February 28, 2024, 11:22am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/when-to-use-a-plugin-vs-theme-component/297052 "2024-02-28T11:22:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 7

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### Author: ![Arkshine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/arkshine/32/298682_2.png) [@Arkshine](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Arkshine)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/when-to-use-a-plugin-vs-theme-component/297052/7 "2024-03-01T15:10:53Z")

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I would suggest using this wonderful tool, to create TC easily locally:

> [@Install the Discourse Theme CLI console app to help you build themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-the-discourse-theme-cli-console-app-to-help-you-build-themes/82950):
>
> The [[discourse] Discourse Theme CLI](https://github.com/discourse/discourse_theme) is a ruby gem that allows you to use your editor of choice when developing Discourse themes and theme components. As you save files the CLI will update the remote theme or component and changes to it will appear live! Installing To play with it, make sure you have Ruby 2.5 or up installed. If you are on Windows, you have 2 options: Option 1: [Windows Subsystem for Linux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux). Windows 10 has access to a full Linux environment, you can use it to install …

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