Bug 507498

Summary: Ability to add or change the directory path(s) from which Krita loads Python plugins.
Product: [Applications] krita Reporter: daniel.barinak
Component: ScriptingAssignee: Krita Bugs <krita-bugs-null>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: wishlist CC: halla
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: unspecified   
OS: Unspecified   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description daniel.barinak 2025-07-25 23:13:49 UTC
I’m requesting a feature that would let users define custom paths for loading Python plugins in Krita. Currently, Krita only loads plugins from its default directories, but there’s no built-in way for me to specify an external or centralized location.

In my case, I want to maintain a shared set of plugins stored in a centralized location—such as a network folder or version-controlled directory. This would make it easier to:

    Keep plugins updated in one place.

    Avoid duplicating plugins across multiple machines or user profiles.

    Ensure consistent plugin versions across different environments.

Ideally, Krita would support this by allowing:

    A configurable plugin path in the settings.

    Or a way to define extra paths via a config file.

This feature would significantly improve my workflow by making plugin management more flexible and scalable.
Comment 1 Halla Rempt 2025-07-26 11:08:22 UTC
On linux, this should be possible by adding that location to XDG_DATA_DIRS, on Windows, MacOS and Android that won't work.
Comment 2 daniel.barinak 2025-07-26 11:13:46 UTC
(In reply to Halla Rempt from comment #1)
> On linux, this should be possible by adding that location to XDG_DATA_DIRS,
> on Windows, MacOS and Android that won't work.

Any way this idea would see light on Windows, since thats the OS we are using? I didnt test but maybe would symlinks on pykrita folder work?
Comment 3 Halla Rempt 2025-07-26 15:29:21 UTC
I'm not sure about symlinks, I don't really have experience with them on Windows. On Windows, Qt uses a different system to find resource folders, so we'd still need to add an option in Krita itself to add a folder -- that's why I've confirmed this wish.

In plugins/extensions/pykrita/plugin/utilities.cpp, we need to add a line that adds a folder from a config option after 

QStringList pluginDirectories = KoResourcePaths::findDirs("pythonscripts");

And probably also in some places in PythonPluginManager.cpp