In Rocket.Chat, apps are used to extend the functionality of your workspace. The Marketplace offers public apps for various automation and collaboration needs.
Rocket.Chat also provides the capability to create custom apps with the Apps-Engine solution, designed to streamline app development and enhance app delivery speed. This empowers developers to create and operate apps within Rocket.Chat's infrastructure, leveraging pre-built components for ease and efficiency. It offers a comprehensive framework, enabling the development of secure, scalable apps that seamlessly integrate with Rocket.Chat functionalities.
Key features of Apps-Engine include:
Security compliance: Rocket.Chat ensures the highest standards of data privacy, security, and ownership for the apps developed on its platform.
Robust server support: Utilizing the same infrastructure as Rocket.Chat, the Apps-Engine ensures effective traffic management and access to the latest features and updates. Apps run in a JavaScript runtime environment, ensuring compatibility and performance.
Reduced launch time: The platform simplifies the development process by providing pre-built components to create various app features.
Let’s look at the high-level steps of creating an app:
Install the necessary prerequisites on your machine before you begin developing.
Create an app folder and start adding the logic for your app to function.
Deploy and test the app in your Rocket.Chat instance.
You can further customize your app’s functionalities in the following ways:
Create slash commands for users to invoke the app.
Add event interfaces so the app can trigger an action based on the event.
Define your app’s UI and interactions using the UI block kit.
Configure settings that your app requires.
Additionally, you can implement data persistence and other advanced features.
Once the app is ready, developers can submit their apps to the Rocket.Chat Marketplace for public use or keep them private for their workspace.