# Load Python plugins in Paraview (Linux)

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/load-python-plugins-in-paraview-linux/14131
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** python
**Created:** [March 11, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/load-python-plugins-in-paraview-linux/14131 "2024-03-11T20:16:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![enricsosa](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/enricsosa/32/13910_2.png) [@enricsosa](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/enricsosa)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/load-python-plugins-in-paraview-linux/14131/1 "2024-03-11T20:16:40Z")

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Hi,

I was following the instructions in section 5.5 of the Paraview’s reference manual ([5. Programmable Filter — ParaView Documentation 5.12.0 documentation](https://docs.paraview.org/en/latest/ReferenceManual/pythonProgrammableFilter.html#python-algorithm)) because that’s what I want for my work, quoting the manual: “_If you want to distribute such modules, or package them into modules with user interfaces, for example, then VTKPythonAlgorithmBase -based approach is recommended instead_.”.

My problem arises in a later line: “_To use this new filter [an example shown previously], save this to a .py file, and load it as a plugin using the Plugin Manager from Tools \> Plugin Manager_”. The thing is, the plugin manager uses .so files (in Linux distributions, my environment) and does not detect .py files. As it says here ([https://www.paraview.org/Wiki/ParaView/Plugin\_HowTo](https://www.paraview.org/Wiki/ParaView/Plugin_HowTo)): “_Plugins are distributed as shared libraries (_.so on Unix[…]\*”.

So, my question is: How can I add a python plugin to Paraview, am I forced to use the Programmable Source and Programmable Filter? I would like to have my plugin code in .py files and then load them as section 5.5 of the reference manual suggests. I have seen examples of python plugins in the gitlab repository (for example: [https://gitlab.kitware.com/paraview/paraview/blob/master/Examples/Plugins/PythonAlgorithm/PythonAlgorithmExamples.py](https://gitlab.kitware.com/paraview/paraview/blob/master/Examples/Plugins/PythonAlgorithm/PythonAlgorithmExamples.py)) but I don’t know how to incorporate them into my Paraview since they are .py files. I feel like I am missing something because I am following the manual’s instructions.

I hope it wasn’t too much text and I was understood. For additional information that might be useful, I am using Paraview 5.5.2 in a linux client-server environment. I may be using an old version of Paraview, but the oldest instructions availabe in ReadTheDocs (v5.8) say the same.

Best regards,  
Thanks in advance

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### Author: ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/cory.quammen/32/11193_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/load-python-plugins-in-paraview-linux/14131/2 "2024-03-11T20:57:49Z")

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Welcome to ParaView, @enricsosa

Python algorithm filters were not introduced until ParaView 5.6, hence you will not be able to load them into ParaView 5.5.2.

[https://www.kitware.com/paraview-5-6-0-release-notes/](https://www.kitware.com/paraview-5-6-0-release-notes/)

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### Author: ![enricsosa](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/enricsosa/32/13910_2.png) [@enricsosa](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/enricsosa)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/load-python-plugins-in-paraview-linux/14131/3 "2024-03-12T13:14:09Z")

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Hi!

Thanks for your welcome and your response! That’s what it was, now with version 5.9 it works.

Many thanks.