# Building your Add-on

Local is powered by Electron/Node.js. This means all Add-ons interface with Local using a simple JavaScript API.

With that in mind, don't think Local Add-ons can *only* be JavaScript. Node.js provides robust APIs such as [`child_process`](https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html) which enable executing outside binaries and shell scripts.

Also, thanks to the vast ecosystem of modern JavaScript, you can write your Local Add-on in any language that transpiles to ES5, such as ES6, ES7, or [TypeScript](http://typescriptlang.org/).

You can get up and running with your new add-on quickly and easily with the [Local Add-on Generator](https://github.com/getflywheel/create-local-addon). It is super simple to set up, and can help you start creating your new add-on in no time! It automatically sets up a bare-bones add-on in Local, and shows some helpful tips and examples (many of which are detailed in the following sections) to jumpstart your add-on development.

{% hint style="info" %}
The Local Add-on API is always growing! If you need a hook to be added for any reason, please let us know in the [Local Community](https://localwp.com/community/) and we'll be happy to work with you.
{% endhint %}


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://build.localwp.com/building.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.