How to Create a World of Warcraft Addon
A comprehensive, step-by-step masterclass on building custom UI modifications and scripts for World of Warcraft using Lua.
Learning how to create a World of Warcraft addon can be overwhelming. Between understanding the WoW API, writing Lua scripts, structuring XML frames, and packaging everything into a TOC file, there is a lot of ground to cover. This guide series breaks the entire process down into three focused articles, each designed to take you from zero knowledge to a fully functional, custom-built addon.
Whether you want to build a personal raid tracker, a custom auction house scanner, or a private PvP cooldown monitor, these guides will give you the foundation you need. Select an article below to get started.
Branding Your WoW Addon: Custom Logos & Icons
Add custom minimap buttons, addon list icons, and in-game textures using TGA files and Lua scripting.
WeakAuras vs Custom Addons: Which Do You Need?
A deep comparison of WeakAuras and custom-built addons. Learn when each solution fits and where the limits are.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Writing Your First Addon
A technical masterclass. We build an addon from absolute scratch using TOC files and raw Lua.
What Programming Language Do You Need?
Learn the differences between Lua logic and XML structural frames, and how the WoW API connects them.
What is a WoW Addon & How Does It Help?
Discover the tactical advantages of custom interfaces in high-level Mythic+ and Arena brackets.