Softimage SDK Programmer's Guide > Customizing with the SDK > Building and Deploying Customizations >

# What are my Deployment Options?

You can create plug-ins that are self-installing, or you can create a single add-on package that contains the main library or script file plus any additional files, such as preset files, help files, images files, etc. However, only these kinds of tools can be self-installing:

- Custom Commands

- Custom Operators

- Custom Properties

- Custom ICENodes

- Custom Renderers

- Custom Shaders

- Custom Filters

- Custom Events

- Standard and Contextual Menus

- Custom Display Host Callbacks

This obviously limits your distribution choice to using add-on packages if you are deploying tools that are not on this list (for example, a custom Fx operator cannot be self-installing).

In addition, if you want to provide extras, such as shader definitions, image files, etc., you must use an add-on package, as self-installing plug-ins are meant to be wholly contained within one single file.

Deploying Tools Externally

If you are a third-party plug-in developer and you want to distribute your tools, you can choose whether to distribute your self-installing file by itself or package it in an .xsiaddon file to distribute to customers.

Deploying Tools Internally

If you are developing tools in your user location and you want to publish them inside your production environment, you can use workgroups to deploy your add-ons and self-installing plug-ins.