> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/activepieces/activepieces/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to Pieces

> Learn about Activepieces' TypeScript framework for building integrations

## What are Pieces?

Pieces are integrations in Activepieces - modular, reusable components that connect your automation flows to external services and APIs. Each piece can contain **actions** (things you can do) and **triggers** (events that start flows).

Activepieces has 600+ open-source pieces, with over 95% contributed by the community. All pieces are:

* Written in TypeScript
* Published to npmjs.com
* Versioned independently
* Available as MCP servers for use with LLMs

## Piece Framework Overview

The piece framework (`@activepieces/pieces-framework`) provides a type-safe, developer-friendly way to build integrations.

### Core Concepts

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Actions">
    Actions are operations that can be performed in a flow. They take inputs, execute logic, and return outputs.

    Examples:

    * Send a message to Slack
    * Create an issue in GitHub
    * Update a record in Airtable
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Triggers">
    Triggers start flows when specific events occur. They can be:

    * **Polling**: Check for changes periodically
    * **Webhook**: Receive real-time notifications
    * **App Webhook**: Use platform-level webhooks

    Examples:

    * New email received
    * File uploaded to cloud storage
    * Form submission
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Authentication">
    Pieces support multiple authentication methods:

    * OAuth2
    * API Keys (Secret Text)
    * Custom Authentication (multiple fields)
    * Basic Auth
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Properties">
    Properties define the inputs for actions and triggers:

    * ShortText, LongText
    * Number, Checkbox
    * Dropdown (static or dynamic)
    * File, JSON, DateTime
    * Dynamic properties that change based on other inputs
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Framework Structure

The framework is located at `packages/pieces/framework/` in the repository:

```
packages/pieces/framework/
├── src/
│   ├── lib/
│   │   ├── action/          # Action definitions
│   │   ├── trigger/         # Trigger definitions
│   │   ├── property/        # Property types
│   │   │   ├── authentication/  # Auth types
│   │   │   └── input/          # Input property types
│   │   ├── piece.ts         # Piece creation
│   │   └── context.ts       # Execution context
│   └── index.ts
└── package.json
```

## Example: Simple Piece

Here's what a minimal piece looks like:

```typescript theme={null}
import { createPiece, PieceAuth } from '@activepieces/pieces-framework';
import { PieceCategory } from '@activepieces/shared';

export const myPiece = createPiece({
  displayName: 'My Service',
  description: 'Integration with My Service',
  auth: PieceAuth.SecretText({
    displayName: 'API Key',
    required: true,
  }),
  minimumSupportedRelease: '0.30.0',
  logoUrl: 'https://cdn.activepieces.com/pieces/my-service.png',
  categories: [PieceCategory.PRODUCTIVITY],
  authors: ['your-github-username'],
  actions: [],
  triggers: [],
});
```

## Why Build Pieces?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Extend Activepieces" icon="plug">
    Add integrations for services you use that aren't available yet
  </Card>

  <Card title="Type Safety" icon="shield-check">
    Full TypeScript support with autocomplete and type checking
  </Card>

  <Card title="Hot Reloading" icon="bolt">
    Test changes instantly during local development
  </Card>

  <Card title="Share with Community" icon="users">
    Contribute to the open-source ecosystem and help others
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Setup Development" href="/pieces/setup-development" icon="code">
    Set up your local development environment
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a Piece" href="/pieces/create-piece" icon="plus">
    Learn how to create your first piece
  </Card>

  <Card title="Authentication" href="/pieces/authentication" icon="key">
    Add authentication to your piece
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create Actions" href="/pieces/create-action" icon="play">
    Build actions that perform operations
  </Card>
</CardGroup>