The best way to start is by reading the official documentation for developers: http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Getting_Started_With_Development

When you have looked through everything and have remaining SPECIFIC questions, please post your questions.

Alternatively, buy Cash's book - http://www.amazon.com/Elgg-Social-Networking-Cash-Costello/dp/1849511306

http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Plugin_development

http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Engine/Internationalisation#Adding_language_files_to_plugins_.28and_best_practices.29

these tutorials are not easy to understand : (  books a bit expensive for me at this time

though i found this site but i do not think it is the full book if it is let me know i will remove the link

http://czekmaet.com/elgg.pdf.pdf

Have you tried this tutorial: http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Tutorials/HelloWorld

Tutorials can't really get much simpler than that. Hopefully it helps!

that does seem simple thank you any more tutorials on making plugins please provide links as it says widget does that mean plugin? thank you for replying : )

Redirect could not be issued due to headers already being sent. Halting execution for security. Output started in file /home/name/public_html/mod/deyan/deactivate.php at line 1. Search http://docs.elgg.org/ for more information.

enabling causes a fatal erro too though refreshing fixes this for disabling and enabling

It is a tutorial of plugin that adds a widget. Pretty much all functionality is added to Elgg through plugins. So if there is a tutorial on "How to add feature X" it means that it tells you how to make a plugin that adds the feature.

Here are more tutorials http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Tutorials

ok thank you thoguh these tutorial are confusing for me must be because i am not a coder just a code editor that is most probably why?

@UK what do you really want ill give you 2 things:-

(i) An empty plugin structure

(ii) An e-book on plugi making 

is it ok??

lol what ebook and is it free i have 1 already more would be nice, i need a empty plugin structure too a example plugins with example text etc

@UK My http://community.elgg.org/plugins/1175109/1.0/custom-static-page is a very simple plugin. Start with it.

thanks RvR will do : ) looks a bit tricky lol but this is becasue i am not a coder any other tips or information would be appreciated i want to make this page the page i use to refrence from on making a plugin and so far some good refrences more please for a newbie like me and others who have no clue lol i can edit a plugin thats my best so far though i am sure my skills will be better soon if i keep getting help from good people on elgg. thanks again for the reply's its really appreciated and helps alot