How to develop your first Odoo module

Guide: How to develop your first Odoo module

Posted: February 2026 | Reading time: 12 minutes | Category: Odoo Tutorial

The entry into the Odoo development can initially be overwhelming. But the modular structure of Odoo makes developers surprisingly easy to create their own functionalities.

In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to develop your first, simple Odoo module from scratch.

= Needs

Before we start, make sure that you meet the following needs:

• A working Odoo installation (version 16, 17 or 18)

• Basic knowledge of Python

• A text editor or an IDE (e.g. VS Code, PyCharm)

• Access to the Odoo server file system

1. Setting the module structure

Each Odoo module follows a standard directory structure. First create a new folder in the Odoo-Addons directory:

library management/ Г init .py Г manifest .py “The models/” “Init .py” │ └ (2007) book.py “Even views/” │ └ ♥ book views.xml “Security” │ └ ➔ └ static/” └ description description of ““ / └ icon.png.

2. Create the Manifest file

The manifest .py is the heart of each module. It contains all metadata:

manifest .py

Step-by-step guide for developing your first Odoo module.

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{
'name': 'library administration',
'version': '1.0.0',
'summary': 'Manage your personal book collection',
"Description"

A simple module for managing books.

• Create and edit books
• Manage authors
• Track borrowing status

'author': 'your name',
'category': 'Tools',
'depends': ['base'],
'data': [
'security/ir.model.access.csv'
'views/book views.xml',
],
'installable': True,
'application': True,
'license': 'LGPL-3',
}

3. Define the data model

In the model/book.py file we define our book model with all fields:

models/book.py

from odoo import models, fields, api

class Book(models.Model):
name = 'library.book'
description = 'Book'
order = 'name'

name = fields.Char(string='Titel', required=True) author = fields.Char(string='Autor') isbn = fields.Char(string='ISBN') publication date = fields.Date(string='appearance date') Pages = fields.Integer(string='Page number') state = fields.Selection([

('available', 'available'),
('borrowed')
], string='status', default='available')
Notes = fields.Text(string='Notizen')

4. Create Views

In views/book views.xml we define the user interface with form and list view as well as the menu entry.

5. Define access rights

The security/ir.model.access.csv file determines who can access the model:

id,name,model id:id,group id:id,perm read,perm write,perm create,perm unlink access library book user,library.book.user,model library book,base.group user,1,1,1

Install the module

After creating all files you can use the module instal

References and further reading

The following separate references complement the topics in this article:

• Bitkom – German digital industry association.
• German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
• European Commission – Digital strategy.
• MDN Web Docs (Mozilla)
• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium.

"Legacy migration often fails not because of the stack, but because tacit domain knowledge was never captured—budget explicitly for knowledge transfer."

— Björn Groenewold, Managing Director, Groenewold IT Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is this article about: “How to develop your first Odoo module”?

This post explores How to develop your first Odoo module from the perspective of needs, typical pitfalls. And sensible next steps.

In short: Step-by-step guide for developing your first Odoo module. Learn the basics of Odoo module development with Python and XML using a practical example.

Who benefits most from the content described here?

Useful for project leads and product owners in Odoo who must choose between standard software, custom development, and integration.

How does this topic fit into an IT or digital strategy?

Technically and organizationally, alignment with experienced partners pays off — from requirements to operations; start with the [services overview](/en/services/software-development). For multi-system landscapes, [IT consulting and architecture](/en/services/it-consulting) helps align vendors and internal teams.

What are sensible next steps if we need support?

A practical next step: book a consultation and clarify which MVP or pilot fits your team and landscape.