plugin-development

What this skill does

# Plugins Meta Skill

## 🚨 MANDATORY: Invoke docs-management First

> **STOP - Before providing ANY response about Claude Code plugins:**
>
> 1. **INVOKE** `docs-management` skill
> 2. **QUERY** for the user's specific topic
> 3. **BASE** all responses EXCLUSIVELY on official documentation loaded
>
> **Skipping this step results in outdated or incorrect information.**

### Verification Checkpoint

Before responding, verify:

- [ ] Did I invoke docs-management skill?
- [ ] Did official documentation load?
- [ ] Is my response based EXCLUSIVELY on official docs?

If ANY checkbox is unchecked, STOP and invoke docs-management first.

---

## Overview

Central authority for Claude Code plugins. This skill uses **100% delegation to docs-management** - it contains NO duplicated official documentation.

**Architecture:** Pure delegation with keyword registry. All official documentation is accessed via docs-management skill queries.

## When to Use This Skill

**Keywords:** plugins, plugin creation, plugin structure, plugin.json, plugin manifest, plugin commands, plugin agents, plugin skills, plugin hooks, plugin marketplaces, marketplace.json, /plugin command, plugin install, plugin uninstall, plugin enable, plugin disable, plugin browse, team plugins, plugin development, plugin testing, plugin debugging, plugin sharing, plugin distribution, MCP servers plugins, plugin settings, enabledPlugins, extraKnownMarketplaces, plugin hook configuration, disable plugin hook, CLAUDE_HOOK_ENABLED, hook environment variables, configurable hooks, hook enforcement mode

**Use this skill when:**

- Creating new plugins
- Understanding plugin structure and components
- Writing plugin manifest (plugin.json)
- Adding commands, agents, skills, hooks to plugins
- Installing plugins from marketplaces
- Managing plugin marketplaces
- Setting up team plugin workflows
- Testing plugins locally
- Debugging plugin issues
- Sharing and distributing plugins
- Configuring MCP servers in plugins
- Managing plugin settings
- **Registering plugins in marketplace.json** (CRITICAL for distribution)
- **Configuring plugin hooks for consumers to enable/disable**
- **Making plugin hooks configurable via environment variables**

## Keyword Registry for docs-management Queries

Use these keywords when querying docs-management skill for official documentation:

### Plugin Fundamentals

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Overview | "plugins", "plugin system", "extend Claude Code" |
| Quickstart | "plugin quickstart", "first plugin", "create plugin" |
| Structure | "plugin structure", "plugin directory structure" |
| Manifest | "plugin.json", "plugin manifest", "plugin metadata" |

### Plugin Components

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Commands | "plugin commands", "commands directory plugins" |
| Agents | "plugin agents", "agents directory plugins" |
| Skills | "plugin skills", "skills directory plugins" |
| Hooks | "plugin hooks", "hooks.json plugins" |
| MCP Servers | "MCP servers plugins", ".mcp.json plugins" |

### Plugin Installation

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Install Commands | "/plugin command", "plugin install", "plugin management" |
| Enable/Disable | "plugin enable", "plugin disable", "plugin uninstall" |
| Interactive Menu | "plugin browse", "/plugin interactive" |
| Verification | "verify plugin installation", "plugin /help" |

### Plugin Marketplaces

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Overview | "plugin marketplaces", "marketplace catalogs" |
| Adding Marketplaces | "marketplace add", "add marketplaces" |
| Marketplace Manifest | "marketplace.json", "marketplace manifest" |
| Marketplace Sources | "plugin sources", "marketplace sources" |
| Schema Fields | "metadata.pluginRoot", "strict field marketplace", "plugin entry schema" |
| Reserved Names | "reserved marketplace name", "marketplace name validation" |

### Team Configuration

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Team Plugins | "team plugin workflows", "repository-level plugins" |
| Auto Installation | "automatic plugin installation", "team plugins setup" |
| Configuration | "team marketplaces configuration", ".claude/settings.json plugins" |

### Plugin Development

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Development Workflow | "plugin development", "develop plugins" |
| Local Testing | "test plugins locally", "local marketplace" |
| Iteration | "plugin iteration", "reinstall plugin" |
| Organization | "organize complex plugins", "plugin organization" |
| Environment Variables | "CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT", "plugin environment variables" |

### Debugging and Troubleshooting

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Debugging | "debug plugin issues", "plugin debugging" |
| Debug Mode | "claude --debug", "plugin loading debug" |
| Validation | "plugin validation", "claude plugin validate" |
| Common Issues | "plugin not working", "plugin troubleshooting" |

### Distribution

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Sharing | "share plugins", "plugin distribution" |
| Documentation | "plugin documentation", "plugin README" |
| Versioning | "plugin versioning", "semantic versioning plugins" |
| Marketplace Registration | "marketplace.json", "register plugin", "plugin entry", "marketplace plugins array" |

### Settings and Configuration

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Plugin Settings | "plugin settings", "enabledPlugins" |
| Marketplace Settings | "extraKnownMarketplaces", "marketplace configuration" |

### Plugin Hook Configuration

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Hook Basics | "plugin hooks", "hooks.json plugins" |
| Auto-Discovery | "hooks auto-discovery", "default hooks location", "hooks.json default" |
| Manifest Format | "hooks field format", "hooks path", "hooks.json path" |
| Consumer Control | "disable plugin hook", "hook environment variables" |
| Enforcement Modes | "hook enforcement mode", "CLAUDE_HOOK_ENFORCEMENT" |
| Disable Hooks | "CLAUDE_HOOK_ENABLED", "disable specific hook" |

**Note:** Plugin hook configuration uses environment variables (not YAML configs like local hooks). See [Plugin Hook Utilities Reference](references/plugin-hook-utilities.md) for implementation patterns and [Consumer Configuration Reference](references/plugin-hook-consumer-config.md) for end-user guidance.

### Component Discovery & Validation

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Auto-Discovery | "plugin auto-discovery", "default locations", "component discovery" |
| Default Paths | "plugin default paths", "default directory", "path behavior" |
| Optional Fields | "plugin optional fields", "required vs optional", "manifest optional" |
| Path Formats | "component path fields", "path format", "hooks path format" |
| Field Validation | "plugin field validation", "manifest validation", "field format" |

### Reference

| Topic | Keywords |
| --- | --- |
| Technical Reference | "plugins reference", "plugin specifications" |
| Component Reference | "plugin components reference", "plugin schemas" |
| Manifest Path Fields | "component path fields", "custom plugin paths", "path behavior rules" |

## Quick Decision Tree

**What do you want to do?**

1. **Create a new plugin** -> Query docs-management: "plugin quickstart", "create plugin"
2. **Understand plugin structure** -> Query docs-management: "plugin structure", "plugin directory structure"
3. **Write plugin manifest** -> Query docs-management: "plugin.json", "plugin manifest"
4. **Add commands to plugin** -> Query docs-management: "plugin commands", "commands directory plugins"
5. **Add agents to plugin** -> Query docs-management: "plugin agents", "agents directory plugins"
6. **Add skills to plugin** -> Query docs-management: "plugin skills", "skills directory plugins"
7. **Add hooks to plugin** -> Query docs-management: "plugin hooks", "hooks.json plugins"
8. **Install a plugin** -> Query docs-management: "/plugin command", "plugin install"
9. **Add a marketplace** -> Query docs-management: "marketplace add", "plugin marketplaces"
10. **Set up team plugins** -> Query docs-manag