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plugin-forge

Create and manage Claude Code plugins with proper structure, manifests, and marketplace integration. Use when creating plugins for a marketplace, adding plugin components (commands, agents, hooks), bumping plugin versions, or working with plugin.json/marketplace.json manifests.

Install with Tessl CLI

npx tessl i github:softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill plugin-forge
What are skills?

Overall
score

93%

Does it follow best practices?

Validation for skill structure

SKILL.md
Review
Evals

CC Plugin Forge

Purpose

Build and manage Claude Code plugins with correct structure, manifests, and marketplace integration. Includes workflows, automation scripts, and reference docs.

When to Use

  • Creating new plugins for a marketplace
  • Adding/modifying plugin components (commands, skills, agents, hooks)
  • Updating plugin versions
  • Working with plugin or marketplace manifests
  • Setting up local plugin testing
  • Publishing plugins

Getting Started

Create New Plugin

Use create_plugin.py to generate plugin structure:

python scripts/create_plugin.py plugin-name \
  --marketplace-root /path/to/marketplace \
  --author-name "Your Name" \
  --author-email "your.email@example.com" \
  --description "Plugin description" \
  --keywords "keyword1,keyword2" \
  --category "productivity"

This automatically:

  • Creates plugin directory structure
  • Generates plugin.json manifest
  • Creates README template
  • Updates marketplace.json

Bump Version

Use bump_version.py to update versions in both manifests:

python scripts/bump_version.py plugin-name major|minor|patch \
  --marketplace-root /path/to/marketplace

Semantic versioning:

  • major: Breaking changes (1.0.0 → 2.0.0)
  • minor: New features, refactoring (1.0.0 → 1.1.0)
  • patch: Bug fixes, docs (1.0.0 → 1.0.1)

Development Workflow

1. Create Structure

Manual approach (if not using script):

mkdir -p plugins/plugin-name/.claude-plugin
mkdir -p plugins/plugin-name/commands
mkdir -p plugins/plugin-name/skills

2. Plugin Manifest

File: plugins/plugin-name/.claude-plugin/plugin.json

{
  "name": "plugin-name",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "description": "Plugin description",
  "author": {
    "name": "Your Name",
    "email": "your.email@example.com"
  },
  "keywords": ["keyword1", "keyword2"]
}

3. Register in Marketplace

Update .claude-plugin/marketplace.json:

{
  "name": "plugin-name",
  "source": "./plugins/plugin-name",
  "description": "Plugin description",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "keywords": ["keyword1", "keyword2"],
  "category": "productivity"
}

4. Add Components

Create in respective directories:

ComponentLocationFormat
Commandscommands/Markdown with frontmatter
Skillsskills/<name>/Directory with SKILL.md
Agentsagents/Markdown definitions
Hookshooks/hooks.jsonEvent handlers
MCP Servers.mcp.jsonExternal integrations

5. Local Testing

# Add marketplace
/plugin marketplace add /path/to/marketplace-root

# Install plugin
/plugin install plugin-name@marketplace-name

# After changes: reinstall
/plugin uninstall plugin-name@marketplace-name
/plugin install plugin-name@marketplace-name

Plugin Patterns

Framework Plugin

For framework-specific guidance (React, Vue, etc.):

plugins/framework-name/
├── .claude-plugin/plugin.json
├── skills/
│   └── framework-name/
│       ├── SKILL.md
│       └── references/
├── commands/
│   └── prime/
│       ├── components.md
│       └── framework.md
└── README.md

Utility Plugin

For tools and commands:

plugins/utility-name/
├── .claude-plugin/plugin.json
├── commands/
│   ├── action1.md
│   └── action2.md
└── README.md

Domain Plugin

For domain-specific knowledge:

plugins/domain-name/
├── .claude-plugin/plugin.json
├── skills/
│   └── domain-name/
│       ├── SKILL.md
│       ├── references/
│       └── scripts/
└── README.md

Command Naming

Subdirectory-based namespacing with : separator:

  • commands/namespace/command.md/namespace:command
  • commands/simple.md/simple

Examples:

  • commands/prime/vue.md/prime:vue
  • commands/docs/generate.md/docs:generate

Version Management

Important: Update version in BOTH locations:

  1. plugins/<name>/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
  2. .claude-plugin/marketplace.json

Use bump_version.py to automate.

Git Commits

Use conventional commits:

git commit -m "feat: add new plugin"
git commit -m "fix: correct plugin manifest"
git commit -m "docs: update plugin README"
git commit -m "feat!: breaking change"

Reference Docs

Detailed documentation included:

ReferenceContent
references/plugin-structure.mdDirectory structure, manifest schema, components
references/marketplace-schema.mdMarketplace format, plugin entries, distribution
references/workflows.mdStep-by-step workflows, patterns, publishing

Scripts

ScriptPurpose
scripts/create_plugin.pyScaffold new plugin
scripts/bump_version.pyUpdate versions
Repository
github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit
Last updated
Created

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