create-plugin-scaffold — Claude Code skill: install and use
Builds a Cursor plugin scaffold: manifest, component folders and a marketplace entry. Handy when a plugin starts from an empty folder.
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a claude-codeWhat create-plugin-scaffold does
The skill walks through starting a Cursor plugin: it checks the name is lowercase kebab-case, creates the folder and lays out the files. Unless you name another location, everything lands in ~/.cursor/plugins/local/<plugin-name>/, which Cursor picks up with no install step.
Base files are .cursor-plugin/plugin.json with a required name and recommended version, description, author, license, keywords, plus README.md and LICENSE. Then the components: rules as .mdc with description and alwaysApply, skills under skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md, agents in agents/*.md, commands in commands/*.(md|txt). For a multi-plugin repo it appends an entry to .cursor-plugin/marketplace.json with name, source and optional metadata.
Manifest paths stay relative, with no absolute paths and no parent traversal. One thing to know before you run it: the scaffold targets Cursor plugins only, and the manifest and folder layout it writes belong to Cursor.
What it helps with
- start a Cursor plugin from an empty folder
- write
plugin.jsonwithout missing fields - put rules, skills and commands in the folders Cursor expects
- register a plugin in a multi-plugin marketplace
- check the plugin name is kebab-case before any file is created
Example prompts for the agent
- Scaffold a new Cursor plugin called
pdf-toolswith one rule and one slash command. - Add
lint-hooksto our multi-plugin repo with amarketplace.jsonentry. - Create the plugin in
~/projects/cursor-plugins/instead of the local plugins folder.
How to install create-plugin-scaffold
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install cursor/plugins create-plugin-scaffold2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/cursor/plugins --path create-plugin/skills/create-plugin-scaffoldManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about create-plugin-scaffold
How do I install create-plugin-scaffold in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a claude-code. The skill file ends up at ~/.claude/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md.
What does create-plugin-scaffold do?
It creates the Cursor plugin structure: plugin.json, README.md, LICENSE and component folders with valid frontmatter. When needed it adds an entry to .cursor-plugin/marketplace.json.
Where does the scaffold go by default?
Into ~/.cursor/plugins/local/<plugin-name>/, where Cursor loads it without an install step. You can point it at another directory instead.
