# create-plugin-scaffold

Builds a Cursor plugin scaffold: manifest, component folders and a marketplace entry. Handy when a plugin starts from an empty folder.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 installs · ★ 14099
- Author: cursor
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/cursor/plugins/tree/HEAD/create-plugin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/create-plugin-scaffold

## What it 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.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install cursor/plugins create-plugin-scaffold
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/cursor/plugins --path create-plugin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add cursor/plugins --skill create-plugin-scaffold -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/cursor/plugins/tree/HEAD/create-plugin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- start a Cursor plugin from an empty folder
- write `plugin.json` without 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
- Scaffold a new Cursor plugin called `pdf-tools` with one rule and one slash command.
- Add `lint-hooks` to our multi-plugin repo with a `marketplace.json` entry.
- Create the plugin in `~/projects/cursor-plugins/` instead of the local plugins folder.

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From the same set: [cursor/plugins](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/cursor/plugins.md) — 45 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md