plugin-forge — Claude Code skill for building plugins

---
name: plugin-forge
description: 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.
---

# 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:

```bash
python scripts/create_plugin.py plugin-name \
  --marketplace-root /path/to/marketplace \
  --author-name "Your Name" \
  --author-email "[email protected]" \
  --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:

```bash
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):

```bash
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`

```json
{
  "name": "plugin-name",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "description": "Plugin description",
  "author": {
    "name": "Your Name",
    "email": "[email protected]"
  },
  "keywords": ["keyword1", "keyword2"]
}
```

### 3. Register in Marketplace

Update `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`:

```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:

| Component | Location | Format |
|-----------|----------|--------|
| Commands | `commands/` | Markdown with frontmatter |
| Skills | `skills/<name>/` | Directory with `SKILL.md` |
| Agents | `agents/` | Markdown definitions |
| Hooks | `hooks/hooks.json` | Event handlers |
| MCP Servers | `.mcp.json` | External integrations |

### 5. Local Testing

```bash
# 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:

```bash
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:

| Reference | Content |
|-----------|---------|
| `references/plugin-structure.md` | Directory structure, manifest schema, components |
| `references/marketplace-schema.md` | Marketplace format, plugin entries, distribution |
| `references/workflows.md` | Step-by-step workflows, patterns, publishing |

### Scripts

| Script | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `scripts/create_plugin.py` | Scaffold new plugin |
| `scripts/bump_version.py` | Update versions |