Create and develop a Paperclip plugin

Use this skill when the task is to create, scaffold, or iterate on a Paperclip plugin against a local Paperclip instance.

1. Default: build the plugin OUTSIDE Paperclip core

Plugins are their own packages. Unless the task explicitly asks for a bundled in-repo example, do not add plugin source under packages/plugins/ in this repo.

• Scaffold the plugin into a directory outside the Paperclip checkout (e.g. ~/dev/paperclip-plugins/<name>).

• Install it into the running Paperclip instance by local absolute path.

• Edit code in the external package; let Paperclip pick up rebuilt output.

Only edit Paperclip core itself when the user asks to surface a plugin as a bundled example (server/src/routes/plugins.ts, in-repo example lists, docs).

2. Ground rules

Reference docs when you need detail:

• doc/plugins/PLUGIN_AUTHORING_GUIDE.md

• packages/plugins/sdk/README.md

• doc/plugins/PLUGIN_SPEC.md — future-looking context only

Current runtime assumptions:

• plugin workers are trusted code

• plugin UI is trusted same-origin host code

• worker APIs are capability-gated

• plugin UI is not sandboxed by manifest capabilities

• no host-provided shared plugin UI component kit yet

• ctx.assets is not supported in the current runtime

3. CLI-first scaffold workflow

Use paperclipai plugin init. Do not invoke the scaffold package node entrypoint by hand unless the CLI command is unavailable in the environment.

paperclipai plugin init @acme/my-plugin --output ~/dev/paperclip-plugins

Useful flags (all optional):

• --output <dir> — parent directory; the command creates <dir>/<unscoped-name>/. Defaults to the current directory.

• --template <default|connector|workspace|environment> — starter template.

• --category <connector|workspace|automation|ui|environment> — manifest category.

• --display-name <name>, --description <text>, --author <name> — manifest metadata.

• --sdk-path <path> — snapshot the local SDK from a Paperclip checkout into .paperclip-sdk/ (useful when developing against an unreleased SDK).

On success the command prints the exact next commands (cd, pnpm install, pnpm dev, paperclipai plugin install <abs-path>). Run them in order.

If paperclipai is not on PATH in your environment, fall back to:

pnpm --filter @paperclipai/create-paperclip-plugin build

node packages/plugins/create-paperclip-plugin/dist/index.js @acme/my-plugin \

  --output /absolute/path \

  --sdk-path /absolute/path/to/paperclip/packages/plugins/sdk

4. Local install + rebuild loop

In the scaffolded plugin folder:

pnpm install

pnpm dev            # esbuild --watch: rebuilds dist/manifest.js, dist/worker.js, dist/ui/

paperclipai plugin install /absolute/path/to/my-plugin

Notes:

• paperclipai plugin install auto-detects local paths (absolute, ./, ../, ~, or an existing relative folder) and forwards isLocalPath: true to the server. Pass --local to force local mode if the heuristic is ambiguous.

• Paths are resolved to absolute paths before being sent to the server.

• The server watches built outputs (dist/) for local-path plugins and restarts the plugin worker on rebuild — you do not need to reinstall after every edit.

• UI hot reload via the SDK dev server (pnpm dev:ui, port 4177) is optional and template-dependent; only mention it if the template wires devUiUrl and you verified it works end to end.

• --version only applies to npm package installs. Combining it with a local path is an error.

After install, inspect with:

paperclipai plugin list

paperclipai plugin inspect <plugin-key>

5. After scaffolding, sanity-check the package

Open and confirm:

• src/manifest.ts — declared capabilities and slots

• src/worker.ts — worker entry

• src/ui/index.tsx — UI entry (if applicable)

• tests/plugin.spec.ts — placeholder test

• package.json — paperclipPlugin block points at dist/manifest.js, dist/worker.js, dist/ui/

Make sure the plugin:

• declares only supported capabilities

• does not use ctx.assets

• does not import host UI component stubs

• keeps UI self-contained

• uses routePath only on page slots

6. Verification (run before declaring success)

From the plugin folder:

pnpm typecheck

pnpm test

pnpm build

If the plugin is already running under pnpm dev, you can keep the watcher up and run pnpm typecheck and pnpm test in a separate shell.

If you changed Paperclip SDK/host/plugin runtime code in addition to the plugin, also run the relevant Paperclip workspace checks.

7. Success checklist (report this back)

When you finish a local plugin task, report:

• Scaffold path — absolute path of the created plugin folder.

• Commands run — the exact paperclipai plugin init, pnpm install, pnpm dev, paperclipai plugin install <path> invocations (and any verification commands).

• Install status — output of paperclipai plugin list / plugin inspect (plugin key, version, status). Note if status is anything other than ready and include lastError.

• Tests / build result — pnpm typecheck, pnpm test, pnpm build pass/fail with the failing output if any.

• Reload limitations — call out anything that did not hot-reload (e.g. manifest changes required a reinstall, UI dev server was not wired, etc.).

If any item is missing, mark it as such — do not silently skip.

8. When NOT to edit Paperclip core

Do not add the plugin under packages/plugins/ or update bundled-example wiring unless the user explicitly asks for a bundled example. Local-path installs are the supported development model; npm packages are the production deployment path.

If the user does ask for a bundled example, also update:

• server/src/routes/plugins.ts example list

• any docs that enumerate in-repo example plugins

9. Documentation expectations

When authoring or updating plugin docs:

• distinguish current implementation from future spec ideas

• be explicit about the trusted-code model

• do not promise host UI components or asset APIs

• prefer local-path development + npm-package deployment guidance over repo-local workflows