plugin-forge

Scaffold, structure, and manage Claude Code plugins with automated manifest generation and version control. Includes Python scripts for creating plugins and bumping semantic versions across both plugin.json and marketplace.json manifests Supports four component types: commands (with namespace-based naming), skills, agents, and hooks, each with defined directory structures Provides three plugin patterns (framework, utility, domain) with reference documentation covering structure, marketplace schema, and publishing workflows Local testing via marketplace registration and plugin install/uninstall commands for iterative development

INSTALLATION
npx skills add https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit --skill plugin-forge
Run in your project or agent environment. Adjust flags if your CLI version differs.

SKILL.md

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:

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

# 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:

  • plugins/<name>/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
  • .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:

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

BrowserAct

Let your agent run on any real-world website

Bypass CAPTCHA & anti-bot for free. Start local, scale to cloud.

Explore BrowserAct Skills →

Stop writing automation&scrapers

Install the CLI. Run your first Skill in 30 seconds. Scale when you're ready.

Start free
free · no credit card