building-plugins

Building Plugins

A Claude Code plugin is a distributable package of skills, commands, agents, hooks, MCP servers, and LSP servers that extends Claude's capabilities. This skill guides you through the complete plugin creation lifecycle: brainstorming requirements, designing architecture, scaffolding the project, implementing components, and distributing the result.

HARD-GATE

Do NOT scaffold or write any plugin code until brainstorming and design are COMPLETE and the user has approved the plan. Jumping to implementation without understanding requirements leads to rework. The process is: Understand → Design → Approve → Scaffold → Implement → Validate.

Checklist

Use TaskCreate to track each step:

• Understand requirements — brainstorm with the user to clarify what the plugin should do, who it's for, and what problems it solves
• Choose components — use the Component Decision Guide to determine which plugin components are needed
• Design and approve — present the plugin design (name, structure, components) and get user approval
• Write implementation plan — detail each file to create, its purpose, and content outline
• Scaffold plugin structure — create directories and plugin.json
• Implement components — write each component following reference docs
• Validate and test — verify structure, test with claude --plugin-dir
• Distribute (optional) — publish to marketplace or share

Process Flow

digraph plugin_flow {
    rankdir=TB;
    node [shape=box, style=rounded];

    start [label="User wants a plugin", shape=doublecircle];
    brainstorm [label="1. Brainstorm\nWhat does it do?\nWho is it for?"];
    components [label="2. Choose Components\nSkills? Commands? Hooks?\nAgents? MCP? LSP?"];
    design [label="3. Design Review\nPresent structure to user"];
    approve [label="User approves?", shape=diamond];
    plan [label="4. Implementation Plan\nFile-by-file detail"];
    scaffold [label="5. Scaffold\nDirectories + plugin.json"];
    implement [label="6. Implement\nWrite each component"];
    validate [label="7. Validate\nStructure + load test"];
    distribute [label="8. Distribute\n(optional)"];
    done [label="Plugin ready", shape=doublecircle];
    revise [label="Revise design"];

    start -> brainstorm;
    brainstorm -> components;
    components -> design;
    design -> approve;
    approve -> plan [label="yes"];
    approve -> revise [label="no"];
    revise -> brainstorm;
    plan -> scaffold;
    scaffold -> implement;
    implement -> validate;
    validate -> distribute;
    distribute -> done;
}